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Frank Kleinholz

 

 

Writing Group

Lisa Kleinholz is the author of two highly acclaimed mysteries featuring punk-rock journalist sleuth, Zoë Szabo. In Exiles on Main Street a murderer stalks a small community of Cambodian refugees whose lives have been shattered in Khmer Rouge killing fields. In Dancing with Mr. D—named one of the year's best mysteries in the Florida Sun-Sentinel—a tangled trail into the shady past of an environmental fanatic leads Zoë uncomfortably close to home. Kleinholz lives in Amherst, Massachusetts with her husband, folk musician Paul Kaplan, and a bichon frise. She has two daughters.

Photos

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Lisa Kleinholz
Photo © Brittany Kaplan

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Lisa with husband Paul Kaplan in Barcelona
Photo © David Ross


Lisa with her writing group—Jeannine Atkins, D. Dina Friedman, and Bruce Carson—in front of their meeting place, Boltwood Tavern at the Lord Jeff Inn.
Photo © Brittany Kaplan


Lisa in Galway, Ireland, between two authors named "Wilde" (one Oscar, the other Eduard, an Estonian writer).

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Lisa in Dublin in front of the Three Fates sculpture

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Reviews:

Praise for Dancing with Mr. D

Named one of the Best Mysteries of the Year by the Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) Sun-Sentinel!

"Lisa Kleinholz underscores Dancing With Mr. D with a rock 'n' roll soundtrack that seems to play softly in the background, then grows in volume as the plot solidifies ... This clever, well-plotted story ... will ring true with readers no matter what their musical taste ... A universal story."
-Oline Cogdill, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"A strong and bittersweet follow-up to Exiles on Main Street melds another unusual story line with the knockout voice of ex-Rolling Stone writer Zoë Szabo."
-Barbara Peters, Poisoned Pen Bookstore

"Tightly woven, suspenseful and heart wrenching ... this is a must have."
-Cathy Gallagher, Mystery Guide, About.com

"Dancing With Mr. D confirms the author as a huge talent who constantly pushes at the boundaries of the genre. It is highly recommended."
-John Lewell, femaledetective.com

"Kleinholz blends a quick-moving plot, the nuances of small town life and politics, complex human relationships, and the rock music scene with a seamless ease and grace. As a writer, I admire her talent. As a reader, I am smitten with her characters."
-Kate Flora, author of Death in Paradise

"A fast-paced plot leavened by heart-rending complications of relationships that always ring true."
-April Henry, Agatha- and Anthony-nominated author of The Heart-Shaped Box

"Zoë is such a believable heroine. She really is someone who could stop by for coffee and tell you her story (if she had enough time). Kleinholz has give us a rich, interesting woman doing her best in some very complex situations... And if you thought Evanovich left you hanging at the end of Five, brace yourself for the ending of Dancing with Mr. D." Top-rated (5 cats)
Kate's Mystery Books Newsletter

Praise for Exiles on Main Street

"A debut of great promise and verve, with an unforgettable heroine to carry its provocative story."
-Laura Lippman, Edgar-award winning author of The Sugar House

"Replete with compelling personalities, particularly the rock 'n' roll refugees."
-Publishers Weekly

"Buoyed by an appealing heroine struggling to keep her family together and a solid plot revolving around the plight of Cambodian refugees ... Exiles on Main Street, with one of the best openers, is just the beginning of what should be a long-running series."
-Oline Cogdill, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Sun-Sentinel

"Crackling suspense, an affecting cast of complex characters and a fascinating window on Cambodian culture combine in a stunning debut mystery ... With wit and a sure sense of place and pace, Kleinholz manages to weave murder mystery, domestic unrest and cultural conflict into a gripping story that, by turns, warms and stops the heart."
-Bonnie Wells, Amherst (Mass.) Bulletin

"A gripping tale ... These characters hit the mark, with the personal side to the book having a mystery of its own and an authentic and natural feeling, and the murder mystery having enough viable suspects and surprises to keep the reader quite satisfied. I highly recommend Exiles on Main Street, and look forward to Kleinholz's next book, Dancing With Mr. D."
-Neil Grenier, Odyssey Bookshop

"Can author Lisa Kleinholz maintain the exceptional quality of this, her first novel, to produce an entire series? If she can, the series will be one of the best in the whole crime genre, so credible is the plot, so convincing are her characters ... A spellbinding tale."
-John Lewell, femaledetective.com

"An outstanding first novel ... Zoë is delightful ... When I closed the book, I already missed Zoë and her co-workers, her cozy little family, and the small New England town."
-Diana Burrell, The Mystery Reader

For further information, read about my personal journey as a writer or contact me.

 

Fish photo credit: Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
© 1999-2007 by Lisa Kleinholz.