Cynthia Hamilton’s ‘Houses of Deception’

Cynthia Hamilton’s ‘Houses of Deception’

Mystery Writer of Madeline Dawkins Series Sets Stories in Santa Barbara

By Matt Kettmann

“I have a terrible illness to thank for my writing career,” said Cynthia Hamilton, who released the sixth book of her Madeline Dawkins mystery series on July 20. While enduring nine years of diagnosing what was eventually labeled late-stage Lyme disease, Hamilton left the mortgage industry to focus on writing. “[That] allowed me to get out of my body for periods of time and up into my head, away from the constant pain,” she explained. 

Setting her novels in Santa Barbara, which is where the latest book, Houses of Deception, takes place, makes it fun for resident readers to enjoy. “Local readers tell me how much they enjoy reading about fictional events that take place in settings they are familiar with,” she explained. “The fact that the stories are set in Santa Barbara will interest readers who haven’t already been introduced to the series.” She’s also been fascinated with the “charlatans” who pass through town and is focusing on a few of them in her next Madeline Dawkins book, Other People’s Money. She tells us more below. 

When did you come to Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara’s been my home since 1979. Coming here was the most important move of my life. Everything came together for me from the first day on. I immediately starting working at a restaurant on Coast Village Road, a job that was pivotal to my future. In 1984, I married the former owner of Chanticleer Restaurant. I eventually followed him into the mortgage industry, managing his company until 2008.