Todd, Marilyn

PERSONAL:

Born in Harrow, Middlesex, England; married.

ADDRESSES:

Home—West Sussex, England.

CAREER:

Writer. Also owns and operates a secretarial business.

WRITINGS:

"CLAUDIA SEFERIS" SERIES; MYSTERY NOVELS

I, Claudia, Macmillan (London, England), 1995.

Virgin Territory, Macmillan (London, England), 1996.

Man Eater, Macmillan (London, England), 1997.

Wolf Whistle, Macmillan (London, England), 1998.

Jail Bait, Macmillan (London, England), 1999.

Black Salamander, Macmillan (London, England), 2000.

Dream Boat, Severn House (Sutton, England), 2002.

Dark Horse, Severn House (Sutton, England), 2002.

Second Act, Severn House (Sutton, England), 2003.

Widow's Pique, Severn House (Sutton, England), 2004.

Sour Grapes, Severn House (Sutton, England), 2005.

Stone Cold, Severn House (Sutton, England), 2005.

Scorpion Rising, Severn House (Sutton, England), 2006.

SIDELIGHTS:

Marilyn Todd is the author of the "Claudia Seferis" mystery series. Set during the days of the ancient Roman Empire, the novels feature a heroine who is a wine merchant by profession but a murder investigator by avocation. Combining authentic historical detail with "anachronistic colloquialisms that will jar some readers' ears," according to one Publishers Weekly writer, the stories also include an ongoing romance between Claudia and Marcus Orbilio of the Security Police. Sometimes described by critics as a less serious take on historicals set in Roman times than those by such authors as Steven Saylor and Rosemary Rowe, Todd's books are characterized by fast pacing, colorful characters, and a heroine who is a combination of "Alexis Carrington … [and] Xena the Warrior Princess," remarked a Kirkus Reviews contributor. The same critic, reviewing Todd's Dream Boat, observed that the works are admittedly kitschy but that "blunt, resourceful Claudia's hard not to love: her exploits are a true guilty pleasure." Emily Melton, reviewing Scorpion Rising for Booklist, similarly asserted that "brash, smartmouthed Claudia … is a naughty delight." In a review of Stone Cold, Melton further appreciated how "Todd adds further spice with a combination of a skillfully tangled plot, smart dialogue, and hilarious badinage."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, May 1, 2005, Emily Melton, review of Stone Cold, p. 1538; June 1, 2006, Emily Melton, review of Scorpion Rising, p. 45.

Kirkus Reviews, April 1, 2002, review of Dream Boat, p. 460; October 15, 2002, review of Dark Horse, p. 1509; October 1, 2003, review of Second Act, p. 1204; July 1, 2005, review of Stone Cold, p. 712.

Library Journal, November 1, 2003, Rex E. Klett, review of Second Act, p. 127; November 1, 2004, Rex E. Klett, review of Widow's Pique, p. 62.

Publishers Weekly, April 22, 2002, review of Dream Boat, p. 54; October 28, 2002, review of Dark Horse, p. 55; November 3, 2003, review of Second Act, p. 58; November 28, 2005, review of Sour Grapes, p. 27.