Australian author Kerry Greenwood has died age 70.

Kerry Greenwood wrote mysteries, sci-fi, historical fiction, children’s stories, as well as plays. She is best known for her highly popular ‘Phryne Fisher’ historical detective series which was in turn was adapted for the small screen by ABC TV as Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries.

Greenwood was born in Melbourne, living there most of her life. She graduated university with a Bachelor of Arts (English) and Bachelor of Laws degrees in 1979.

In 1982, Greenwood was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria, and worked full-time as a criminal defence lawyer for Victoria Legal Aid.

She had been writing since her teenage years, but in 1988 she entered a novel for the Vogel prize. She was not selected but one of the judges was suitably impressed, offering her a contract for two detective novels. Her writing career took off.

Greenwood was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2020.

The first book in the ‘Phryne Fisher’ series in Cocaine Blues.