Sherlockian Author Profile - Diane Madsen

Chicago native Diane Gilbert Madsen brings a real feel for the “Windy City” to her DD McGil Literati Mystery series. Madsen attended the University of Chicago and earned an M.A. in 17th century English from Roosevelt University. She was Director of Economic Development for the State of Illinois and oversaw the Tourism and Illinois Film Offices during the time the Blues Brothers was filmed. She also ran her own consulting busines and is listed in Who’s Who in Finance and Industry and the World Who’s Who of Women.

Fascinated by crime, history and business, her interest in writing murder mysteries was sparked when she met the suspect of a murder case that occurred near her home. The suspect was convicted then later exonerated of the crime, and the encounter caused her to rethink how people form their first impressions of murder suspects. Her Scots heritage and membership in Robert Burns, St. Andrews and Caledonian Societies contributed to writing this book.

“A Cadger’s Curse,” is the first in the DD McGil Literati Mystery series, published by Midnight Ink. The second in the series is “Hunting for Hemingway” and the third "The Conan Doyle Notes" links the series to our Sherlockian world.

Cracking the Code of the Canon, breaks the Canon wide open to offer a totally unique and different way of looking at Holmes and Watson and all the stories in the Canon you know and enjoy. She brings her amusing style to a remarkable overview of the Canon that will intrigue Sherlockian novices and aficionados alike. Her very readable and entertaining take on the Sherlock Holmes approach to crime, criminals, victims and justice may alter many of your views of the Canon. Statistics can be fun when they relate to Sherlockian lore.

Diane, her husband Tom, and their two Japanese Chin dogs, Sugar & Spice, now live in Florida at Twin Ponds, a five-acre wildlife sanctuary.