Shawn Reilly Simmons is the author of seven novels in the Red Carpet Catering mystery series, which  feature Penelope Sutherland, chef-owner of a movie set catering company. She’s also had several short stories published which appear in various anthologies including “Burnt Orange” in Passport to Murder: the 2017 Bouchercon Anthology; “The Prodigy” in Mystery Tour, the Crime Writers’ Association Anthology; and “Now is the Hour” in Writers Crushing Covid-19. 

“The Last Word”, which appears in Malice Domestic 14: Mystery Most Edible, won the Agatha Award for Best Short Story of 2019. The anthology is a finalist for the Anthony Award for Best Anthology or Collection of 2019.  

Shawn was born in Indiana, grew up in Florida, and began her professional career in New York City as a sales executive for an international airline after graduating from the University of Maryland with a BA in English. She has worked as a line cook in busy kitchens, managed a large bookstore, sold fine wine, written radio commercials, organized an annual mystery convention, and cooked on catering crews, sometimes behind the scenes on movie sets, and sometimes for weddings or intimate dinner parties.
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Shawn serves on the Board of Malice Domestic and is senior editor at Level Best Books. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, the International Thriller Writers, and the Crime Writers’ Association in the U.K. She lives in historic downtown Frederick, Maryland, with her husband and young son.

​Shawn's Publications

Novels

The Red Carpet Catering Mysteries
Murder on a Silver Platter
Murder on the Half Shell
Murder on a Designer Diet
Murder is the Main Course
Murder on the Rocks
Murder with all the Trimmings
Murder on the Chopping Block

Short Stories
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2016
A Gathering of Great Detectives - published in MALICE DOMESTIC 11: Mystery Most Conventional
Look Away – published in WINDWARD: The Best New England Crime Stories
2017
 The Prodigy - published in MYSTERY TOUR: Crime Writers' Association Anthology
Burnt Orange - published in PASSPORT TO MURDER: The 2017 Bouchercon Anthology
Play Dead – published in BUSTED: Arresting Stories from the Beat
Farm to Table – published in SNOWBOUND: The Best New England Crime Stories
 You Always Hurt the One You Love– published in MALICE DOMESTIC 12: Mystery Most Historical
 Humble Pie – published in NOIR AT THE SALAD BAR: Culinary Tales with a Bite
2018
Death on the Beach – published in MALICE DOMESTIC 13: Mystery Most Geographical
Downcity Detective - published in LANDFALL: The Best New England Crime Stories
2019
The Last Word – published in MALICE DOMESTIC 14: Mystery Most Edible**
Sweet Tawny Breeze - published in AFTER MIDNIGHT: The Writers' Police Academy Anthology
Stolen Moments – published in SEASCAPE: The Best New England Crime Stories
2020
Now is the Hour - published in WRITERS CRUSHING COVID-19
Dance on Fire - published in MALICE DOMESTIC 15: Mystery Most Theatrical


**Winner of the Agatha Award for Best Short Story
**Anthony Award Finalist for Best Anthology or Collection