Last Night Was Killer

Mary Pauline Lowry is the author of the novels The Roxy Letters and Wildfire. She has an MA in English/Creative Writing from the University of Texas and an MFA in Creative Writing from Boise State University. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The New York Times Magazine, O Magazine, and other publications. She lives in her hometown of Austin, Texas.

"On any list of writers that make me laugh, Mary Pauline Lowry is near the top. Last Night Was Killer, but it's also killer fun." — Steven Rowley, New York Times bestselling author of The Guncle“Last Night Was Killer is a rocking, rollicking, supersonic blast of pure fun. Mary Pauline Lowry packs every page with whip-smart wordplay, unforgettable characters, and bombshell plotting. The twists have twists! Best of all is Tilly Turner, a flawed, funny, and fantastic protagonist who deserves many more spins around the pole.” — Lou Berney, USA Today bestselling author of Crooks"Tilly Turner is glorious—funny, haunted, and utterly human. Last Night Was Killer is suspense with heart and a wicked sense of humor." — Joanna Wallace, USA Today bestselling author of You'd Look Better as a Ghost“Last Night Was Killer somehow seamlessly combines a murder mystery, a terrorist plot, pole dancing, grief, motherhood, stand-up comedy and fighting the patriarchy into one utterly delightful page-turning story that is equal parts heart and laughs. That's truly some writerly magic, folks. Buckle up for a wild, laugh-out- loud, one-of-a-kind reading adventure (emphasis: adventure) that only the singular Mary Pauline Lowry could deliver.” — Christine Pride, Author of All The Men I've Loved Again"Last Night Was Killer has everything you want in a comedic mystery—gut punches of laughter interlaced with a twisty puzzle that will have even the savviest readers desperately flipping the pages for answers. But what shines most brightly is the protagonist at its big beating heart. By the end, Tilly Turner and the rest of the unforgettable cast feel like real, live friends. This book is just like her, full of sunshine and ferocity, impossible not to love." — Alex Kiester, New York Times bestselling co-author of The Missing Half“How was I to know that a novel about a single mother taking an Into to Pole Dancing class would become my favorite thriller of the year?... Last Night Was Killer reminded me of the works of Harry Crews and Rufi Thorpe—every character simultaneously colorful, fabulous, fully realized, and deeply relatable. I’ll be recommending this novel all summer…and maybe, just maybe, signing up for a pole dancing class myself.” — Amanda Eyre Ward, New York Times bestselling author of The Jetsetters"Roxy is good for a laugh, but her sincerity is even more affecting, especially when it comes to loving a place that has made insiders of so many outsiders.... Reading The Roxy Letters is as refreshing as a dip in Austin's beloved Barton Springs natural swimming hole, the kind of comic novel we need right now. Not just because it is fun, funny and filled with eccentrics, but because Lowry's novel proves that good people working together can make positive changes.” — Bethanne Patrick, The Washington Post"She fills The Roxy Letters with as much heart as fun, and as a result, the reader comes away from this novel feeling that this city [Austin] that's so special to so many is as cool as it's ever been." — The Austin Chronicle"Exactly what I want to read right now – it’s fun, touching, and slightly ridiculous in all the best ways.” — Book Riot"Lowry's novel bursts with quirky spirit and gleeful comic energy." — Kirkus Reviews“Tom Robbins meets Bridget Jones' Diary, eccentric, fun, delicious, for the thinking woman who loves her vagina." — Rufi Thorpe, author of Margo's Got Money Troubles“Naughty, effervescent fun. A novel abounding in dachshunds, tweakers, real fulfillment centers, aisles of strange beer, and shrines to Venus (they work!). Roxy rocks Austin. And rights the world.” — Joy Williams, author of The Visiting Privilege"The Roxy Letters is bursting with originality, quirky wit, and delightful charm. This rollercoaster of a story is snappy, heartwarming, raunchy, and absurdly enjoyable. Roxy is an unforgettable narrator, and seeing Austin through her eyes is a real treat." — Hannah Orenstein, author of Playing with Matches“Bawdy, frank and laugh-out-loud funny, The Roxy Letters brings to antic life all the hilarity and peppy horrors of being rootless and questing in your twenties.” — Julia Claiborne Johnson, author of Be Frank With Me"Roxy's life, from its wildly risqué escapades to its numerous crises du jour, is a total blast. Lowry's debut is the racy, funny page-turner we could use in these times." — J. Ryan Stradal, author of Kitchens of The Great Midwest"The enormously talented Mary Pauline Lowry has given us a wonderful and compelling contradiction, a novel at once wicked and extravagant and vulnerable and pure. For comedy, for sheer joyous energy and deadly charm, you cannot do better than The Roxy Letters." — Brady Udall, author of The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint"The breezy, charming, laugh-out-loud-funny voice of this book belies the strong bones of plot, character development, place and theme that lie beneath. Part love goddess, part urban warrior, part best-friend-you-wish-you-had, Roxy takes Austin by storm. You will fall in love with her." — Francesca Lia Block, author of Weetzie Bat"Roxy and Mary Pauline Lowry are keeping Austin weird and wacky in The Roxy Letters. If you’ve ever shaken your fist at gentrification, been in a creative rut, had a wild best friend, or wondered where the hell your Prince Charming is, this peppy, confident, rollicking ride is for you!" — Georgia Clark, author of The Bucket List"Mary Pauline Lowry’s The Roxy Letters is too smart and clever to be called a romp, but whatever, it’s a total romp. I fell in love with Roxy, our hilarious, flawed, screwball narrator, and her quest to find herself in the muck of her twenties. Fun as heck." — Annie Hartnett, author of Rabbit Cake