Order of Ann Swinfen Books

Ann Swinfen crafts historical mysteries and literary fiction, notably penning the Chronicles of Christoval Alvarez series and the Oxford Medieval Mysteries series. Her academic journey began at Somerville College, Oxford, where she pursued Classics and Mathematics, followed by an MSc in Mathematics and later a BA and PhD in English Literature. Throughout her studies, she balanced diverse professional roles including university teaching, translation work, freelance journalism, and software design. She currently resides along Scotland's northeast coastline with her husband and companion animals.

Swinfen entered the publishing world in 1984 with her non-fiction work In Defense of Fantasy, then transitioned to novel writing with The Anniversary in 1996. Her debut novel unfolds during a single day—June 11th, 1994—in rural Herefordshire, where Natasha Devereux's family and two hundred guests commemorate St. Martin's fiftieth anniversary. This institution began as one woman's vision after fleeing Bolshevik Russia, transforming into a haven for artists, musicians, writers, and European war refugees, eventually becoming a multigenerational family sanctuary. The celebration becomes a backdrop for unfolding drama: marriage troubles, an approaching birth, teenage angst, paternal infidelity, revelations from decades past, financial difficulties, and rekindled romance from 1957.

Among her shorter works is "Envy," which explores the relationship between Pierre Lamotte, an impoverished farmer, and Raoul Legros, his wealthy neighbor. Their years-long observation of each other across property lines sets the stage for examining how envy transforms their existence.