
Shelly Dickson Carr
Author. Mystery Writer.
About
Shelly Dickson Carr, an award-winning author, has a rich tapestry of experiences that inform her storytelling. Residing in Boston with her beloved family and dogs. Shelly draws inspiration from her vibrant surroundings and her life as a mother to three grown daughters. Her literary journey began in a home filled with books, where her love for mysteries was ignited at the tender age of ten, thanks to her grandfather, the renowned mystery writer John Dickson Carr. Julia McNiven was also a mystery writer, making Shelly a 3rd generation Mystery Writer. This familial legacy of storytelling continues to influence her work, particularly in her debut novel, RIPPED, a captivating time-travel murder mystery that won the prestigious Benjamin Franklin Gold Medal for Best First Book, along with multiple silver medals for Best New Voice and Best Mystery/Suspense.
Shelly's passion for storytelling is matched only by her commitment to the arts. As a trustee for the Huntington Theatre in Boston, she has traveled extensively to London, collaborating with the Artistic Director to discover new plays. Her dedication to the arts extends beyond theater; she was overseer at GBH and a founding member of the MASTERPIECE TRUST, which brought beloved series like Downton Abbey and Sherlock to PBS. With a Master of Fine Arts degree in Writing from Vermont College, Shelly's literary pursuits are complemented by her active involvement in various cultural organizations, including The Beacon Hill Circle for Charity and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.
Shelly Dickson Carr Awards
Shelly Dickson Carr has won several prestigious writing awards, including the Benjamin Franklin Gold Medal for Best First Book for her debut novel, RIPPED. She has also received multiple silver medals for Best New Voice and Best Mystery/Suspense. These accolades highlight her talent and contribution to the literary world.
*RIPPED is a winner in 3 IBPA Ben Franklin Awards:
GOLD: Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book, Fiction
SILVER: Best Mystery/Suspense Book
SILVER: Best New Voice (Children/Young Adult)
*Top Ten Readers Award from Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
*Derringer Finalist
Follow SDK’s journey.

SDC and Harlan Coben @ 2024 Edgar awards

My buddy in crime, the inimitable Josh Patcher, was finalist for his YA mystery!

SDC having tea with Colin Dexter at the Inspector Morse Bar in the Randolph Hotel in Oxford England. What an Over-the-Moon experience!

Coming off an amazing weekend at Gladstone’s Library in UK. I did a talk on John Dickson Carr. So much fun. So many amazing people, including his UK publisher at British Library for crime classics. What a wonderful group of mystery readers and writers. Thank you Martin Edwards for inviting me to Alibis in the Archives. Met so many fabulous people