Candice Sue Harris
Biography
Candice Sue Harris, who writes primarily under the pen name C. S. Harris, is an American author renowned for her critically acclaimed Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery series. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1950, Harris pursued higher education with a strong focus on history, earning a B.A. from Tulane University and an M.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This academic background as a historian profoundly influences her meticulously researched historical novels, providing a rich, authentic backdrop for her intricate plots. Before becoming a full-time novelist, she taught history at the university level. Her St. Cyr series, set in the tumultuous Regency era of early 19th-century England, began in 2005 with "What Angels Fear" and features a charismatic nobleman and amateur detective navigating the dark underbelly of London society. She also writes as C. S. Graham, co-authoring the Sarah Blair Mysteries.
Selected Thoughts
«Power, like a corrosive acid, eats away at the best intentions.»
«The past was never truly dead. It lived on, a silent presence shaping the present, dictating the future.»
«Truth was a weapon, and like all weapons, it could wound the innocent as well as the guilty.»
Writing Style
C. S. Harris employs an elegant, atmospheric, and detail-oriented writing style that fully immerses readers in the Regency era. Her prose is rich with historical authenticity, creating a vivid sense of time and place. She excels at crafting complex, multi-layered mysteries featuring intricate plots, morally ambiguous characters, and a keen exploration of societal norms, class divisions, and justice. Her narratives often balance dark, suspenseful elements with compelling character development and psychological depth, maintaining a sophisticated tone throughout.