Jill McGown
Jill McGown was a Scottish author born in 1947 in Campbeltown, Argyll, and later moved to Corby, Northamptonshire, where she spent much of her life. Initially trained for a career in secretarial work, McGown transitioned to writing after losing her job when British Steel downsized in 1980. Her debut novel, "A Perfect Match," published in 1983, introduced readers to her captivating detective duo, female detective Judy Hill and her partner, Lloyd. The series explores complex themes, including relationships, environmental issues, and the struggles of working mothers, as the characters navigate their personal and professional lives. McGown's storytelling is notable for its accessibility and depth, earning her a positive reception from critics. In addition to her popular series, she authored several stand-alone mysteries, such as "The Stalking Horse" and "Murder Movie." Through her work, McGown contributed significantly to the detective genre, combining engaging narratives with thought-provoking social issues.
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Subject Terms
Jill McGown
Writer
- Born: August 9, 1947
- Birthplace: Campbeltown, Argyll, Scotland
- Died: April 6, 2007
- Place of death: Kettering, Northamptonshire, England
Biography
Jill McGown was born in 1947 in Campbeltown, Argyll, Scotland, a fishing village on the Mull of Kintyre, idyllically serene and removed from the outside world. When McGown’s father, a fisherman, was unable to make a living, the family moved to Corby, Northamptonshire, England, in 1957, and McGown has lived there ever since.
McGown attended Kettering Technical College, where she learned typing and shorthand, preparing her for the secretarial jobs she held from 1964 until 1980. During these years, McGown gave little thought to doing anything other than secretarial work, but in 1980, when British Steel was downsizing, she was dismissed from her job. With Britain’s unemployment rate hovering around 25 percent, McGown decided to try writing as a means of supporting herself.
She began to write a detective story involving a female detective, Judy Hill, and her partner, a man identified only as Lloyd. The first of her novels featuring this duo, A Perfect Match, was published by St. Martin’s Press in 1983. The book was a resounding success and led her to write a series of books featuring the two characters. In these novels, Hill and Lloyd have a mutual attraction and initially struggle to resist it. Lloyd is married, but in time he divorces and begins a relationship with Hill. The couple finally get married in Scene of the Crime (2001), and they later have a daughter, Charlotte.
The Lloyd and Hill series is notable for dealing forthrightly with a broad variety of issues ranging from the conflict between developers and environmentalists in Picture of Innocence to the effects of rape on its victims, blackmail, suicide, child abuse, and homosexuality. McGown also deals with the dilemma of working mothers. After their daughter is born, Hill and Lloyd must decide whether Hill should be a stay-at-home parent or return to work, a difficult decision for any mother.
In addition to the books in the Lloyd and Hill series, McGown has written several stand-alone mysteries, most notably The Stalking Horse and Murder Movie. Her writing style is at once accessible and commanding, and her critical reception has been almost uniformly positive.