Mary Abigail Padgett (born May 13, 1942, in Vincennes, Indiana) is an American author of mystery novels who features in Great Women Mystery Writers (2007)[1][2]
Padgett graduated in 1964 from Indiana University, Bloomington with a degree in education then earned a master's in counselling from the University of Missouri in 1969; between the two she taught high school English in St. Louis. She then had several different jobs before becoming a court investigator for Child Protective Services in San Diego, a post she left in 1988 to concentrate on writing and advocacy for children and the mentally ill.[1]
Padgett's first series concerns Barbara "Bo" Bradley, a child protection advocate investigator in San Diego who suffers from bipolar disorder. Her second series features Blue McCarron, a reclusive lesbian social psychologist.[1]
Padgett maintains a blog.[3]