The Curse-Maker was born out of a trip I made to Bath while in England for an academic conference. My most recent book, The Curse-Maker, is the sequel to my debut novel Nox Dormienda, and is set in Aquae Sulis, which we know better as Bath. I also absolutely love England-the history, the traditions, the customs (where else do you find cheese-rolling contests?), and since you should always set a book where you hope to visit, I rooted my first series there.

As a classicist, I was interested in the outlying areas of Empire, the places where native or indigenous populations carved out independence from Rome. My ‘Roman noir’ series is set in late first century Roman Britain. The Miranda Corbie series (dark private-eye/noir in style), which started with City of Dragons, is set in 1940 San Francisco, where I live … San Francisco, that is, not 1940, though sometimes I feel like I’m a time-traveler! I fell in love with San Francisco as a little girl-it was the closest big city to me-and I’ve been in love ever since. I write two series that are both very much location-specific. How about starting with a discussion of your connection to the locales in your fiction?

Kelli, thanks so much for taking time from your very full schedule to talk with us at Scene of the Crime. Publishers Weekly found it a “stunning first in a new series introduces a gutsy, independent heroine who isn’t always likable.” Booklist likewise thought it is an “impressive new mystery takes readers back to the San Francisco of 1940.” The second in that series, City of Secrets, comes out later this year. The first in that series, the 2010 City of Dragons, earned starred reviews and plenty of praise.

Stanley’s other series is set in San Francisco of the 1940s and features Miranda Corbie, a former escort who has become a private investigator. Booklist noted of this second installment: “Stanley serves up fascinating and never heavy-handed information on Roman life.” First-timer Stanley is sure-footed and enthusiastic about history … and crafts a satisfyingly intricate puzzle.” The second novel in the series, The Curse-Maker, is just out and finds Arcturus investigating a murder in the sacred spring at Bath, Brittanica. Kirkus Reviews thought that novel “takes the reader on a colorful tour of this singular culture high and low, from jails and brothels to the corridors of power. The first in that series, Nox Dormienda: A Long Night for Sleeping (with a tip of the hat to Chandler’s The Big Sleep), was a Bruce Alexander Memorial Historical Mystery Award winner and a Macavity Award finalist. Her “Roman noir” books are set in the first century AD and feature physician and sometime investigator Arcturus. Kelli Stanley is the acclaimed author of two very different series.

City of Secrets by Kelli Stanley