Francine Mathews

Francine Mathews, also known by her pseudonym Stephanie Barron, is an American writer of mystery and spy fiction. Born in Binghamton, New York, she grew up in Washington, D.C. She attended Princeton University, where she majored in European History and wrote for the university newspaper, leading to journalism jobs with The Miami Herald and The San Jose Mercury News. She earned a Master's degree from Stanford University in history before working as an intelligence analyst for the CIA for several years. Her experiences at the CIA, particularly her work on the Counterterrorism Center's investigation into the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, influenced her spy thrillers. Mathews has written two series as Francine Mathews: the Merry Folger Nantucket mysteries and the Caroline Carmichael spy thrillers. As Stephanie Barron, she writes historical mysteries featuring Jane Austen as a sleuth. She lives in Denver, Colorado, with her husband and two sons.