Picture a Canadian storyteller who swapped travel guides for chilling crime novels, crafting tales that keep you up all night—meet Hilary Davidson! Born in Toronto and now a New Yorker, Davidson has carved a niche in mystery and crime fiction with her gripping Lily Moore and Shadows of New York series. Her debut, The Damage Done, snagged the 2011 Anthony Award, proving she’s a master of suspense with a knack for complex characters.
The Making of Hilary Davidson
Hilary Davidson’s journey to crime fiction is as twisty as her plots. Born and raised in Toronto, she graduated from the University of Toronto in 1994. Her early career was rooted in journalism, with stints at Harper’s Magazine in New York and Canadian Living in Toronto. She penned 17 travel guides for Frommer’s between 2000 and 2010, sharpening her eye for detail. But the pull of fiction was stronger, and in 2010, she dove into the ‘dark side’ with her award-winning debut, inspired by her love for noir and psychological depth.
Hilary Davidson’s Unforgettable Stories
Davidson’s novels are like a perfectly mixed cocktail—equal parts suspense, emotion, and grit. Her Lily Moore series kicks off with The Damage Done (2010), where travel writer Lily Moore unravels her sister’s mysterious death in a noir-soaked New York. The series continues with The Next One to Fall (2012) and Evil in All Its Disguises (2013), blending exotic settings with psychological tension. Her Shadows of New York series, starting with One Small Sacrifice (2019), a New York bestseller, follows detective Sheryn Sterling through murky crimes, showcasing Davidson’s flair for flawed, relatable characters. Standalone novels like Blood Always Tells (2014) and Her Last Breath (2021) dive deep into human struggles, with tightly woven plots that surprise at every turn.
Her style is a love letter to crime fiction fans: fast-paced yet layered, with themes of identity, guilt, and redemption. Davidson’s journalism background shines through in her meticulous research, grounding her stories in real-world grit. She’s also a short-story wizard, with over 50 tales in outlets like Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, earning her a Derringer Award and another Anthony.
Why Hilary Davidson Matters
Hilary Davidson’s impact lies in her ability to make crime fiction feel personal. Her characters—whether Lily Moore wrestling with family ties or Sheryn Sterling facing moral dilemmas—mirror our own flaws and resilience. By weaving societal issues like addiction and prejudice into her plots, she elevates the genre beyond mere whodunits. Her move from Toronto to New York in 2001 infuses her work with a dual perspective, blending Canadian introspection with Big Apple energy. Awards aside, her stories resonate with readers who crave heart-pounding narratives with heart.
- Born: Toronto, Canada
- Key Works: The Damage Done, One Small Sacrifice, Her Last Breath
- Awards: Two Anthony Awards, Derringer Award
- Notable Fact: Authored 17 Frommer’s travel guides before fiction
Snag The Damage Done and dive into Hilary Davidson’s thrilling world of mystery and suspense!