About Melodie Campbell

"the Canadian literary heir to Donald Westlake"

Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine

National Bestselling Author
 MELODIE CAMPBELL

"Is that a broadsword on your belt, or are you just glad to see me?"  

Short Bio: 

Meet Melodie Campbell  "Christie-Meets-Wodehouse" says Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine

Called the "Queen of Comedy" by The Toronto Sun and compared to Agatha Christie by The Toronto Star, Melodie Campbell writes crime capers and golden age mysteries.  Melodie has ten awards, 21 novels, and 60 short stories, but got her start writing standup.  The Pharaoh’s Curse Murders will be released April 11, 2026, from Cormorant Books (Toronto.)  

 

More on Melodie:

Melodie has a Commerce degree from Queen's University, but it didn't take well.  She has been a bank manager, marketing director, college instructor, comedy writer, and possibly the worst runway model ever. 

 

Melodie has won the Crime Writers of Canada Award of Excellence, the Derringer (US), the Hamilton Reads Award, and seven more.  Her first novel, Rowena Through the Wall, was a top 50 Amazon bestseller (all books) and was featured on USA Today.

She is the past executive director of Crime Writers of Canada.  Read Melodie on Sleuthsayers, the Criminal Blog, the 4th Saturday of every month.

AWARDS:

MURDER, NEAT (anthology) wins the 2025 DERRINGER AWARD! Includes "The Mob, The Model and the College Reunion"

 

FINALIST for the 2020 ARTHUR ELLIS AWARDS

"The Goddaughter Does Vegas"  Orca Book Publishers 

 

DOUBLE FINALIST 2019 ARTHUR ELLIS AWARDS!

"The B-Team"  Orca Book Publishers

"A Ship Called Pandora" Mystery Weekly Magazine

WINNER of the 2015 Hamilton Literary Council, "HAMILTON READS" Award
The Goddaughter Series

WINNER  of the 2014 ARTHUR ELLIS AWARD, Crime Writers of Canada
"The Goddaughter's Revenge"

WINNER of the 2014 DERRINGER AWARD
"The Goddaughter's Revenge"

WINNER: 2014 NorthWord Literary Journal/YMM National Short Story Competition
"Hook, Line and Sinker"

FINALIST for the 2018 Ontario Library Association GOLDEN OAK AWARD
"The Bootlegger's Goddaughter"

FINALIST  for the 2015 ARTHUR ELLIS AWARD
"Hook, Line and Sinker"

FINALIST for the 2013 ARTHUR ELLIS AWARD
"Life Without George"

FINALIST for the 2012 DERRINGER AWARD
"The Perfect Mark"

FINALIST for the 2012 ARTHUR ELLIS AWARD
"The Perfect Mark"

2012 Arts Hamilton national short fiction award,
2nd prize
"Life Without George"

WINNER: Holiday Short Story Contest (EU)
Dec. 2011
"Blue Satin and Love"

Bony Pete short story contest, 3rd prize,
"Tea for One", 2011

Arts Hamilton national short fiction award finalist
"Santa Baby", 2008

Bony Pete Short Story contest 3rd prize
"School for Burglars", 2006

Murder Mayhem and the Macabre, City of Mississauga,
WINNER:  2 categories
"Tea and Turnabout" and "Cyanide", 1991

Canadian Living Magazine Romance Story contest 3rd prize
"Jive Talk", 1989

WINNER, Toronto Public Library writing contest for teens, "Horatio Hedgehog," 1974

...and a few more