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859 ratings | 119 reviews | avg rating:4.46

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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

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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

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Kay Kendall’s books

Average rating: 4.19 · 268 ratings · 99 reviews · 13 distinct works • Similar authors

	Desolation Row 4.12 avg rating — 85 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) 4.26 avg rating — 38 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) 3.93 avg rating — 27 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
	Bullet Books leituras rápidas box 3 (Box sets Bullet Books leituras rápidas) (Portuguese Edition) by Manning Wolfe (Goodreads Author), Kay Kendall (Goodreads Author), Suzanne Waltz 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

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...

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Published on March 18, 2016 04:37

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Series by Kay Kendall

Austin Starr Mysteries (3 books)
by

Kay Kendall (Goodreads Author)

4.20 avg rating — 152 ratings

Kay is Currently Reading

Kay is currently reading

Almost Home: The Story of Otto Gruenbaum, Pianist and Ritchie Boy: The Narrative

by Irene Wittig (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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May 08, 2026 11:07AM

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Solo un peón en su juego (Lecturas Rápidas Bullet Books nº 7) (Spanish Edition)

by Manning Wolfe (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Apr 01, 2026 10:13PM

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Watchman

by Ian Rankin (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Mar 07, 2026 02:25PM

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Kay’s Recent Updates

Kay entered a giveaway We Chase Shadows (We Solve Murders, #2) by Richard Osman 20 copies available, ends on August 19, 2026 Enter to win »
Aug 06, 2026 12:54PM · like · see giveaway
Kay entered a giveaway The Heights by Ian Rankin (Goodreads Author) 10 copies available, ends on August 15, 2026 Enter to win »
Jul 16, 2026 08:56AM · like · see giveaway
Kay finished reading The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz by Erik Larson (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 09, 2026 10:07PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kay finished reading Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane (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 09, 2026 10:07PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kay finished reading Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (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 09, 2026 10:06PM · like
Kay finished reading The Women by Kristin Hannah (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 09, 2026 10:05PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Women by Kristin Hannah. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Women by Kristin Hannah <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kay finished reading The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr.	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 09, 2026 10:04PM · like
Kay finished reading Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell (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 09, 2026 10:04PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kay finished reading My Man Jeeves (Jeeves, #1) by P.G. Wodehouse	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 09, 2026 10:03PM · like
Kay finished reading Devil in a Blue Dress (Easy Rawlins, #1) by Walter Mosley	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 09, 2026 10:03PM · like

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

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Kay’s Quotes

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

4615 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

8372 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

41 likes

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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’s Year In Books

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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

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Kay Kendall

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Preview — Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane

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