Deni Starr first developed an interest in mystery and investigations at the age of ten while reading Sherlock Holmes stories. This interest turned her into an avid mystery reader, Agatha Christie being the all-time favorite, but it wasn't until law school that this interest gained practical application.

As a trial attorney handling criminal and civil litigation matters, including murders, Starr was able to put an interest in investigation and evidence to good use since as a solo, it was often necessary to do much of the investigation required for determining fault in car accidents, assessing witness credibility in criminal cases, reviewing forensic reports, and sorting out where money was being hidden in divorce cases.

Since retiring from the active practice of law, Starr has pursued an interest in writing fiction and supplements that with periodic work as an investigator tracking down missing witnesses, photographing accident and crime scenes, and doing in-depth backgrounds on parties to litigation.

Starr has combined an interest in mystery with an interest in the fighting arts, first studying Gosoku Ryu Karate with the international Karate Association under the instruction of Shihan Takayuki Kubota and earning a second degree green belt in that style.

After completing law school she studied American Free Style Karate with the Mu Deek Hai club of Portland, again getting as far as a second degree green belt, and finally earning a black belt within Wu Ying Tao system with Bruce Terrell's club, the Professional Martial Arts Society. Starr also learned some Muay Thai, Kempo, and boxing. She is also an avid boxing fan.