Meet 95-Year-Old Debut Author, Sally Weinraub

Join 95-year-old debut author Sally Weinraub, for a reading from her four mystery novels on Sunday, September 25 at 4:00pm, at the Larchmont Public Library. Refreshments will be available beginning at 3:30pm. Presented by the Friends of the Larchmont Public Library.

A native of Manchester, England, Sally Weinraub came to the US during World War II and married and had four children. She then went back to school and graduated first in her class at Manhattanville College. At age 50, at her husband’s urging, she went to Brooklyn Law School, where she made law review and moot court. Afterward, she worked as an appeals lawyer for some thirty years.

After retiring, Ms. Weinraub began writing mystery novels. She was unable to get an agent or publisher for her first book, but she kept on writing. Now she has written four delightful cozy mysteries featuring the British-born sleuth and appeals lawyer, Emily Lewis. In her relentless quest to unmask murderers and free the falsely accused, Emily often stumbles into danger herself. Her British reserve almost obscures her passionate nature. Sally made her literary debut in March 2016, publishing a quartet of mystery novels (In Six Week’s Time, Murder on the Intrepid, Death of a Goddess, Murder at the Mikvah) just in time for her 95th birthday!

“I loved to read mystery novels. They were always so relaxing to me,” she said. “Agatha Christie’s work I enjoyed so much and I always thought, ‘I should try that.’” Fans of bestselling mystery writers such as Patricia Wentworth, Dorothy Sayers, and Marjorie Allingham will welcome this spirited newcomer.

“The people and places in my stories are based on the people I’ve met,” Ms. Weinraub said. “Like ‘In Six Weeks’ Time’ takes place in Reno and I had to go to Reno years ago for a divorce because back then, that was one of the only places you could get a divorce. I had to stay in a, sort of, lodge, and what was nice about it was the people. The people in the book are based off of the people I met there, and the relationships people have in the book are inspired by the relationships I saw. So it was very easy to write.”

Sally’s story of indefatigable persistence is highly inspirational. And her books will keep you up way past your bedtime.

In real life, Sally’s family is one of her top priorities. She has four children, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. As a very close family they often take family vacations. Each trip has been very meaningful to her seeing her family together, having a good time, and hearing lots of laughter. She recently celebrated her 60th anniversary with her husband.