Picture a Maine storyteller who turned courtroom drama into page-turning mysteries—meet Kate Flora! A former lawyer with a knack for crafting gripping crime fiction, Flora’s Thea Kozak and Joe Burgess series have captivated readers with their sharp wit and New England charm. From a chicken farm to literary acclaim, her journey is as thrilling as her novels.
With a career spanning over two decades, Flora’s work blends legal intrigue, strong characters, and Maine’s rugged landscapes. Her dedication to the mystery community shines through her founding of the New England Crime Bake conference, making her a beloved figure in crime fiction.
The Making of Kate Flora
Born and raised on a chicken farm in Maine, Kate Flora found solace in the local library, where weekly visits fueled her love for storytelling. Growing up in an era with limited career paths for women, she pursued law, earning a degree and working as an assistant attorney general in Maine. There, she tackled cases involving battered children and human rights, experiences that later shaped her authentic crime narratives. After years in law, Flora’s passion for writing took over, leading her to pen her first novel in the early 1990s while raising two sons.
Kate Flora’s Unforgettable Stories
Flora’s Thea Kozak series, starting with Chosen for Death (1994), introduces a smart, resilient educational consultant turned amateur sleuth. Thea tackles mysteries with grit, from solving her sister’s murder to unraveling conspiracies, all while juggling personal loss and a romance with Maine state trooper Andre Lemieux. The series, now 12 books strong, including Death Sends a Message (2023), showcases Flora’s knack for blending suspense with emotional depth.
The Joe Burgess series, beginning with Playing God (2006), dives into the gritty world of a Portland, Maine, detective. Burgess, a complex cop with a heart, navigates brutal cases, like the murder of a Vietnam vet in Redemption (2012), which won the Maine Literary Award. Flora’s legal background shines here, grounding her police procedurals in realism. Her standalone thriller, Teach Her a Lesson (2023), explores betrayal and justice, proving her versatility.
Flora’s style is vivid and character-driven, with Maine’s landscapes—from black fly swarms to icy lakes—acting as a vivid backdrop. Her themes of justice, resilience, and human complexity resonate, earning her nominations for Edgar, Agatha, and Anthony awards.
Why Kate Flora Matters
Kate Flora’s impact extends beyond her novels. As a founding member of the New England Crime Bake and Maine Crime Wave conferences, she’s nurtured countless writers, fostering a vibrant mystery community. Her blog, Maine Crime Writers, celebrates the state’s literary talent. Flora’s true crime works, like Finding Amy (2006), an Edgar nominee, show her commitment to real-world justice, blending empathy with meticulous research.
Her stories, rooted in Maine’s culture and her legal past, offer readers thrilling escapes and insights into human nature. Flora’s perseverance—from unpublished writer to award-winning author—inspires aspiring storytellers to chase their dreams.
About Kate Flora
- Key Works: Thea Kozak series, Joe Burgess series, Teach Her a Lesson
- Awards: Maine Literary Award winner, Edgar, Agatha, Anthony finalist
- Hometown: Maine, splitting time with Massachusetts
- Fun Fact: Once got arrested for research to make her novels authentic!
Snag Chosen for Death or Playing God and dive into Kate Flora’s thrilling world of crime fiction!