After nearly forty years of working as a teacher-librarian and Head of Library, Laraine Stephens decided to experience life on the other side of the bookshelves and became a writer of historical crime fiction.

Her debut novel, 'The Death Mask Murders', the first in the Reggie da Costa Mysteries, was published by Level Best Books, in 2021. 'Deadly Intent' followed in May 2022, with 'A Deadly Game' in 2023, ‘Lies and Deception’ in 2024 and ‘The White Feather Murders’ in 2025.

Laraine is a member of Sisters in Crime Australia, the Australian Crime Writers Association, the Crime Writers Association of the UK, and International Thriller Writers.

When she isn’t writing, travelling or playing golf, Laraine speaks to groups and clubs about the historical background to her novels and her path to being a published author. Laraine lives in Beaumaris, a bayside suburb of Melbourne, Australia, with her husband, Bob, and her maladjusted red toy poodle, Zoe.