Mystery Monday: The Reilly Ladies

Mystery Monday: The Reilly Ladies

As an undergraduate Psychology major, I read more than my fair share of “nature vs. nurture” papers and textbooks (e.g. is a child an artist because he or she was born of artistic parents or did the parents nurture the skill?). Most experts agree that individuals are a mixture of both, and the Reilly family is a prime example.

Part of a literary family (her brother was an author), Helen Kieran Reilly was a prolific mystery writer who lived from 1891 to 1962. A graduate of Hunter College, she married artist Paul Reilly with whom she had four daughters. She published dozens of novels, at one point becoming the main breadwinner in the household. Her books were among the first police procedurals written, a result of conducting extensive research into the NYC Homicide squad. Inspector Christopher McKee is her most popular character.

Like their mother Ursula Reilly Curtiss and Mary Reilly Wilson (writing under the name Mary McMullen) became well-known mystery authors. Winner of the Red Badge Award for best first novel, Ursula tended to write neo-Gothic romantic suspense with an amateur sleuth as the protagonist. Initially a columnist for the “Fairfield Connecticut News, she moved into working as a fashion copy writer. Her career as an author began after she married John Curtiss in 1947. Winning the Zia award as New Mexico’s outstanding novelist in 1963, she published nearly two dozen books in her thirty-six year career before passing away of cancer in 1984.

Sister Mary also had a successful career. Winner of the Edgar award for best first novel in 1952, Mary took a twenty-two year hiatus before publishing an additional eighteen novels. Described as distinctive, elegant, and fast-paced, her books did not seem to follow any sort of pattern, however, many did draw from her experience in the fashion world. Highly descriptive, the books immerse readers into the setting which forms an integral part of each plot. She published her last book in 1986, the year she passed away.

Have you read any of these gals’ books? 

Mystery Monday: Helen Reilly

Mystery Monday: Helen Reilly

Author Helen Reilly

During my search for more Golden Age Mystery novelists, I have unearthed Helen Reilly. Born in 1891 in New York City, Reilly’s early books have been categorized as police procedurals, although the term was not in use at the time she was being published. To ensure accurate, realistic writing, Reilly conducted research with the New York Homicide squad. (Shades of Rick Castle, perhaps?) With a career that spanned from 1930 until her death in 1962, she published almost forty books. Her most popular character is Inspector Christopher McKee.

Helen’s biography is sketchy. She married Pittsburgh, PA native and cartoonist Paul Reilly, who may have been somewhat older than she was; he passed away in 1944. Part of a creative family, two of her daughters, Ursula Curtiss and Mary McMullen were also mystery writers, as was her brother James Kieran.

Blogger Mike Grost has written an extensive analyses of Helen’s work. He made several observations about her stories such as: the use of scientific detection, McKee’s fondness for high-tech phone and radio equipment, the inclusion of technological based communication and transportation centers, and the use of light and architecture throughout her stories. Interestingly, artists show up in many of her stories, as do many elite New Yorkers on a downward spiral.

Helen published her last novel, The Day She Died, in 1962, the year of her own death.