Picture a Brooklyn travel agent with a knack for stumbling into global mysteries—meet Wendall Thomas, the author who turned her screenwriting savvy into the riotously funny Cyd Redondo series! A master of screwball comedy and mystery, Thomas blends humor, adventure, and heart, earning her a devoted following and critical acclaim. From her debut novel to her lectures across the globe, she’s a storyteller who knows how to keep readers and students on the edge of their seats.
With a career spanning Hollywood scripts, UCLA classrooms, and international workshops, Thomas brings a cinematic flair to her writing. Her ability to craft vivid characters and zany plots has made her a standout in the cozy mystery genre, proving that even a travel agent from Bay Ridge can become a literary hero.
The Making of Wendall Thomas
Born and raised in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Wendall Thomas grew up immersed in stories, devouring Agatha Christie by age eleven and later falling for Raymond Chandler’s gritty prose. After earning her M.A. in English from the University of North Carolina, she traded academia for Hollywood, diving into roles as a casting assistant, script reader, and development executive for studios like Disney and Warner Brothers. Her early career was a whirlwind of odd jobs—entertainment reporting, script consulting, even penning Bonnie Raitt’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction speech. This eclectic path shaped her sharp wit and knack for storytelling, setting the stage for her pivot to novels.
Wendall Thomas’s Unforgettable Stories
Thomas’s literary breakthrough came with Lost Luggage (2017), the first in her Cyd Redondo series, which snagged nominations for the Lefty and Macavity Awards for Best Debut Mystery. The novel follows Cyd, a third-generation Brooklyn travel agent who’s never left New Jersey—until a safari prize plunges her into a wild world of animal smuggling. With its MacGyver-esque heroine and Carl Hiaasen-inspired humor, the book was a hit, praised for its “rollicking” pace and “sexy overtones.”
The series continued with Drowned Under (2019), a Tasmanian cruise caper nominated for an Anthony Award and a Lefty for Best Humorous Mystery, and Fogged Off (2021), a London-set romp shortlisted for another Lefty. Her latest, Cheap Trills (2023), won the Lefty Award for Best Humorous Mystery, cementing Cyd’s status as a fan favorite. Thomas’s style—think Janet Evanovich meets Romancing the Stone—weaves intricate plots, snappy dialogue, and endangered species into laugh-out-loud adventures. Her short fiction, featured in anthologies like Ladies Night and Murder-A-Go-Go’s, showcases her versatility, blending crime with sly humor.
Why Wendall Thomas Matters
Wendall Thomas has carved a niche in the mystery world by infusing cozy capers with global stakes and screwball charm. Her Cyd Redondo series tackles serious issues like wildlife crime while keeping readers grinning, a balance that’s earned her comparisons to giants like Evanovich and Hiaasen. Beyond her novels, Thomas’s impact shines in her teaching. As a 28-year veteran of UCLA’s Graduate Film School and a lecturer in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, she’s mentored countless screenwriters, with students winning prestigious awards like the Samuel Goldwyn. Her generosity in the crime fiction community, evident in her Sisters in Crime involvement, makes her a beloved figure among peers and fans alike.
- Birthplace: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Key Works: Lost Luggage (2017), Drowned Under (2019), Fogged Off (2021), Cheap Trills (2023)
- Awards: Lefty Award Winner (2023), multiple Lefty, Macavity, and Anthony nominations
- Fun Fact: She’s lectured on screenwriting in over eight countries!
Snag Lost Luggage and dive into Wendall Thomas’s hilarious, heart-pounding world of screwball mysteries!