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J.L. Oakley

Goodreads Author

Born

in D.C., The United States

Website

http://jloakleyauthor.com

Twitter

jloakley

Genre

Historical Fiction, Mystery, Suspense

Influences

MM Kaye's Shadow on the Moon and The Far Pavillions, Bernard Cornwell' ...more

Member Since

February 2011

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomjloakley

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BIOGRAPHY

Award-winning author J.L. Oakley writes historical fiction that spans the mid-19th century to WW II with characters standing up for something in their own time and place. Her writing has been recognized with a 2006 Surrey International Writer's Non-fiction award. 2013 Bellingham Mayor’s Arts Award, the 2013 Chanticleer Grand Prize, the 2014 First Place Chaucer Award, the 2015 WILLA Silver Award for Timber Rose and the 2016 Goethe Grand Prize for The Jøssing Affair. When not writing, she demonstrates 19th century folkways.

Her other writings appear in various magazines, anthologies, and other media including the Cup of Comfort series and Historylink.org, a “cyperpedia of Washington State history.”

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Combine Editions
J.L. Oakley’s books

Average rating: 4.15 · 846 ratings · 165 reviews · 13 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Jøssing Affair 4.36 avg rating — 137 ratings — 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
	The Quisling Factor 4.49 avg rating — 84 ratings — 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
	Tree Soldier 3.79 avg rating — 82 ratings — published 2010 — 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
	Timber Rose 4.25 avg rating — 67 ratings — published 2013 — 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
	Coconut Island 4.34 avg rating — 62 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
	Saddle Road 4.27 avg rating — 52 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
	Mist-chi-mas: A Novel of Captivity 4.43 avg rating — 35 ratings — published 2017 — 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
	Volcano House 4.48 avg rating — 27 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
	Hilina Pali: Hilo Bay Mystery 4.13 avg rating — 23 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
	Hilo Bay Mystery Collection 4.31 avg rating — 16 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

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22 posts
J.L. Oakley's Blog

Winners of the Timber Rose Giveaway

Thanks to everyone who entered my giveaway for TIMBER ROSE. 610 entered!

I'm very happy to announce that:
James MacDonald of Algonac, MI &
Amanda Arechavala of Melbourne, FL

The books will be winging their way to you.

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Published on April 27, 2014 16:51 • Tags: goodreads-giveaways, timber-rose, winners

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J.L. is Currently Reading

J.L. is currently reading

Passport to Spy: A Kat Lawson Mystery

by Nancy Cole Silverman (Goodreads Author)

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Apr 09, 2024 10:11PM

J.L. is currently reading

Singularity (Sarah Armstrong #1)

by Kathryn Casey (Goodreads Author)

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Jul 19, 2023 12:14PM

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J.L.’s Recent Updates

J.L. rated a book it was amazing Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown by Candace Fleming (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 03, 2026 09:27AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Death in the Jungle by Candace Fleming. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Death in the Jungle by Candace Fleming <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
J.L. rated a book really liked it North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell	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
I wanted to read the book after I saw a BBC prodution of the novel, but when I was looking for 19th century works my heroine might be reading for my historical fiction set in in 1860, this title came. Elizabeth Gaskell was an early feminist from what ...more
May 19, 2026 02:22PM · like · see review
J.L. rated a book it was amazing Prince of Foxes by Samuel Shellabarger	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
This is an oldie but a goodie from the 1940s. Shellabarger was a great writer of historical fiction and this one sparked my love of historical fiction. It doesn't hurt that it was made into a film with Tyrone Power. Great historical details of the Me ...more
May 19, 2026 09:50AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Prince of Foxes by Samuel Shellabarger. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Prince of Foxes by Samuel Shellabarger <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
J.L. rated a book really liked it The Marriage Portrait 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
My book club chose this book. We had a very interesting discussion about women in this time period. I ran out of time to finish it, but I did enjoy what I read. The author obviously knows this period of history.
May 19, 2026 09:45AM · like · see review
J.L. rated a book it was amazing The Last Death of Jack Harbin: A Samuel Craddock Mystery by Terry Shames (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
This is the second book I've read in the series (A bit out of order) but what I like about this one as in the other, is her main character Samuel and all the characters that live in this small Texas town. She captures the language of the people, the ...more
May 19, 2026 09:39AM · like · see review
J.L. is now following Terry Shames Author of A Killing at Cotton Hill (Samuel Craddock Myste...
May 19, 2026 09:39AM · like
J.L. rated a book it was amazing City of Vengeance (Cesare Aldo #1) by D.V. Bishop	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
David and I were on a panel at Shetland Noir23. I was intrigue by what he said about finding out the City of Florence had an actual police department during the time of the Medici. The first of its kind in Europe. It was a great read full of historic ...more
May 19, 2026 09:33AM · like · see review
J.L. is now following D.V. Bishop Author of City of Vengeance (Cesare Aldo #1)
May 19, 2026 09:32AM · like
J.L. rated a book it was amazing Horse by Geraldine Brooks (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 19, 2026 09:28AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Horse by Geraldine Brooks. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Horse by Geraldine Brooks <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
J.L. is currently reading The Last Death of Jack Harbin: A Samuel Craddock Mystery by Terry Shames (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
Mar 19, 2025 07:14PM · like

More of J.L.'s books…

Quotes by J.L. Oakley (?)

“river. Life, I think, is too short. Let the river wear them down.”
― J.L. Oakley, Timber Rose

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