List of mystery writers
Encyclopedia
This is a list of mystery writers:
—See also—External links
—See also—External links
A
- Harriet Stratemeyer Adams, (pseudonyms Carolyn KeeneCarolyn KeeneCarolyn Keene is the pseudonym of the authors of the Nancy Drew mystery stories and The Dana Girls mystery stories, both produced by the Stratemeyer Syndicate...
, Franklin W. DixonFranklin W. DixonFranklin W. Dixon is the pen name used by a variety of different authors who wrote The Hardy Boys novels for the Stratemeyer Syndicate...
) - Ginny AikenGinny AikenGinny Aiken is an author of inspirational fiction and mystery novels.Ginny was born in Havana, Cuba, and grew up in Valencia and Caracas, Venezuela....
- Catherine AirdCatherine AirdCatherine Aird is the pseudonym of novelist Kinn Hamilton McIntosh. She is the author of more than twenty crime fiction novels and several collections of short stories...
(born 1930) - Susan Wittig AlbertSusan Wittig AlbertSusan Wittig Albert is a mystery writer from Vermilion County, Illinois, United States. She currently resides in Bertram, Texas, near Austin, with her husband, Bill Albert.- Career :...
- C. M. Albrecht
- Margery AllinghamMargery AllinghamMargery Louise Allingham was an English crime writer, best remembered for her detective stories featuring gentleman sleuth Albert Campion.- Childhood and schooling :...
(1904–1966) - James AndersonJames Anderson (author)James Arthur Andersons first published short story appeared in Andrew J. Offutt's Swords Against V anthology in 1979. He has since published stories in Lin Carter's Weird Tales 4, Elditch Tales, Fantasy Tales, and Haunts. His nonfiction has appeared in Fangoria. In 1997 he began using his...
- Donna AndrewsDonna Andrews (author)Donna Andrews is an American mystery fiction writer of two award-winning amateur sleuth series. Her first book, Murder with Peacocks , introduced Meg Langslow, a blacksmith from Yorktown, Virginia. It won the St...
- Gosho AoyamaGosho Aoyama, born on June 21, 1963 in Hokuei, Tottori Prefecture, Japan is a Japanese manga artist. He is best known as the creator of the manga series Detective Conan .-Educational background:Aoyama was talented in drawing even at an early age...
- Charles ArdaiCharles ArdaiCharles Ardai is an entrepreneur, writer, editor, and television producer. He is best known as founder and CEO of Juno, an Internet company, and founder and editor of Hard Case Crime, a line of pulp-style paperback crime novels.-Biography:...
- Charlotte ArmstrongCharlotte ArmstrongCharlotte Armstrong Lewi was an American author. Under the names Charlotte Armstrong and Jo Valentine she wrote 29 novels, as well as working for the New York Times advertising department, as a fashion reporter for Breath of the Avenue , and in an accounting firm.Armstrong Lewi graduated from Vulcan...
- Robert ArthurRobert Arthur (writer)Robert Jay Arthur, Jr. was a mystery writer known for The Mysterious Traveler radio series and his Three Investigators series of novels...
(The Three InvestigatorsThree InvestigatorsThe Three Investigators is an American juvenile detective book series first published as "Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators" but also expanded in Germany. It was created by Robert Arthur, Jr., who believed using a famous figure such as movie director Hitchcock would attract attention....
) - Isaac AsimovIsaac AsimovIsaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...
B
- Marian BabsonMarian babsonMarian Babson a pseudonym for Ruth Stenstreem. She is a mystery author with a large body of work that rotates in and out of print. She was born in Salem, Massachusetts, USA, but has lived most her life in London, England....
- Deb BakerDeb BakerDeb Baker is an American mystery writer from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan who has created three mystery series.-Biography:Deb Baker writes American mystery fiction. She has written two series under her own name...
- David BaldacciDavid BaldacciDavid Baldacci is a bestselling American novelist.-Biography:Baldacci received a B.A. from Virginia Commonwealth University and a law degree from the University of Virginia. As a student, Baldacci wrote short stories in his spare time, and later practiced law for nine years near Washington, D.C....
- Donna BallDonna BallDonna Ball is an American writer of over 90 novels, mainly romance novels since 1982, she also signed her novels as Rebecca Flanders, Donna Carlisle and Donna Boyd. She also signed novels with Shannon Harper as Leigh Bristol and Taylor Brady.-Biography:Donna Ball born in 1951 in the United States...
- Blue BalliettBlue BalliettBlue Balliett is an American author, best known for her award-winning novel for children, Chasing Vermeer.Chasing Vermeer, released by Scholastic Press in 2004, is her best known and most highly praised book. Illustrated by Brett Helquist, it concerns the fictitious theft of a painting by...
- Jo BannisterJo BannisterJo Bannister is a British crime fiction novelist. At present, she lives in Northern Ireland.-Life and work:...
- Robert BarnardRobert BarnardRobert Barnard is an English crime writer, critic and lecturer.- Life and work :Born in Essex, Barnard was educated at the Colchester Royal Grammar School and at Balliol College in Oxford....
(born 1936) - Linda BarnesLinda BarnesLinda Barnes is an American mystery writer who was born and raised in Detroit, and graduated cum laude from the School of Fine and Applied Arts at Boston University. She then went on to become a drama teacher and director at Chelmsford and Lexington, Massachusetts schools...
- Nevada BarrNevada BarrNevada Barr is an American author best known for her Anna Pigeon series of mystery novels set in national parks in the United States. Barr won an Agatha Award and Anthony Award for best first novel for Track of the Cat...
(born 1952) - Lynne BarrettLynne BarrettLynne Barrett is an American writer and editor, best known for her short stories.-Background:Born and raised in New Jersey, she received a B.A. in English Composition from Mount Holyoke College and her M.F.A...
- Bernard Bastable. (pseudonym of Robert BarnardRobert BarnardRobert Barnard is an English crime writer, critic and lecturer.- Life and work :Born in Essex, Barnard was educated at the Colchester Royal Grammar School and at Balliol College in Oxford....
) - Robert Leslie BellemRobert Leslie BellemRobert Leslie Bellem was a prolific American pulp magazine writer, best known for his creation of Dan Turner, Hollywood Detective. He was born in either 1894 or 1902, and died in 1968. Before becoming a writer he worked in Los Angeles as a newspaper reporter, radio announcer and film extra...
(died 1968), (Dan Turner, Hollywood DetectiveDan Turner, Hollywood DetectiveDan Turner, also known as the Hollywood Detective, was a fictional private detective created by Robert Leslie Bellem. His first appearance was in the second issue of the pulp magazine Spicy Detective, dated June 1934, and he continued to appear regularly in that magazine until its demise in...
) - C.C. Benison, (pseudonym of Douglas WhitewayDouglas WhitewayDouglas Alfred Whiteway is a journalist and author who lives in Winnipeg, Canada. He has a BA in Religious Studies from the University of Manitoba, and a degree in journalism from Carleton University in Ottawa. He has worked for the Winnipeg Tribune and the Winnipeg Free Press.Under the pen-name...
) - Anthony BidulkaAnthony BidulkaAnthony Bidulka is a Canadian writer of mystery novels. His books feature gay detective Russell Quant. His 2004 novel Flight of Aquavit won the 2005 Lambda Literary Award for Best Gay Mystery Novel. Bidulka received a Lambda Literary Award nomination again in 2009 for Sundowner Ubuntu...
- Claudia Bishop (pseudonym of Mary StantonMary StantonMary Stanton is an American author. She is most famous for her eight-volume children's fantasy series Unicorns of Balinor, about a young princess who must return to her kingdom to regain all of her memories, her throne, and to return peace to her world.Under the pseudonym Claudia Bishop she is the...
) - Cara BlackCara Black (author)Cara Black is a bestselling American mystery writer. She is best known for her Aimée Léduc mystery novels featuring a female Paris-based private investigator. Black is included in the Great Women Mystery Writers by Elizabeth Lindsay 2nd edition. Her first novel, Murder in the Marais, was nominated...
- Nicholas Blake
- Lawrence BlockLawrence BlockLawrence Block is an acclaimed contemporary American crime writer best known for two long-running New York–set series, about the recovering alcoholic P.I. Matthew Scudder and gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, respectively...
- Enid BlytonEnid BlytonEnid Blyton was an English children's writer also known as Mary Pollock.Noted for numerous series of books based on recurring characters and designed for different age groups,her books have enjoyed huge success in many parts of the world, and have sold over 600 million copies.One of Blyton's most...
(1897–1968), (The Famous FiveThe Famous Five (characters)The Famous Five is the name of a series of children's novels written by British author Enid Blyton. The first book, Five on a Treasure Island, was published in 1942....
and The Secret SevenThe Secret SevenThe Secret Seven or "Secret Seven Society" are a fictional group of child detectives created by Enid Blyton. They appear in one of several juvenile detective series Blyton wrote....
) - Gail BowenGail BowenGail Dianne Bowen, née Bartholomew is a Canadian playwright and writer of mystery novels.Born in Toronto, Ontario, Bowen was educated at the University of Toronto, the University of Waterloo and the University of Saskatchewan...
- Rhys BowenJanet Quin-HarkinJanet Quin-Harkin is the author of more than one hundred books. She was born in Bath, England, and has worked for both BBC and Australian TV. Some of her most popular works include "Sweet Dreams," "Sugar and Spice," "Septimus Bean and His Amazing Machine" and "On Our Own," Most of her books...
- C.J. Box
- Leigh BrackettLeigh BrackettLeigh Douglass Brackett was an American author, particularly of science fiction. She was also a screenwriter, known for her work on famous films such as The Big Sleep , Rio Bravo , The Long Goodbye and The Empire Strikes Back .-Life:Leigh Brackett was born and grew up in Los Angeles, California...
(1915–1978) - Christianna BrandChristianna BrandChristianna Brand was a British crime writer and children's author.- Background :Christianna Brand was born Mary Christianna Milne in Malaya and grew up in India. She had a number of different occupations, including model, dancer, shop assistant and governess...
(1907–1988) - Lilian Jackson BraunLilian Jackson BraunLilian Jackson Braun was an American writer, well known for her light-hearted series of "The Cat Who..." mystery novels...
(1913- ), ("The Cat Who..." seriesCat Who seriesThe Cat Who... is a novel series of murder mystery novels by Lilian Jackson Braun. This series is called the "Cat Who..." series because each book title in this series begins with the words "The Cat Who. . ."....
) - Leo BruceLeo BruceLeo Bruce is a pseudonym for Rupert Croft-Cooke . Under this name, Bruce wrote several mystery novels. He created two series, one featuring Sergeant Beef, a British police officer, and a second in which Carolus Deene, senior history master at the fictional Queen's School, Newminster, is an amateur...
(1903–1979) - Rina BrunduRina BrunduRina Brundu is an Italian writer, the author of the novel Tana di Volpe featuring the Sardinian detective Don Osvaldo Da Silva Ochoa.She was born in Villagrande Strisaili in the Sardinian Province of Ogliastra...
- Marie BuchananEileen-Marie Duell BuchananEileen-Marie Duell Buchanan was a British author who specializedin writing literature belonging to the mystery, suspense, or detective genre. She wrote under a number of pseudonyms, including Clare Curzon, Marie Duell and Rhona Petrie...
born 1922
C
- James M. CainJames M. CainJames Mallahan Cain was an American author and journalist. Although Cain himself vehemently opposed labeling, he is usually associated with the hardboiled school of American crime fiction and seen as one of the creators of the roman noir...
(1892–1977) - Kate Calloway
- Joanna CannanJoanna CannanJoanna Cannan was a writer of pony books and detective novels. Her pony books were aimed primarily at children.Youngest daughter of Oxford don Charles Cannan and Mary Wedderburn, also cousin of Gilbert Cannan, it is perhaps her children she is best known for, being mother to Josephine...
(1898–1961) - Dorothy CannellDorothy CannellDorothy Cannell is an English-American writer. She writes mysteries featuring Ellie Haskell, interior decorator and Ben Haskell, writer and chef, and Hyacinth and Primrose Tramwell, a pair of dotty sisters and owners of the Flowers Detection Agency...
- Victor CanningVictor CanningVictor Canning was a prolific writer of novels and thrillers who flourished in the 1950s, '60s and '70s, but whose reputation has faded since his death in 1986...
(1911–1986) - John Dickson CarrJohn Dickson CarrJohn Dickson Carr was an American author of detective stories, who also published under the pen names Carter Dickson, Carr Dickson and Roger Fairbairn....
(1905–1977) - John Case
- Kathryn CaseyKathryn CaseyKathryn Casey is a true crime writer, novelist and journalist. Author Ann Rule has called Casey "one of the best in the true crime genre."-Early life and education:Born in Wisconsin, Casey settled in Texas with her family in 1980...
- Richard CastleRichard CastleRichard Edgar "Rick" Castle is a fictional character portrayed by Nathan Fillion in the ABC crime series Castle.-Family life:...
- Sarah CaudwellSarah CaudwellSarah Caudwell was the pseudonym of Sarah Cockburn , a British barrister and writer of detective stories.She is best known for a series of four murder stories written between 1980 and 1999, centred around the lives of a group of young barristers practicing in Lincoln’s Inn and narrated by a Hilary...
(1939–2000) - Jessie ChandlerJessie ChandlerJessie Chandler is an American author of mystery and humorous caper fiction, most of which is about lesbian protagonists. Her work includes Bingo Barge Murder: A Shay O'Hanlon Caper and the forthcoming Hide 'N' Snake...
(born 1968)) - Raymond ChandlerRaymond ChandlerRaymond Thornton Chandler was an American novelist and screenwriter.In 1932, at age forty-five, Raymond Chandler decided to become a detective fiction writer after losing his job as an oil company executive during the Depression. His first short story, "Blackmailers Don't Shoot", was published in...
(1888–1959) - Marion ChesneyMarion ChesneyMarion Chesney is a popular and prolific author. She has written numerous successful historical romance novels under her own name, including the Travelling Matchmaker and Daughters of Mannerling series. Using the pseudonym M. C...
(born 1936) - G. K. ChestertonG. K. ChestertonGilbert Keith Chesterton, KC*SG was an English writer. His prolific and diverse output included philosophy, ontology, poetry, plays, journalism, public lectures and debates, literary and art criticism, biography, Christian apologetics, and fiction, including fantasy and detective fiction....
(1874–1936) - Jennifer ChiaveriniJennifer ChiaveriniJennifer Chiaverini is an American quilter and author. She is best known for writing the Elm Creek Quilts novels.A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Chicago, she is also a former writing instructor at Penn State and Edgewood College...
- Agatha ChristieAgatha ChristieDame Agatha Christie DBE was a British crime writer of novels, short stories, and plays. She also wrote romances under the name Mary Westmacott, but she is best remembered for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections , and her successful West End plays.According to...
(1890–1976) who created Miss MarpleMiss MarpleJane Marple, usually referred to as Miss Marple, is a fictional character appearing in twelve of Agatha Christie's crime novels and in twenty short stories. Miss Marple is an elderly spinster who lives in the village of St. Mary Mead and acts as an amateur detective. She is one of the most famous...
and Hercule PoirotHercule PoirotHercule Poirot is a fictional Belgian detective created by Agatha Christie. Along with Miss Marple, Poirot is one of Christie's most famous and long-lived characters, appearing in 33 novels and 51 short stories published between 1920 and 1975 and set in the same era.Poirot has been portrayed on... - Christopher G. MooreChristopher G. MooreChristopher G. Moore is a Canadian writer of twenty novels and one collection of short stories. He is best known for his trilogy A Killing Smile , A Bewitching Smile and A Haunting Smile , a behind-the-smiles study of his adopted country, Thailand, and for his Vincent Calvino Private Eye series...
, (born 1952) - Brian CleeveBrian CleeveBrian Brendon Talbot Cleeve was a prolific writer, whose published works include twenty-one novels and over a hundred short stories. He was also an award-winning broadcaster on RTÉ television. Son of an Irish father and English mother, he was born and raised in England...
(1921–2003) - Jeffrey Cohen (born 1957)
- Kate CollinsKate Collins (author)-Biography:Kate Collins, an Indiana native, graduated from Purdue University with a master's degree in education. She taught elementary school for six years, but after the birth of her first child, gave up her teaching career to pursue a writing career...
- Max Allan CollinsMax Allan CollinsMax Allan Collins is an American mystery writer. He has written novels, screenplays, comic books, comic strips, trading cards, short stories, movie novelizations and historical fiction. He wrote the graphic novel Road to Perdition , created the comic book private eye Ms...
- Michael CollinsMichael Collins (author)Michael Collins is the best-known pseudonym of Dennis Lynds , an American author who primarily wrote mystery fiction....
(pseudonym of Dennis LyndsMichael Collins (author)Michael Collins is the best-known pseudonym of Dennis Lynds , an American author who primarily wrote mystery fiction....
1924-2005) - Wilkie CollinsWilkie CollinsWilliam Wilkie Collins was an English novelist, playwright, and author of short stories. He was very popular during the Victorian era and wrote 30 novels, more than 60 short stories, 14 plays, and over 100 non-fiction pieces...
- Susan ConantSusan ConantSusan Conant is an American mystery writer. She is best known for her "Dog Lover's Mysteries", featuring magazine writer Holly Winter. Conant graduated from Radcliffe College with a degree in social relations, and a doctorate from Harvard in human development. She is active in and is a...
- J. J. Connington (1880–1947)
- Sheila ConnollySheila ConnollySheila Connolly is a mystery writer and author of three mystery series published by Berkley Prime Crime.-Career:The Glassblowing Mystery series, written under the pen name Sarah Atwell, debuted in March 2008 with “Through a Glass, Deadly”...
- Patricia CornwellPatricia CornwellPatricia Cornwell is a contemporary American crime writer. She is widely known for writing a popular series of novels featuring the heroine Dr. Kay Scarpetta, a medical examiner.-Early life:...
- Cleo CoyleCleo CoyleCleo Coyle is the pen name for author Alice Alfonsi, who collaborates with her husband Marc Cerasini to write the Coffeehouse Mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime, a division of Penguin Books...
- Edmund CrispinEdmund CrispinEdmund Crispin was the pseudonym of Robert Bruce Montgomery , an English crime writer and composer.-Life and work:Montgomery was born in Chesham Bois, Buckinghamshire...
(1921–1978) - Amanda Cross, pseudonym of Carolyn Heilbrun, (1926–2003)
- Marc CherryMarc CherryMarc Cherry is an American writer and producer, best known for creating the show Desperate Housewives.-Early life and career:...
D
- Jordan DaneJordan DaneJordan Dane is a romantic thriller Young-adult fiction novelist. She sold her first three-book series in auction to Avon/HarperCollins in June 2006 and another three-book thriller series in May 2007...
- Diane Mott DavidsonDiane Mott DavidsonDiane Mott Davidson, born , is an American author of mystery novels that use the theme of food. Several recipes are included in each book, and each novel title is a play on a food or drink word....
- Jeffrey Deaver
- August DerlethAugust DerlethAugust William Derleth was an American writer and anthologist. Though best remembered as the first publisher of the writings of H. P...
(1909–1971) - Colin DexterColin DexterNorman Colin Dexter, OBE, is an English crime writer, known for his Inspector Morse novels which were written between 1975 and 1999 and adapted as a television series from 1987 to 2000.-Early life and career:...
(born 1930) - Peter DickinsonPeter DickinsonPeter Malcolm de Brissac Dickinson OBE is an English author and poet who has written a wide variety of books, notably children's books and detective stories, over a long and distinguished career.-Life and work:...
(born 1927) - Franklin W. DixonFranklin W. DixonFranklin W. Dixon is the pen name used by a variety of different authors who wrote The Hardy Boys novels for the Stratemeyer Syndicate...
(The Hardy Boys) - David DodgeDavid F. DodgeDavid Francis Dodge was an author of mystery/thriller novels and humorous travel books. His first book was published in 1941. His fiction is characterized by tight plotting, brisk dialogue, memorable and well-defined characters, and exotic locations...
(1910–1974) - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930) (Sherlock HolmesSherlock HolmesSherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve...
) - P. T. DeutermannP. T. DeutermannPeter T. "P.T." Deutermann ) is an American writer of mystery, police procedural and thriller novels.Deutermann served in the United States Navy for 26 years, earning 19 medals and decorations and retiring at the rank of captain. He served as the commander of the between 1981 and 1983...
(1941-)
E
- C. M. Eddy, Jr.C. M. Eddy, Jr.Clifford Martin Eddy, Jr. was an American author best known for his horror and supernatural short stories. He is best remembered for his work in Weird Tales magazine.- Career :...
- Martin EdwardsMartin Edwards (author)Kenneth Martin Edwards, commonly known as Martin Edwards is a British crime novelist, critic and solicitor.- Biography :...
- Amelia EllisAmelia EllisAmelia Ellis is a British-German novelist and photographer best known for her mystery series featuring London private investigator Nea Fox....
- Kate EllisKate EllisKatherine Margaret "Kate" Ellis, MP is an Australian politician, representing the federal division of Adelaide since 2004 and is currently the Minister for Employment Participation and Childcare and the Minister for the Status of Women in the Gillard Government.-Early life and career:Ellis was...
- James EllroyJames EllroyLee Earle "James" Ellroy is an American crime fiction writer and essayist. Ellroy has become known for a so-called "telegraphic" prose style in his most recent work, wherein he frequently omits connecting words and uses only short, staccato sentences, and in particular for the novels The Black...
- Ben EltonBen EltonBenjamin Charles "Ben" Elton is an English comedian, author, playwright and director. He was a leading figure in the British alternative comedy movement of the 1980s, as a writer on such cult series as The Young Ones and Blackadder, as well as also a successful stand-up comedian on stage and TV....
- Maggie EstepMaggie EstepMaggie Estep is an American poet and writer. She has published six books and released two spoken word albums: Love is a Dog From Hell and No More Mr. Nice Girl.Estep was born in 1963 in Summit, New Jersey...
- Loren D. EstlemanLoren D. EstlemanLoren D. Estleman is an American writer of detective and Western fiction. He writes with a manual typewriter....
- Janet EvanovichJanet EvanovichJanet Evanovich is an American writer. She began her career writing short contemporary romance novels under the pen name Steffie Hall, but gained fame authoring a series of contemporary mysteries featuring Stephanie Plum, a lingerie buyer from Trenton, New Jersey, who becomes a bounty hunter to...
F
- Terence FahertyTerence FahertyTerence Faherty is an American author of mystery novels.-Personal:He was born in Trenton, New Jersey and currently lives in Indianapolis, Indiana, with his wife, Jan.-Books:...
- Linda FairsteinLinda FairsteinLinda Fairstein is an American feminist author and former prosecutor focusing on crimes of violence against women and children. She served as head of the sex crimes unit of the Manhattan District Attorney's office from 1976 until 2002 and is the author of a series of novels featuring Manhattan...
(born 1947) - Diane FanningDiane Fanning-Early life and education:Fanning was born Diane Lynn Butcher in Baltimore, Maryland. She attended Perry Hall High School, then Lynchburg College in Virginia, where she majored in chemistry.-Career:...
- Charles FinchCharles FinchCharles Finch is an American author of mystery novels set in Victorian era England.Finch was born in New York City. He graduated from Phillips Academy and Yale University where he majored in English and History. He also holds a master's degree in Renaissance English Literature from the...
- Joanne FlukeJoanne FlukeJoanne Fluke is a female author who writes the Hannah Swensen Mysteries for Kensington Mysteries. Her mystery series is widely popular, and she is a national bestselling author; so far there are thirteen books published in the series. Her series has been known for its recipes, its comedy, and...
- Earlene FowlerEarlene FowlerEarlene Fowler is the author of a number of mystery novels set in the fictional city of San Celina, California. She was raised in La Puente, California....
- Tom FowlerTom FowlerThomas W. Fowler is an American musician. He has played with It's a Beautiful Day, Frank Zappa, The Mothers of Invention, Jean-Luc Ponty, Ray Charles and many others...
- R. Austin FreemanR Austin FreemanRichard Austin Freeman — known as R. Austin Freeman — was a British writer of detective stories, mostly featuring the medico-legal forensic investigator Dr Thorndyke...
- A. C. FriedenA. C. FriedenA.C. Frieden, born André Frieden is a Swiss-Brazilian author and attorney living in Chicago, Illinois.- Biography :Frieden, the son of a Swissair executive, spent most of his youth abroad...
(born 1966) - Gayleen FroeseGayleen FroeseGayleen Froese is a mystery novelist and singer/songwriter from Western Canada. Her first novel, Touch, was published by Edmonton's NeWest Press in 2005. The sequel, "Grayling Cross" was published by NeWest Press in 2011.Froese was educated at Ryerson University in Toronto and currently lives in...
G
- Leighton GageLeighton GageLeighton Gage is an author of crime fiction best known for the Chief Inspector Mario Silva Investigations series of novels set in Brazil. He was inspired to write these novels after spending over 20 years living in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and being immersed in the Brazilian culture...
- Roberta GellisRoberta GellisRoberta Gellis is an American writer of historical fiction, historical romance, and fantasy works. She holds masters degrees in both biochemistry and medieval literature.Many major writer of historical romance cite her as an important influence...
- Elizabeth GeorgeElizabeth GeorgeSusan Elizabeth George is an American author of mystery novels set in Great Britain.Eleven of her novels featuring her lead character Inspector Lynley have been adapted for television by the BBC as The Inspector Lynley Mysteries.-Biography:George was born in Warren, Ohio to Robert Edwin and Anne ...
- Michael GilbertMichael GilbertMichael Francis Gilbert, CBE was a British writer of both fictional mysteries and thrillers who wrote as Michael Gilbert.-Life and work:...
(1912–2006) - Leslie GlassLeslie Glass (author)Leslie Glass is an American novelist, playwright, and journalist.- Biography :Leslie Glass was raised in New York City. She studied music at Mannes College and received a BA from Sarah Lawrence College where she studied under Joseph Campbell and Grace Paley.An active philanthropist, Glass has been...
- Alan GordonAlan Gordon (author)Alan Gordon is the author of several mysteries, the first of which is based on the characters from William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. He lives in New York City and is a lawyer with the Legal Aid Society.-Bibliography:...
- Steven GoreSteven GoreSteven Gore is an American thriller writer and author of the Graham Gage and Harlan Donnally series published by HarperCollins...
- Joe GoresJoe GoresJoe Gores was an American mystery writer...
- Gary Goshgarian
- Sue GraftonSue GraftonSue Taylor Grafton is a contemporary American author of detective novels. She is best known as the author of the 'alphabet series' featuring private investigator Kinsey Millhone in the fictional city of Santa Teresa, California. The daughter of detective novelist C. W...
(born 1940) - Caroline GrahamCaroline GrahamCaroline Graham is an English playwright, screenwriter and novelist.Graham was born in Nuneaton, studied with the Open University, and received a degree in writing for the theatre from the University of Birmingham. Her first published book was Fire Dance, a romance novel...
(born 1931) - Anna Katharine GreenAnna Katharine GreenAnna Katharine Green was an American poet and novelist. She was one of the first writers of detective fiction in America and distinguished herself by writing well plotted, legally accurate stories.-Life and work:...
1846-1935 - Dorien GreyDorien GreyRoger Margason, who uses the pseudonym of Dorien Grey, is an openly gay American author, . Margason served in the U.S. Navy and graduated from Northern Illinois University with a BA in English....
- Martha GrimesMartha GrimesMartha Grimes is an American author of detective fiction.She was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to William Dermit Grimes, Pittsburgh's city solicitor, and to June Dunnington, who owned the Mountain Lake Hotel in Western Maryland where Martha and her brother spent much of their childhood. Grimes...
(born 1931) - Beth GroundwaterBeth GroundwaterBeth Groundwater is an American author who has written three novels. Her first novel, A Real Basket Case, was nominated for the Best First Novel Agatha Award in 2007...
- Elizabeth Gunn
H
- Jane HaddamJane HaddamJane Haddam is an American mystery writer. She is best known for her series of books featuring Gregor Demarkian, a former FBI agent. She has also written a number of murder mysteries under her real name Orania Papazoglou featuring the romance author Patience McKenna. She was married to mystery...
(born 1951) - Parnell Hall (b. 1944)
- Brett HallidayBrett HallidayBrett Halliday , primary pen name of Davis Dresser, was an American mystery writer, best known for the long-lived series of Michael Shayne novels he wrote, and later commissioned others to write...
(1904–1977) - Bruce Barrymore HalpennyBruce Barrymore HalpennyBruce Barrymore Halpenny is a widely respected English military historian and author, specialising in airfields and aircraft, as well as ghost stories and mysteries. He is also a broadcaster and games inventor.-Parents:...
- Dashiell HammettDashiell HammettSamuel Dashiell Hammett was an American author of hard-boiled detective novels and short stories, and political activist. Among the enduring characters he created are Sam Spade , Nick and Nora Charles , and the Continental Op .In addition to the significant influence his novels and stories had on...
(1894–1961) - Charlaine HarrisCharlaine HarrisCharlaine Harris is a New York Times bestselling author who has been writing mysteries for over twenty years. She was born and raised in the Mississippi River Delta area of the United States. She now lives in southern Arkansas with her husband and three children...
- Lee HarrisLee HarrisLee Harris is an American author and essayist who writes for Policy Review and Tech Central Station who lives in Stone Mountain, Georgia.-Books by Lee Harris:*The Suicide of Reason: Radical Islam's Threat to the West Basic Books...
- Carolyn G. Hart
- Ellen HartEllen HartEllen Hart is the award-winning mystery author of the Jane Lawless and Sophie Greenaway series. She was born in Minneapolis, MN in August 1949. A professional chef for 14 years, Hart's mysteries include culinary elements similar to those of Diane Mott Davidson.The author says of her work, "I don't...
- Erin Hart
- J.M. Hayes
- Wayne Herschel
- Georgette HeyerGeorgette HeyerGeorgette Heyer was a British historical romance and detective fiction novelist. Her writing career began in 1921, when she turned a story for her younger brother into the novel The Black Moth. In 1925 Heyer married George Ronald Rougier, a mining engineer...
(1902–1974) - Mary Theresa Eleanor Higgins Clark ConheeneyMary Higgins ClarkMary Theresa Eleanor Higgins Clark Conheeney , known professionally as Mary Higgins Clark, is an American author of suspense novels...
(1927-) - Reginald HillReginald HillReginald Charles Hill is an English crime writer, and the winner in 1995 of the Crime Writers' Association Cartier Diamond Dagger for Lifetime Achievement.- Biography :...
(born 1936) - Tony HillermanTony HillermanTony Hillerman was an award-winning American author of detective novels and non-fiction works best known for his Navajo Tribal Police mystery novels...
(1925–2008) - Genevieve Holden, pseudonym of Genevieve PouGenevieve PouGenevieve Long Pou was a novelist and writer based in Atlanta, Georgia. Pou was born in Tupelo, Mississippi. During her life she published seven mystery novels under the pseudonym Genevieve Holden. She attended the University of Mississippi and the University of Georgia...
(1919–2007) - Kay HooperKay HooperKay Hooper is a New York Times bestselling and award-winning American author of more than 60 books.-Biography:Kay Hooper was born on an Air Force base in California, where her father was stationed. The family soon moved back to North Carolina, where Hooper was raised with her younger brother and...
- Charlotte HughesCharlotte HughesCharlotte Marion Hughes, née Milburn is the longest-lived person ever documented in the United Kingdom, or in England at 115 years 228 days, despite longevity myths such as that of Thomas Parr. She was a schoolteacher from the age of 13, and married in 1940 at age 63, after retiring...
- Gwen Hunter
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- Greg IlesGreg IlesGreg Iles is an American bestselling novelist who lives in Natchez, Mississippi.Iles was born in Stuttgart, Germany, where his father ran the U.S. Embassy Medical Clinic. He was raised in Natchez, Mississippi, where he attended Trinity Episcopal Day School and graduated from the University of...
- India InkYasmine GalenornYasmine Galenorn writes urban fantasy/paranormal fiction. She previously wrote under the pen name India Ink for her Bath and Body series....
- Michael Innes (1906–1994)
- Ibn-e-SafiIbn-e-SafiIbn-e-Safi was the pen name of Asrar Ahmad , a best-selling and prolific fiction writer, novelist and poet of Urdu. The word Ibn-e-Safi is an Arabian expression which literally means Son of Safi, where the word Safi means chaste or righteous...
(1940–1980) - Charles IrionCharles IrionCharles G. Irion is an American entrepreneur, author, philanthropist and adventurer.Charles G. Irion is a businessman in commercial property development and real estate since the 1970s. Founder of , Irion is an owner and broker of mobile home and RV communities in the United States...
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- P. D. JamesP. D. JamesPhyllis Dorothy James, Baroness James of Holland Park, OBE, FRSA, FRSL , commonly known as P. D. James, is an English crime writer and Conservative life peer in the House of Lords, most famous for a series of detective novels starring policeman and poet Adam Dalgliesh.-Life and career:James...
(born 1920) - J. A. JanceJ. A. JanceJudith Ann Jance is an American author of mystery and horror novels. She writes at least three series of novels, centering on retired Seattle Police Department officer J. P. Beaumont, Arizona county sheriff Joanna Brady, and Ali Reynolds...
- Charlotte JayCharlotte JayCharlotte Jay was the pseudonym adopted by Australian mystery writer and novelist, Geraldine Halls . One of the best and most singular authors of the suspense era , she wrote only nine crime books, but their unorthodoxy secured her a high place in Mystery Hall of Fame.Jay was Hall's maiden name and...
(1919–1996) - Linda O. JohnstonLinda O. JohnstonLinda O. Johnston is an American author of mystery and romance novels.Johnston’s first published fiction appeared in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine and won the Robert L. Fish Memorial Award for Best First Mystery Short Story of the Year...
- Stan JonesStan Jones (mystery writer)Stan Jones is a writer of mystery and science fiction novels, and is co-author of a non-fiction oral history book.Jones was born in Anchorage, Alaska, where he lives today. All of his books to date are set in Alaska....
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- Stuart M. KaminskyStuart M. KaminskyStuart M. Kaminsky was an American mystery writer and film professor. He is known for three long-running series of mystery novels featuring the protagonists Toby Peters, a private detective in 1940s Hollywood; Inspector Porfiry Petrovich Rostnikov, a Moscow police inspector; and veteran Chicago...
(1934-2009) - Alex KavaAlex KavaAlex Kava is an American author of psychological suspense novels.Growing up in the country of Silver Creek, Nebraska, Sharon Kava fantasized about becoming a writer. Her parents, although they understood the value of education, had a tremendous work ethic. Reading was seen as frivolous unless...
- H. R. F. KeatingH. R. F. KeatingHenry Reymond Fitzwalter "Harry" Keating was an English crime fiction writer most notable for his series of novels featuring Inspector Ghote of the Bombay CID.-Life:...
(born 1926) - Carolyn KeeneCarolyn KeeneCarolyn Keene is the pseudonym of the authors of the Nancy Drew mystery stories and The Dana Girls mystery stories, both produced by the Stratemeyer Syndicate...
, (author of Nancy DrewNancy DrewNancy Drew is a fictional young amateur detective in various mystery series for all ages. She was created by Edward Stratemeyer, founder of the Stratemeyer Syndicate book packaging firm. The character first appeared in 1930. The books have been ghostwritten by a number of authors and are published...
series of novels) - Faye KellermanFaye KellermanFaye Kellerman is an American author of mystery novels, in particular the "Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus" series, as well as three non-series books, The Quality of Mercy, Moon Music and Straight into Darkness.-Early life:...
- Jonathan KellermanJonathan KellermanJonathan Kellerman is an American psychologist, and Edgar and Anthony Award winning author of numerous bestselling suspense novels....
- Harry KemelmanHarry KemelmanHarry Kemelman was an American mystery writer and a professor of English. He was the creator of one of the most famous religious sleuths, Rabbi David Small.- Early life:...
(1908–1996) - David KesslerDavid Kessler (author)David Kessler is a British author of mystery novels and thrillers. The plots of his novels often involve people falsely accused of crimes, legal battles, DNA, computer hacking and police investigations and are characterised by multiple plot twists and last-minute surprises...
(born 1957) - Karen KijewskiKaren KijewskiKaren Kijewski is a writer of mystery novels, known for her Kat Colorado series. She was born in Berkeley, California, the daughter of a University of California, Berkeley professor Clarence Glacken, and received B.A. and M.A. degrees from UC-Berkeley. She was a high school English teacher in...
- Laurie R. KingLaurie R. KingLaurie R. King is an American author best known for her detective fiction. Among her books are the Mary Russell series of historical mysteries, featuring Sherlock Holmes as her mentor and later partner, and a series featuring Kate Martinelli, a fictional lesbian San Francisco, California, police...
- Carl KosakCarl KosakK. C. Constantine is an American mystery author.Little is known about Kosak, as he prefers anonymity and has given only a few interviews. He was born in 1934 and served in the Marines in the early 1950s...
(born 1934), (pseudonym KC Constantine) - Ken KuhlkenKen KuhlkenKen Kuhlken was born and grew up in San Diego, played semi-pro baseball in Tijuana, and attended San Diego State University, first as a philosophy and then as an English major...
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- Lori L. LakeLori L. LakeLori L. Lake is an Oregon writer, teacher, speaker, and author of mystery, drama, romance, and general fiction, most of which is about lesbian protagonists...
(born 1960) - Barbara LeeBarbara LeeBarbara Jean Lee is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1998. She is a member of the Democratic Party. She is the first woman to represent that district. Lee was the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and was the Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus...
- Gaston LerouxGaston LerouxGaston Louis Alfred Leroux was a French journalist and author of detective fiction.In the English-speaking world, he is best known for writing the novel The Phantom of the Opera , which has been made into several film and stage productions of the same name, notably the 1925 film starring Lon...
(born 1868) - Paul LevinsonPaul LevinsonPaul Levinson is an American author and professor of communications and media studies at Fordham University in New York City. Levinson's novels, short fiction, and non-fiction works have been translated into twelve languages....
(born 1947) - Beverly LewisBeverly LewisBeverly Lewis is a Christian fiction novelist and children's author of over 70 books.She was born Beverly Marie Jones, and is a former schoolteacher and musician. She started playing the piano at age 5, and began writing short stories and poetry when she was 9 years old.Much of her writing focuses...
- Laura LippmanLaura LippmanLaura Lippman is an American author of detective fiction.-Biography:Lippmann was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. She is the daughter of Theo Lippman Jr., a well known and respected writer at the Baltimore Sun, and Madeline Lippman, a retired school librarian for the...
- Ann Littlewood
- Peter LoveseyPeter LoveseyPeter Lovesey is a British writer of historical and contemporary crime novels and short stories. His best-known series characters are Sergeant Cribb, a Victorian-era police detective based in London, and Peter Diamond, a modern-day police detective in Bath...
(born 1936) - Dennis Lynds (1924–2005)
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- John D. MacDonaldJohn D. MacDonaldJohn Dann MacDonald was an American crime and suspense novelist and short story writer.MacDonald was a prolific author of crime and suspense novels, many of them set in his adopted home of Florida...
(1916–1986) - Marianne MacdonaldMarianne MacdonaldMarianne Macdonald is a Canadian children's books author and novelist best known for her mystery series featuring London antiques bookstore owner and amateur investigator Dido Hoare....
(born 1934) - Philip MacDonaldPhilip MacDonaldPhilip MacDonald was an English author of thrillers.-Life and work:...
(1900–1980) - Ross MacdonaldRoss MacdonaldNot to be confused with John D. MacDonaldRoss Macdonald is the pseudonym of the American-Canadian writer of crime fiction Kenneth Millar...
(1915–1983) - Charlotte MacLeodCharlotte MacLeod- Life and work :Born in Bath, New Brunswick, Canada, in 1922, Charlotte MacLeod emigrated to the United States in 1923, and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1951. She attended the Art Institute of Boston. During the late 1940s and early 1950s, she worked as a copy writer for Stop and Shop...
(1922–2005) - Michael MalloryMichael MalloryMichael Mallory is a writer on the subjects of animation and post-war pop culture, and the author of the books Hanna-Barbera Cartoons , Marvel: The Characters and Their Universe, X-Men: The Characters and Their Universe and Universal Studios Monsters: A Legacy of Horror...
(born 1955) - Margaret MaronMargaret MaronMargaret Maron is an American writer, the author of award-winning mystery novels.-Biography:Maron was born and grew up in central North Carolina. She has also lived in Italy. She and her husband, artist Joe Maron, lived in Brooklyn before returning to her home state where they now...
- Ngaio MarshNgaio MarshDame Ngaio Marsh DBE , born Edith Ngaio Marsh, was a New Zealand crime writer and theatre director. There is some uncertainty over her birth date as her father neglected to register her birth until 1900...
- Edward MarstonKeith MilesKeith Miles is a writer of historical fiction and mystery novels. He has also written children's books, radio and television dramas and stage plays. He is best known under the pseudonym Edward Marston, and has also written as Martin Inigo and Conrad Allen.-Career:Miles was born and educated in...
(pseudonym of Keith MilesKeith MilesKeith Miles is a writer of historical fiction and mystery novels. He has also written children's books, radio and television dramas and stage plays. He is best known under the pseudonym Edward Marston, and has also written as Martin Inigo and Conrad Allen.-Career:Miles was born and educated in...
) - Lee Martin
- Rosemary MartinRosemary MartinRosemary Martin was an English actress, best-remembered for her television roles .Other notable TV credits include: Z-Cars, Crown Court, Bill Brand, Coronation Street, Pennies from...
- Sujata MasseySujata MasseySujata Massey is a mystery writer born 1964 in Sussex, England who emigrated with her family to the United States at the age of 5.She is best known for her series featuring Rei Shimura, a Californian born to a Japanese father and an American mother. Many of her novels are set in Japan and in...
- Peter May - Writer (born 1951)
- James McClureJames H. McClureJames Howe McClure was a British author and journalist best known for his Kramer and Zondi mysteries set in South Africa....
(born 1939) - Frank McConnellFrank McConnellFrank Duncan McConnell was a Canadian track and field athlete who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics.In 1912 he was eliminated in the first round of the 100 metres competition as well as of the 200 metres event....
- Sharyn McCrumbSharyn McCrumbSharyn McCrumb is an American writer whose books celebrate the history and folklore of Appalachia. McCrumb is the winner of numerous literary awards, and the author of the Elizabeth McPherson series, the Ballad series, and the St...
(born 1948) - Val McDermidVal McDermidVal McDermid is a Scottish crime writer, best known for a series of suspense novels starring her most famous creation, Dr. Tony Hill.-Biography:...
- Gregory McDonaldGregory McdonaldGregory Mcdonald was an American mystery writer best known for his character Irwin Maurice Fletcher, an investigative reporter otherwise known as "Fletch." Fletch was later played by Chevy Chase in the movie of the same name...
(born 1937) - Michael McGarrityMichael McGarrityMichael McGarrity is a New Mexican author and former law enforcement officer. He has written a dozen crime-suspense novels about New Mexico...
- Jean Henry Mead
- Zygmunt MiłoszewskiZygmunt MiłoszewskiZygmunt Miłoszewski is an award-winning Polish writer. Previously he had been a journalist and editor for the Polish edition of Newsweek. He has had several novels published.-Novels:...
- Gladys MitchellGladys MitchellGladys Mitchell was an English author best known for her creation of Mrs. Bradley, the heroine of numerous detective novels. She also wrote under the pseudonyms Stephen Hockaby and Malcolm Torrie...
(1901–1983) - Kirk MitchellKirk MitchellKirk Mitchell is an American author who is known for his time travel, alternate history, historical fiction, and adventure fiction novels. Mitchell has also created several novelizations of movies....
- Christopher G. MooreChristopher G. MooreChristopher G. Moore is a Canadian writer of twenty novels and one collection of short stories. He is best known for his trilogy A Killing Smile , A Bewitching Smile and A Haunting Smile , a behind-the-smiles study of his adopted country, Thailand, and for his Vincent Calvino Private Eye series...
, (born 1952) - Colonel Robert Morris, (born 1954)
- John MortimerJohn MortimerSir John Clifford Mortimer, CBE, QC was a British barrister, dramatist, screenwriter and author.-Early life:...
(1923–2009) - Marcia MullerMarcia MullerMarcia Muller is an American author of fictional mystery and thriller novels.Muller has written many novels featuring her Sharon McCone female private detective character. Vanishing Point, won the Shamus Award for Best P.I. Novel...
- Margaret MurphyMargaret Murphy- Biography :Murphy was born and brought up in Liverpool where she gained a degree in Environmental Biology at the University of Liverpool and later an MA with Distinction in Writing at Liverpool JMU, a course on which she now lectures...
- Beverle Graves MyersBeverle Graves MyersBeverle Graves Myers is an American author of mystery novels and short stories. Her major work is the Baroque Mystery series set in 18th-century Venice, published by Poisoned Pen Press. The novels are traditional mysteries which feature a large cast of characters, a deep sense of time and place,...
(born 1951) - Tim MyersTim MyersTim Myers is an American singer, songwriter and musician from Orange, California.Myers is also known for playing bass in the band OneRepublic from 2004-2007.-Early life:...
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- Michael P. Naughton
- Phyllis Reynolds NaylorPhyllis Reynolds NaylorPhyllis Reynolds Naylor is an American author best known for her children and young adult fiction books. Naylor is best known for her children's-novel trilogy Shiloh , Shiloh Season and Saving Shiloh, all made into movies...
- Katherine Neville
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- Joyce Carol OatesJoyce Carol OatesJoyce Carol Oates is an American author. Oates published her first book in 1963 and has since published over fifty novels, as well as many volumes of short stories, poetry, and nonfiction...
- T. Lynn OceanT. Lynn OceanT. Lynn Ocean is an American author of present-day Southern fiction. Often working as a freelance writer for major newspapers and publications—including her local paper, The Sun News—Ocean has had three novels published. These are Fool Me Once, Sweet Home Carolina, and Southern Fatality...
- Baroness OrczyBaroness OrczyBaroness Emma Magdolna Rozália Mária Jozefa Borbála "Emmuska" Orczy de Orczi was a British novelist, playwright and artist of Hungarian noble origin. She was most notable for her series of novels featuring the Scarlet Pimpernel...
(1865–1947) - Brian O'Hara
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- Sara ParetskySara ParetskySara Paretsky is a modern American author of detective fiction.-Life and career:Paretsky was born in Ames, Iowa and raised in Kansas, graduating from the University of Kansas with a degree in political science. She did community service work on the south side of Chicago in 1966 and returned in...
(born 1947) - Barbara ParkerBarbara Parker (writer)Barbara Parker was an American mystery writer. She wrote 12 novels, the first of which, Suspicion of Innocence, was a finalist for the Edgar Allan Poe Award for best first mystery novel by an American author...
(1946/1947-2009) - Robert B. ParkerRobert B. ParkerRobert Brown Parker was an American crime writer. His most famous works were the novels about the private detective Spenser. ABC television network developed the television series Spenser: For Hire based on the character in the late 1980s; a series of TV movies based on the character were also...
(1932–2010) - Hayford PeirceHayford PeirceHayford Peirce is an American writer of science fiction, mysteries, and spy thrillers. He attended Phillips Exeter Academy and received his BA from Harvard College...
(born 1942) - Louise PennyLouise PennyLouise Penny is a Canadian author of mystery novels set in the Canadian province of Quebec centred on the work of Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec. Penny's first career was as a radio broadcaster for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation...
(born 1958) - Elizabeth Peters (born 1927), (pseudonym of Barbara Mertz)
- Ellis Peters (1913–1995), (pseudonym of Edith Pargeter)
- Twist PhelanTwist PhelanTwist Phelan writes crime-themed short stories and the critically acclaimed Pinnacle Peak mystery series, published by Poisoned Pen Press .- Biography :...
- Nancy PickardNancy PickardNancy Pickard is a US crime novelist. She has won five Macavity Awards, four Agatha Awards, an Anthony Award, and a Shamus Award. She is the only author to win all four awards. She also served on the board of directors of the Mystery Writers of America...
(born 1945) - Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective...
(1809–1849) The Murders in the Rue MorgueThe Murders in the Rue Morgue"The Murders in the Rue Morgue" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe published in Graham's Magazine in 1841. It has been claimed as the first detective story; Poe referred to it as one of his "tales of ratiocination". Two works that share some similarities predate Poe's stories, including Das... - Martha Powers
- Bill PronziniBill PronziniBill Pronzini is an American writer of detective fiction. He is also an active anthologist, having compiled more than 100 collections, most of which focus on mystery, western, and science fiction short stories....
(born 1943)
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- Ellery QueenEllery QueenEllery Queen is both a fictional character and a pseudonym used by two American cousins from Brooklyn, New York: Daniel Nathan, alias Frederic Dannay and Manford Lepofsky, alias Manfred Bennington Lee , to write, edit, and anthologize detective fiction.The fictional Ellery Queen created by...
, also wrote as Barnaby Ross - Patrick QuentinPatrick QuentinPatrick Quentin, Q. Patrick and Jonathan Stagge were pen names under which Hugh Callingham Wheeler , Richard Wilson Webb , Martha Mott Kelly and Mary Louise White Aswell wrote detective fiction...
(pseudonym for Hugh Wheeler and Richard Wilson Webb), also wrote as Quentin Patrick and Jonathan Stagge - Qiu XiaolongQiu XiaolongQiu Xiaolong is an English language poet, literary translator, crime novelist, critic, and academic, currently living in St. Louis, Missouri, with his wife Wang Lijun and daughter Julia Qiu. He originally visited the United States in 1988 to write a book about T. S...
- Edward QiuEdward QiuEdward Qiu , born in China, was a significant author in mainland Asia. He wrote in a unique style, using powerful imagery and strong adjectives, often employing non-linear plot lines and switching viewpoints from character to character...
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- Ian RankinIan RankinIan Rankin, OBE, DL , is a Scottish crime writer. His best known books are the Inspector Rebus novels. He has also written several pieces of literary criticism.-Background:He attended Beath High School, Cowdenbeath...
(born 1960) - Ellen RaskinEllen RaskinEllen Ermingard Raskin was an American writer, illustrator and fashion designer. She was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and grew up during the Great Depression. She was educated at the University of Wisconsin at Madison...
(The Westing GameThe Westing GameThe Westing Game is a 1979 Newbery Medal winning novel by Ellen Raskin. It has been adapted into a movie, released under both the names The Westing Game and Get a Clue...
) - Jean M. RedmannJean M. RedmannJean M. Redmann is an American novelist best known for her mystery series featuring New Orleans private investigator Micky Knight....
(born 1955) - Ruth RendellRuth RendellRuth Barbara Rendell, Baroness Rendell of Babergh, CBE, , who also writes under the pseudonym Barbara Vine, is an English crime writer, author of psychological thrillers and murder mysteries....
(born 1930) - Craig RiceCraig Rice (author)Craig Rice was an American author of mystery novels and short stories, sometimes described as "the Dorothy Parker of detective fiction." She was the first mystery writer to appear on the cover of Time Magazine, on January 28, 1946.- Early Life :In 1908, Mary Randolph Craig reluctantly interrupted...
- Lynda S. RobinsonLynda RobinsonLynda Suzanne Robinson is an American writer, author of romance and mystery novels . She is best known for her series of historical whodunnits set in Ancient Egypt during the reign of Tutankhamun and featuring Lord Meren, "the Eyes and Ears of Pharaoh"...
- Kate RossKate RossKate Ross , born Katherine Jean Ross, was an American mystery author who wrote four books set in Regency-era England about dandy Julian Kestrel...
(1956–1998) - Ryukishi07Ryukishi07is the pen name of a Japanese man originally from Chiba Prefecture who is well known as the original creator for the idea of the visual novel series Higurashi no Naku Koro ni and Umineko no Naku Koro ni. He is the representative member of the group 07th Expansion...
(born 1974) - Peter RobinsonPeter Robinson (novelist)Dr. Peter Robinson is an English crime writer, based in Canada. He is best known for his crime novels set in Yorkshire featuring Inspector Alan Banks...
- Jane Rubino
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- Dorothy L. SayersDorothy L. SayersDorothy Leigh Sayers was a renowned English crime writer, poet, playwright, essayist, translator and Christian humanist. She was also a student of classical and modern languages...
(1893–1957) - Will ScottWilliam Matthew ScottWilliam Matthew Scott , pen name Will Scott, was a British author of stories and books for adults and children, published from 1920 to 1965. Towards the end of his life he was best known for The Cherrys series, written for children and published between 1952 and 1965...
(1893−1964) - Celestine SibleyCelestine SibleyCelestine Sibley was a renowned southern author, journalist, and syndicated columnist. She reported for the Atlanta Constitution from 1941 to 1999. Over her long career, she wrote more than 10,000 columns and many news stories of astonishing range, dealing with such varied topics as politics and...
- Georges SimenonGeorges SimenonGeorges Joseph Christian Simenon was a Belgian writer. A prolific author who published nearly 200 novels and numerous short works, Simenon is best known for the creation of the fictional detective Maigret.-Early life and education:...
- Elizabeth SimsElizabeth SimsElizabeth Sims is an American writer.Author of two series of crime novels, she is also a contributing editor at Writer's Digest magazine.Sims is best known for her Rita Farmer Mysteries, a suspense series published by St. Martin's Press Minotaur....
- Marilyn SingerMarilyn SingerMarilyn Singer is an award-winning author of children's books in a wide variety of genres, including fiction and non-fiction picture books, juvenile novels and mysteries, young adult fantasies, and poetry. -Biography:...
- Karin SlaughterKarin Slaughter-Personal Life:Karin Slaughter is an American crime writer, whose first novel Blindsighted became an international success, was published in almost 30 languages, and made the Crime Writers' Association's Dagger Award shortlist for "Best Thriller Debut" of 2001.Fractured, the second novel in the...
- Donald J. SobolDonald J. SobolDonald J. Sobol is an award-winning writer in Miami, Florida. He is best known for his children's books, especially the Encyclopedia Brown mystery series.-Background:...
(Encyclopedia BrownEncyclopedia BrownLeroy "Encyclopedia" Brown is the main character in a long series of children's novels written by Donald J. Sobol since 1963.-Style:...
) - Maris SouleMaris SouleMaris Soule is an American author of romance and romantic suspense novels and short stories. Her latest book, The Crows, is a mystery novel...
- Ross H. SpencerRoss H. SpencerRoss H. Spencer was a mystery author, best known for his series of comic novels that astutely satirized the private eye genre.-Early life:...
(1921–1998) - Julia Spencer-FlemingJulia Spencer-FlemingJulia Spencer-Fleming is an American novelist.She lives in Maine with her husband, 3 children, a dog, and two cats.-Rev. Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne series :...
- Mickey SpillaneMickey SpillaneFrank Morrison Spillane , better known as Mickey Spillane, was an American author of crime novels, many featuring his signature detective character, Mike Hammer. More than 225 million copies of his books have sold internationally...
(1918–2006) - Rex StoutRex StoutRex Todhunter Stout was an American writer noted for his detective fiction. Stout is best known as the creator of the larger-than-life fictional detective Nero Wolfe, described by reviewer Will Cuppy as "that Falstaff of detectives." Wolfe's assistant Archie Goodwin recorded the cases of the...
(the Nero WolfeNero WolfeNero Wolfe is a fictional detective, created in 1934 by the American mystery writer Rex Stout. Wolfe's confidential assistant Archie Goodwin narrates the cases of the detective genius. Stout wrote 33 novels and 39 short stories from 1934 to 1974, with most of them set in New York City. Wolfe's...
series) - John StraleyJohn StraleyJohn Straley is a poet and author of detective fiction. He currently resides in Sitka, Alaska.-Biography:John Straley was born in Redwood City, California. He grew up in the Seattle area and attended high school in New York City. Straley trained, with encouragement from his parents, to be a...
- Edward StratemeyerEdward StratemeyerEdward Stratemeyer was an American publisher and writer of books for children.He is one of the most prolific writers in the world, producing in excess of 1300 books himself, selling in excess of 500 million copies, and created the well-known fictional book series for juveniles including The Rover...
(1862–1930), (his pseudonyms include Carolyn KeeneCarolyn KeeneCarolyn Keene is the pseudonym of the authors of the Nancy Drew mystery stories and The Dana Girls mystery stories, both produced by the Stratemeyer Syndicate...
and Franklin W. DixonFranklin W. DixonFranklin W. Dixon is the pen name used by a variety of different authors who wrote The Hardy Boys novels for the Stratemeyer Syndicate...
) - Sarah StrohmeyerSarah StrohmeyerSarah Strohmeyer is an award-winning American author of crime novels and of books about human relations between men and women. Her works include The Cinderella Pact, The Secret Lives of Fortunate Wives, The Sleeping Beauty Proposal, and the Bubbles Yablonsky series...
- Lemony SnicketLemony SnicketLemony Snicket is the pen name of American novelist Daniel Handler . Snicket is the author of several children's books, serving as the narrator of A Series of Unfortunate Events and appearing as a character within the series. Because of this, the name Lemony Snicket may refer to both a fictional...
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- Cheryl Kaye TardifCheryl Kaye TardifCheryl Kaye Tardif is a Canadian mystery writer best known for Canada-based novels Whale Song, Divine Intervention, and The River. Her novels involve social issues such as assisted suicide, school bullies, child abuse, and the search for youth and longevity.-Biography:Tardif was born in Vancouver,...
- Bernard J. TaylorBernard J. TaylorBernard J. Taylor is the writer and composer of ten stage musicals and two stage plays. His musicals have been produced around the world and translated into German, Romanian, Polish, Hungarian, Spanish and Italian. He is also the writer of 14 novels and three non-fiction books.Taylor was born and...
- Josephine TeyJosephine TeyJosephine Tey was a pseudonym used by Elizabeth Mackintosh a Scottish author best known for her mystery novels. She also wrote as Gordon Daviot, under which name she wrote plays with an historical theme....
- Carlene Thompson
- James TwiningJames TwiningJames Twining is a British thriller writer.- Life :Although born in London, Twining spent most of his childhood in France after his family moved to Paris when he was four...
- Jim ThompsonJim Thompson (writer)James Myers Thompson was an American author and screenwriter, known for his pulp crime fiction....
(1906–1977)
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- Andrew VachssAndrew VachssAndrew Henry Vachss is an American crime fiction author, child protection consultant, and attorney exclusively representing children and youths...
- Dee Van Arnam
- Jack VanceJack VanceJohn Holbrook Vance is an American mystery, fantasy and science fiction author. Most of his work has been published under the name Jack Vance. Vance has published 11 mysteries as John Holbrook Vance and 3 as Ellery Queen...
(born 1916) - Janwillem van de WeteringJanwillem van de WeteringJanwillem Lincoln van de Wetering was the author of a number of works in English and Dutch. He was particularly noted for his detective fiction, his most popular creations being Grijpstra and de Gier, a pair of Amsterdam police officers who figure in a lengthy series of novels and short stories...
(1931–2008) - Robert Van GulikRobert van GulikRobert Hans van Gulik was a highly educated orientalist, diplomat, musician , and writer, best known for the Judge Dee mysteries, the protagonist of which he borrowed from the 18th-century Chinese detective novel Dee Goong An.-Life:Robert van Gulik was the son of a medical officer in the Dutch...
- Elaine VietsElaine VietsElaine Viets is a Midwestern American newspaperwoman and mystery writer.A native of the working-class white southside of St. Louis, Missouri, the statuesque Viets has a degree in journalism and became a long-time popular media figure in St. Louis. She was a regular columnist for the St...
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- Minette WaltersMinette WaltersMinette Walters is an English crime writer.- Life and work :After her birth in Bishop’s Stortford to a serving army officer, Capt Samuel Jebb and his wife Colleen, the first 10 years of Minette’s life were spent moving between army bases in the north and south of England...
(1949-) - Hillary WaughHillary WaughHillary Baldwin Waugh was a pioneering American mystery novelist. In 1989, Waugh was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America.-Career:...
(1920–2008) - Ronald J WatkinsRonald J WatkinsRonald J. Watkins, b.1945 in Phoenix, AZ is an American writer of non-fiction. The author has also served as ghostwriter, collaborator or editor for more than 30 other books. He is founder and principal writer for Watkins & Associates.-Background:...
- Martha G. Webb
- Eugenia Lovett West (B. 1923)
- Jeri WestersonJeri WestersonJeri Westerson is an American novelist of medieval mysteries and of gay mysteries under the pen name Haley Walsh.- Career :Westerson, born and raised in Los Angeles, California, originally had designs on a career as an actress but changed her major in college to design...
- Donald Westlake (1933–2008)
- Collin Wilcox (1924–1996)
- Darryl WimberleyDarryl WimberleyAmos Darryl Wimberley is an American writer who was born on December 19, 1949 in St. Augustine, Florida. Having completed his secondary education at Lafayette County High School, Mayo, Florida, he entered the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in...
(born 1949) - Anne WingateAnne WingateAnne Wingate, born in 1943 as Martha Anne Guice, is a mystery writer currently living in Salt Lake City, Utah. Most of her mysteries are set somewhere within Texas. She is an adult convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and this sometimes shows in her works...
- L. R. WrightL. R. WrightLaurali Rose Wright was a Canadian writer of mystery novels.Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Wright worked as an actor and journalist before publishing her first novel, Neighbours, in 1979...
See also
- Mystery fictionMystery fictionMystery fiction is a loosely-defined term.1.It is often used as a synonym for detective fiction or crime fiction— in other words a novel or short story in which a detective investigates and solves a crime mystery. Sometimes mystery books are nonfiction...
- List of female detective/mystery writers
- List of European mystery writers
- List of Asian crime fiction writers
- List of crime writers
- List of thriller authors
- List of authors
External links
- Official site of the Mystery Writers of AmericaMystery Writers of AmericaMystery Writers of America is an organization for mystery writers, based in New York.The organization was founded in 1945 by Clayton Rawson, Anthony Boucher, Lawrence Treat, and Brett Halliday....
- Great Manhattan Mystery Conclave