858 ratings | 118 reviews | avg rating:4.46

more photos (1)

Kay Kendall’s Followers (121)

Kay’s Bookshelves

to-read (82)
currently-reading (43)
read (900)
thank-you-for-your-service (0)

Kay’s Friends (618)

Gary Parkes

1,595 books | 336 friends

Nancy Silverman

207 books | 1,988 friends

Suzanne Leopold (Suzy Approved Book Reviews)

5,630 books | 3,956 friends

Jeffrey Marks

920 books | 1,149 friends

Melisa Dowling Reed

73,481 books | 1,351 friends

Lynn Cahoon

1,323 books | 1,240 friends

Anna Lee Huber

962 books | 595 friends

Pamela Sewell

17,369 books | 402 friends

More friends…

Kay Kendall

Goodreads Author

Born

in El Dorado KS, The United States

Website

http://www.AustinStarr.com

Twitter

kaylee_kendall

Genre

Mystery, Historical Fiction, Thriller

Influences

David Morrell, Jacqueline Winspear, Sara Paretsky, Donna Leon

Member Since

July 2012

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/kkintexas

edit data

Before Kay Kendall began to write books, she was an award-winning international public relations executive, working in the US, Canada, the Soviet Union, and Europe. Ask her about working in Moscow during the Cold War—and turning down a job with the CIA in order to attend grad school at Harvard. Because of her degrees in Russian history, Kay often brings Cold War elements into her tales. She takes great pains in her books to get historical settings and details right—no anachronisms allowed.
Kay is president of the Southwest Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America and is a member of the national board of MWA. She and her Canadian husband live in Houston, Texas, and have rescued abandoned pet rabbits for 20 years. They have a tolerant spanie ...more

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Kay Kendall questions, please sign up.

Combine Editions
Kay Kendall’s books

Average rating: 4.2 · 269 ratings · 99 reviews · 11 distinct works

	Desolation Row 4.13 avg rating — 86 ratings — published 2013 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Bake, Love, Write: 105 Authors Share Dessert Recipes and Advice on Love and Writing by Lois Winston (Goodreads Author) (editor), Brenda Novak (Goodreads Author) (contributor), Debra Holland (Goodreads Author) (contributor) 4.59 avg rating — 44 ratings — published 2014 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Rainy Day Women (Austin Starr Mysteries #2) 4.23 avg rating — 39 ratings — published 2015 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	After You've Gone (Austin Starr #3) 4.38 avg rating — 29 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Only a Pawn in Their Game (Bullet Books Speed Reads Book 7) by Manning Wolfe (Goodreads Author), Kay Kendall (Goodreads Author) 3.96 avg rating — 26 ratings — published 2019 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	We'd Rather Be Writing: 88 Authors Share Timesaving Dinner Recipes and Other Tips by Lois Winston (Goodreads Author) (Editor/Contributor), Lisa Alber (Goodreads Author) (Contributor), Reggi Allder (Goodreads Author) (Contributor) 4.04 avg rating — 23 ratings — published 2015 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Strangers on a Plane (The Prometheus Saga) 4.21 avg rating — 19 ratings — published 2015	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Prometheus Saga: A Science Fiction Anthology by Elle Andrews Patt (Goodreads Author), Jade Kerrion (Goodreads Author), Ken Pelham (Goodreads Author) 3.92 avg rating — 12 ratings — published 2015 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Picturegoer Magazine : 10/12/1955 KAY KENDALL, CYD CHARISSE, JOANNE WOODWARD [Pamphlet] 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	AQA A-Level Psychology Student Book 2: 5th Edition by Mike Cardwell, Liz Clark, Claire Meldrum 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2016	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Kay Kendall…

10 posts
Kay Kendall's Blog: 99 cents for Desolation Row, limited time!

I'm interviewed by a UK blogger!

A blogger in England interviewed me this week. Near the end of this long piece, you'll find a teaser about the book I'm writing now!

https://authorsinterviews.wordpress.c...

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on March 18, 2016 04:37

View all 10 posts »

Series by Kay Kendall

Austin Starr Mysteries (3 books)
by

Kay Kendall (Goodreads Author)

4.20 avg rating — 154 ratings

Kay is Currently Reading

Kay is currently reading

The Edinburgh Murders: A dark tour-de-force by bestselling historical crime fiction queen

by Catriona McPherson (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Dec 04, 2025 09:41PM

Kay is currently reading

The Ink Black Heart (Cormoran Strike, #6)

by Robert Galbraith

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Feb 07, 2025 09:05PM

Kay is currently reading

Endings

by Linda L. Richards (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Oct 27, 2024 04:50AM

rss
Kay’s Recent Updates

Kay is currently reading The Edinburgh Murders: A dark tour-de-force by bestselling historical crime fiction queen by Catriona McPherson (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 04, 2025 09:41PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Edinburgh Murders by Catriona McPherson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Edinburgh Murders by Catriona McPherson <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kay voted for The Impossible Fortune (Thursday Murder Club, #5) as Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller in the Final Round of the 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards. Cast Your Vote
Nov 27, 2025 11:26AM · like
Kay wants to read Joyride: A Memoir by Susan Orlean (Goodreads Author) Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee in Readers' Favorite Memoir	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 09, 2025 01:20PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Joyride by Susan Orlean. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Joyride by Susan Orlean <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kay finished reading The Inheritance (Charles Lenox Mysteries #10) by Charles Finch (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 29, 2025 01:23AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Inheritance by Charles Finch. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Inheritance by Charles Finch <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kay finished reading Gone Before Christmas (Charles Lenox Mysteries, #10.5) by Charles Finch (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 23, 2025 12:57AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Gone Before Christmas by Charles Finch. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Gone Before Christmas by Charles Finch <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kay entered a giveaway The Good Liar by Denise Mina (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 22, 2025 08:42AM · like · see giveaway · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Good Liar by Denise Mina. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Good Liar by Denise Mina <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kay wants to read Written Off by Karen McQuestion (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 15, 2025 05:17PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Written Off by Karen McQuestion. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Written Off by Karen McQuestion <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kay is currently reading The Ink Black Heart (Cormoran Strike, #6) by Robert Galbraith	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 07, 2025 09:05PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kay is currently reading Endings by Linda L. Richards (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 27, 2024 04:50AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Endings by Linda L. Richards. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Endings by Linda L. Richards <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kay is currently reading The Sentence is Death (Hawthorne & Horowitz #2) by Anthony Horowitz (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 07, 2024 10:51PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Sentence is Death by Anthony Horowitz. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Sentence is Death by Anthony Horowitz <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of Kay's books…

Quotes by Kay Kendall (?)

“I write about what life was like for typical young women of the sixties—not the type that made headlines, the Hanoi Janes or Angela Davises, but moderates who nonetheless got swept up by history's tides during that turbulent time. All that turmoil lends itself to drama, intrigue, and murder.”
― Kay Kendall, Desolation Row

tags: 60s, canada, vietnam

6 likes

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
THE Group for Aut...: Share your Amazon Author Page	499	278	Jul 09, 2013 04:57PM
Making Connections: NEW--audio version of DESOLATION ROW	1	5	Sep 04, 2013 12:58PM
Non Profits Liter...: NEW--audio version of DESOLATION ROW	1	3	Sep 04, 2013 01:01PM
The Perks Of Bein...: NEW--audio version of DESOLATION ROW	1	9	Sep 04, 2013 01:04PM
The Perks Of Bein...: NOV 9, author appearance, New Orleans~!	1	5	Nov 04, 2013 03:30PM
Ask Susan Wittig ...: "Depressing" Fiction	42	47	Nov 11, 2013 02:28PM
Making Connections: Comment to win giveaway!	1	5	Mar 29, 2014 09:35AM
Connecting Reader...: Comment to win giveaway of mystery!	1	5	Mar 29, 2014 09:41AM

More…

Kay’s Quotes

“How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live.”
― Henry David Thoreau

4609 likes

“I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”
― Henry David Thoreau, Walden: Or, Life in the Woods

8353 likes

tags: 60s, canada, vietnam

6 likes

“Yesterday's faults become today's lessons. Today's dreams become tomorrow's reality.”
― BJ Neblett

tags: dreams, faults, lessons, reality, today, tomorrow, yesterday

18 likes

“The hardest thing about adolescence is that everything seems too big. There's no way to get context or perspective, ..... Pain and joy without limits. No one can live like that forever, so experience finally comes to our rescue. We come to know what we can endure, and also that nothing endures.”
― Sara Paretsky, Bleeding Kansas

tags: adolescence, endurance, experience, inspirational

40 likes

More of Kay’s quotes…

Kay’s Friend Comments

Comments (showing 1-3) post a comment »

date

newest »

message 3: by Beth

Jun 17, 2013 03:52PM

Hi Kay,
Thanks for sending a Goodreads friend request to this fellow mystery author!

reply | flag

message 2: by Kay

Jun 15, 2013 02:01PM

Hi again. Interested to see that you and I both gave Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden only three stars. I was amazed (back in the day) that this book was so very popular. I just didn't get it. It was a fine book but the mass appeal is what I never understood.

Your publishing career is amazing, by the way. Congratulations. You've been published in some amazing places! kk

reply | flag

message 1: by C.J.

Jun 15, 2013 01:50PM

C.J. Heck

Hello Kay,
It's such a pleasure having you for a friend. I am looking forward to reading your work! Thank you and best wishes to you.
Warmest regards,
CJ

Anatomy of a Poet, by CJ Heck

Goodreads Book Giveaway: June 1 to June 30, 2013:
Enter to Win 1 of 10 Autographed Copies:
http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...

Preview Anatomy of a Poet:
http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/3...

reply | flag

Kay Kendall’s Followers (121)

Add New
Videos

Kay’s Bookshelves

Kay’s Friends (618)

Kay Kendall

Goodreads Author

Learn more
Ask the Author

Combine Editions
Kay Kendall’s books

10 posts
Kay Kendall's Blog: 99 cents for Desolation Row, limited time!

I'm interviewed by a UK blogger!

Series by Kay Kendall

Kay is Currently Reading

rss
Kay’s Recent Updates

See a Problem?

Preview — The Edinburgh Murders by Catriona McPherson

See a Problem?

Preview — Joyride by Susan Orlean

See a Problem?

Preview — The Inheritance by Charles Finch

See a Problem?

Preview — Gone Before Christmas by Charles Finch

See a Problem?

Preview — The Good Liar by Denise Mina

See a Problem?

Preview — Written Off by Karen McQuestion

See a Problem?

Preview — The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith

See a Problem?

Preview — Endings by Linda L. Richards

See a Problem?

Preview — The Sentence is Death by Anthony Horowitz

Topics Mentioning This Author

Kay’s Quotes

recent posts
Kay’s Groups

Kay’s Friend Comments

Kay Kendall’s Followers (121)

Kay Kendall

Goodreads Author

rssKay’s Recent Updates

See a Problem?

Preview — The Edinburgh Murders by Catriona McPherson

See a Problem?

Preview — Joyride by Susan Orlean

See a Problem?

Preview — The Inheritance by Charles Finch

See a Problem?

Preview — Gone Before Christmas by Charles Finch

See a Problem?

Preview — The Good Liar by Denise Mina

See a Problem?

Preview — Written Off by Karen McQuestion

See a Problem?

Preview — The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith

See a Problem?

Preview — Endings by Linda L. Richards

See a Problem?

Preview — The Sentence is Death by Anthony Horowitz

Topics Mentioning This Author

rss
Kay’s Recent Updates