Picture a Welsh storyteller who swapped marketing meetings for murder mysteries—meet Cathy Ace! This Welsh-Canadian author crafts clever whodunits that whisk readers from the cozy Welsh countryside to exotic global locales. With her sharp wit and love for complex plots, Ace has become a beloved name in mystery fiction, enchanting fans with her Cait Morgan Mysteries and WISE Enquiries Agency series.
Born in Swansea, Wales, Ace’s journey to literary stardom is as intriguing as her novels. Her knack for storytelling, honed through years of globetrotting and a late-blooming writing career, makes her a standout in the cozy mystery genre. Ready to unravel her story?
The Making of Cathy Ace
Growing up in Swansea, Cathy Ace was captivated by Nancy Drew’s pluck and Agatha Christie’s intricate puzzles, planting the seeds for her future as a mystery writer. After earning a degree, she dove into a successful marketing career, running her own training company in the UK and traveling the world. It wasn’t until she migrated to Canada at 40 and began teaching at the University of British Columbia that she rediscovered her passion for writing. At 51, sparked by a chance encounter with British actor Martin Jarvis, Ace published her first novel, proving it’s never too late to chase a dream.
Cathy Ace’s Unforgettable Stories
Ace’s Cait Morgan Mysteries star a Welsh-Canadian criminology professor who’s as fond of food as she is of solving crimes. In The Corpse with the Silver Tongue, Cait untangles a murder in the south of France, blending rich cultural details with classic whodunit flair. The series, now optioned for TV with Eve Myles set to star, spans 14 books, each set in a new country, from Australia to Arizona, showcasing Ace’s love for global cultures.
Her WISE Enquiries Agency Mysteries offer a cozier vibe, following four female private investigators—one Welsh, one Irish, one Scottish, one English—solving quirky cases from a Welsh stately home. The Case of the Dotty Dowager, the series’ debut, sees the team investigating a disappearing corpse, earning praise for its charm and modern take on British mysteries. Ace’s standalone psychological suspense novel, The Wrong Boy, dives darker, exploring secrets in a Welsh village and hitting Amazon’s #1 bestseller list.
Known for her meticulous plotting and vivid settings, Ace weaves humor, heart, and a touch of danger into her stories. Her characters, like the bossy yet brilliant Cait Morgan, reflect her own Welsh roots and global perspective, making each book a delightful mix of personal and universal.
Why Cathy Ace Matters
Cathy Ace’s impact lies in her ability to breathe new life into the traditional mystery genre. Her diverse settings and strong female leads resonate with readers worldwide, earning her the 2015 Bony Blithe Award for The Corpse with the Platinum Hair, plus IPPY and IBA Awards. As past Chair of Crime Writers of Canada, she’s championed the genre, inspiring aspiring authors with her late-start success. Her books, praised by The Globe and Mail for their “sparkling” plots, offer escapism and intellect in equal measure.
- Born: Swansea, Wales
- Key Works: Cait Morgan Mysteries, WISE Enquiries Agency Mysteries, The Wrong Boy
- Awards: Bony Blithe Award (2015), IPPY Bronze Medal (2019)
- Fun Fact: Ace lives on five rural acres in British Columbia with her husband and chocolate Labradors, where she gardens when not writing.
Grab The Corpse with the Silver Tongue or The Case of the Dotty Dowager and dive into Cathy Ace’s thrilling world of cozy clues and clever crimes!