Bunce's first novel
A Curse Dark as Gold received the
American Library Association’s inaugural
William C. Morris Award, and was named a Smithsonian Notable Book. The first book in Bunce’s Myrtle Hardcastle Mystery series,
Premeditated Myrtle, was awarded the 2021
Edgar Award by the
Mystery Writers of America, it was an honoree of the
Society of Midland Authors, and it was an
Agatha Award finalist and an
Anthony Award finalist. In 2022 Bunce again was named a finalist for the
Edgar Award,
Agatha Award, and
Anthony Award for the third book in her series,
Cold-Blooded Myrtle, making Bunce one of only three authors with this distinction. In 2024 she became a three-time
Edgar Award finalist with the nomination of the fifth book in her series,
Myrtle, Means, and Opportunity. With nominations for the fourth consecutive year for the series in 2024, she became a four-time
Anthony Award finalist and a four-time
Agatha Award finalist.
In Myrtle Peril won the Silver Falchion Award at Killer Nashville 2023 (
Cold-Blooded Myrtle was a finalist for the award in 2022). Two of Bunce's novels have appeared on
Oprah Winfrey's Kids’ Reading List, and four of Bunce's novels have been awarded
Kansas Notable Book Awards. A full-time writer since earning her degree in English and anthropology from the
University of Iowa in 1996, Bunce has presented workshops on writing and storytelling techniques for both professional writers and kids, appeared as a panelist for her fans at
San Diego Comic-Con,
Planet Comicon,
Bouchercon,
Malice Domestic, the
World Fantasy Convention,
WisCon, and other pop culture conventions, and she was Guest of Honor at
Archon 45. She has appeared as a panelist or presenter at numerous libraries and schools. Bunce has referred to herself as an avid “maker”—she is also a historical costumer, cosplayer, and needlewoman. She was the keynote speaker at Kansas City's inaugural event for the 36th annual World Doll Day. Bunce is a fan of
Gothic fiction, ghost stories, mystery tropes, pop culture references,
The Scarlet Pimpernel, Veronica Mars, and the works of
Daphne Du Maurier,
Sharon Shinn, and
Charles Dickens. Bunce has said that in her youth she was a voracious reader and a fan of the
Trixie Belden mystery novels. ==Reception==