Dilys Winn

Dilys Winn
Born	1939-09-08 Dublin, Ireland
Died	2016
Occupation(s)	Bookseller, editor, anthologist
Known for	Establishing one of the earliest mystery and detective literature bookstores; Murder Ink bookstore; Murder Ink anthology; Dilys Award

Dilys Winn (1939–2016) was a pioneering American bookseller recognized for establishing one of the earliest bookstores exclusively dedicated to mystery and detective literature.

Originally born in Dublin on September 8, 1939, Winn relocated to the United States as a baby and was raised in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. She completed her studies at Pembroke College and initially pursued a career as an advertising copywriter before launching Murder Ink, a specialized bookstore located on Manhattan's Upper West Side. In 1977, she compiled and released the anthology Murder Ink through Workman Publishers, which earned an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers Association of America. Alongside notable individuals such as Otto Penzler, Winn significantly influenced the mystery genre's development and commercial success by serving as a bookseller, editor, and anthologist, emphasizing both its artistic merit and entertainment value. She actively supported writers like Phoebe Atwood Taylor, celebrated for their witty and lively narratives.

In 1977, Winn sold Murder Ink to Carol Brener; the store remained operational under different proprietors until 2006. Throughout the 1990s, she continued contributing to the mystery book industry as an editor and event organizer while managing another mystery-focused bookstore in Key West. Eventually, she moved to Asheville, North Carolina, where she died in 2016. The Dilys Award, which honors outstanding achievement in mystery bookselling, bears her name.