Dr. Carole B. Shmurak is the author of eleven books, including Deadmistress, her first mystery featuring professor/sleuth Susan Lombardi, which was named a Notable Book of 2004 by Writers Notes Magazine. Other Lombardi mysteries include Death by Committee, Death at Hilliard High, and Most Likely to Murder. Under the pseudonym Carroll Thomas, she is the co-author of the Matty Trescott young adult novels, one of which (Ring Out Wild Bells) was nominated for the Agatha for best young adult mystery of 2001. (Please see Amazon's Carroll Thomas page for more information about the YA books.) Carole holds degrees from Mount Holyoke College, Harvard University, and Indiana University. She is Professor Emerita at Central Connecticut State University. She was a chemistry and biology teacher in private schools in New York and Connecticut for 20 years prior to coming to CCSU. Her non-fiction book, Voices of Hope: Adolescent Girls at Single Sex and Coeducational Schools was named a Critics' Choice by the American Educational Studies Association. Carole leads the mystery group discussions at the Simsbury Public Library and the Wallingford Public Library, was the founder of the mystery readers group at the Farmington Public Library, and is a member of Sisters in Crime and the CT Authors and Publishers Association. She lives in Farmington CT with her husband Steve. Visit her website at www.carole-books.com