About the Author
Tess Gerritsen trained as an internist and practiced medicine before writing her first thriller, and the scientific credibility she brings to autopsies, forensic pathology, and infectious disease — knowledge earned in clinical settings, not research — is what most durably distinguishes her fiction. Born in San Diego, California, Gerritsen initially pursued a highly successful career as a physician, specializing in internal medicine. It was during her maternity leave that she began writing fiction, a decision that eventually led to a pivot from medicine to a legendary career in literature. Her scientific background provides her narratives with an unparalleled level of medical accuracy and a visceral, often chillingly clinical perspective on crime.
The 'Rizzoli & Isles' series, which debuted in 2001 with 'The Surgeon,' made Gerritsen a household name — and the subsequent TNT television adaptation extended that reach to an even wider audience. The series centers on the powerful professional and personal partnership between Jane Rizzoli, a tough-as-nails Boston homicide detective, and Maura Isles, a brilliant, intellectually distant medical examiner. Gerritsen’s work is lauded for its unflinching depiction of forensic science and its exploration of the complex bond between these two formidable women. The massive success of the series led to the hit TNT television adaptation, making the duo a staple of modern pop culture.
Beyond Rizzoli & Isles, Gerritsen has authored numerous standalone medical thrillers and romantic suspense novels, as well as a new series beginning with 'The Spy Coast,' showcasing her ability to master the espionage genre. Her books have been translated into forty languages and sold over 30 million copies worldwide. She has been awarded the Nero Award and the Rita Award, Cementing her status as a premier voice in the thriller community.
Tess Gerritsen brought something genuinely rare to the crime thriller: she trained and practiced as a physician before becoming a novelist, and the Rizzoli & Isles series carries that credential in every autopsy scene and forensic detail. The partnership between detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles has become one of the genre's most successful female leads, translated into a long-running TNT television series. Gerritsen writes from Maine and continues releasing novels. For readers who want crime fiction where the medical and forensic elements feel authoritative rather than decorative, her catalog is among the most credible available.