Nancy Mangano has carved out a unique niche in the literary world by combining her expertise in criminal justice with her passion for fashion journalism. The Orange County, California based writer has created the Natalie North murder mystery series, featuring a stylish private investigator who solves crimes while maintaining impeccable fashion sense.
With degrees in both Communications and Criminal Justice, Mangano brings authentic law enforcement knowledge to her fiction. Her background includes work at the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Department and internships at major television stations KCBS-TV and KNBC-TV, experiences that inform the investigative elements of her novels.
The Natalie North series currently includes four published novels: “A Passion for Prying,” “Murder Can Be Messy,” “Deadly Decisions,” and the most recent addition, “Running Stop Signs,” released in August 2024. While the books form a series, each novel stands alone as a complete story, allowing readers to enter the world of Natalie North at any point.
Mangano’s work has garnered significant recognition in the literary community. Her novel “Deadly Decisions” received Best Book of the Year honors in fiction from the New York Book Festival and in the murder mystery category from the Hollywood Book Festival. Most recently, “Running Stop Signs” earned the Best Fiction award at the Paris International Book Festival 2024 competition, along with first runner-up recognition from the Los Angeles Book Festival 2025 and an Honorable Mention from the Hollywood Book Festival 2025.
Beyond her novels, Mangano has expanded her creative portfolio to include screenwriting. She has penned three feature film screenplays: “Pretties on the Prowl,” a comedy-thriller; “Fatal Forgiveness,” a drama; and “Rod Stewart: Every Picture Tells a Story,” a biopic about the legendary musician.
The author’s multifaceted career extends into fashion journalism as the founder and editor of Nancy Marie Mangano Style, a global online magazine covering fashion, beauty, and lifestyle topics. Her background in modeling, which included print work and film appearances in productions such as “Body Shot,” “Speechless” and “Bug Buster,” provides firsthand industry knowledge that enriches her fashion writing.
Local recognition has followed Mangano’s literary success. She received the Best of Anaheim Award for ten consecutive years from 2015 through 2025 and was inducted into the City of Anaheim Business Hall of Fame as an author and fashion journalist in 2016.
The murder mystery series reflects Mangano’s ability to merge seemingly disparate worlds. Her protagonist, Natalie North, embodies this fusion as a private investigator who approaches crime-solving with both analytical precision and sartorial sophistication. This unique character has resonated with readers who appreciate mysteries that offer more than traditional detective fare.
Mangano’s debut novel “A Passion for Prying” established her presence in the mystery genre, earning Best Book of the Year in Murder Mystery from Books and Authors, Best New Mystery Writer Award for Mangano herself, and Best Murder Mystery from the Los Angeles Book Festival. The follow-up, “Murder Can Be Messy,” continued this success with another Best Book of the Year recognition from Books and Authors.
The author’s diverse professional background has proven invaluable in creating authentic narratives. Her time in law enforcement and broadcast journalism provides real-world insights that enhance the investigative aspects of her fiction, while her ongoing work in fashion journalism ensures her characters navigate their world with contemporary style awareness.
For readers seeking mysteries that break conventional genre boundaries, Mangano’s novels offer a fresh perspective. The combination of crime-solving intrigue with fashion-forward sensibilities creates a reading experience that appeals to mystery enthusiasts and style-conscious readers alike.
