Lisa Gardner
Lisa Gardner is an American novelist renowned for her #1 New York Times bestselling psychological thrillers and crime fiction, with over 25 suspense novels published in more than 30 languages worldwide.[1][2] Born in 1972 and raised in Hillsboro, Oregon, she graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania before embarking on a writing career that has earned her prestigious awards, including the International Thriller Writers Award for Best Hardcover Novel for The Neighbor in 2010 and the Daphne du Maurier Award for The Other Daughter in 2000.[3][4] Her works often feature complex female protagonists, intricate plots involving law enforcement and personal trauma, and several have been adapted into television movies, such as The Perfect Husband and Hide.[1] Gardner's literary career began after an initial stint in food service management, where repeated workplace mishaps—including catching her hair on fire—prompted a shift to writing full-time; following several romantic suspense novels published under the pseudonym Alicia Scott, her debut thriller, The Perfect Husband, was published in 1997 under her own name.[1][5] She has since developed multiple acclaimed series, including the Detective D.D. Warren series, which follows a tough Boston homicide detective solving high-stakes cases alongside FBI agent Kimberly Quincy and survivor Flora Dane; the FBI Profiler series centering on Pierce Quincy and Rainie Conner; the Tessa Leoni series about a state trooper; and the more recent Frankie Elkin series, featuring an amateur investigator who locates missing persons overlooked by authorities.[6][7][8] In addition to her standalone thrillers like The Survivors Club and Gone, Gardner's contributions to the genre have been recognized with the International Thriller Writers' Silver Bullet Award in 2017 for her advocacy work with at-risk children and animal welfare organizations.[1][9] Now residing in the mountains of New Hampshire with her family and dogs, she continues to engage readers through annual events like the "Kill a Friend, Maim a Buddy" sweepstakes and appearances on networks such as TruTV and CNN.[1][2]Biography
Early Life and Education
Lisa Gardner was born Lisa Baumgartner in 1972 in Hillsboro, Oregon.[10] Raised in the Pacific Northwest, she attended local public schools, graduating from Glencoe High School in 1989.[11] As a child, Gardner developed an early passion for reading.[12] Gardner pursued higher education at the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in international relations magna cum laude in 1993.[13] During her college years, she began writing seriously, selling her first novel at age 20 to a romance publisher.[14] Following graduation, Gardner worked as a management consultant, a role she later left to pursue writing full-time.[15]Career Beginnings and Development
Lisa Gardner entered the publishing industry in the early 1990s as a romantic suspense author under the pseudonym Alicia Scott, while still completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Her debut novel, Walking After Midnight, was published in 1992 by Silhouette Books, marking her initial foray into category romance with suspense elements. Over the next several years, she produced a dozen titles under this name. By the late 1990s, Gardner adopted her real name to signal a pivot toward pure psychological thrillers and crime fiction, with The Perfect Husband (1997) as her debut under Lisa Gardner, blending domestic thriller tropes with romantic tension and establishing her reputation for taut, character-driven narratives.[16] Her first novel fully under Lisa Gardner, The Other Daughter (1999), explored themes of identity and family secrets, earning praise for its intense pacing and emotional depth. This transition coincided with the formal launch of her FBI Profiler series, beginning with The Perfect Husband (retroactively included) and continuing through titles like The Third Victim (2000) and Gone (2006) until 2009, featuring recurring characters such as FBI agent Pierce Quincy and Rainie Conner. Subsequent series expansions included the Detective D.D. Warren series, debuting with Alone in 2005 and ongoing with recent entries like Find Her (2016) and One Step Away (2022); the short-lived Tessa Leoni series from 2011 to 2012, starting with Love You More; and the Frankie Elkin series, initiated in 2021 with Before She Disappeared, followed by Still See You Everywhere in 2024 and Kiss Her Goodbye in 2025.[1][13] Gardner's career gained significant momentum in 2010 when The Neighbor topped the New York Times bestseller list, solidifying her status as a leading voice in suspense fiction. Her works have since been translated and published in over 30 countries, reaching a global audience through major publishers like Bantam and Dutton. As a member of the International Thriller Writers, she received the Silver Bullet Award in 2017 for her advocacy on behalf of at-risk children and animal welfare. Gardner maintains an active public presence through book tours and events, including a March 2025 appearance at the Nick Linn Lecture Series in Naples, Florida, where she discussed her mystery novels.[1][17][18]Personal Life
Lisa Gardner married in the years leading up to age 30, after which she shifted her writing focus from romance to thrillers involving homicide.[19] She and her husband reside in the mountains of New Hampshire, where they raise their daughter, known for her enthusiasm in black-diamond skiing.[20][2] As a working mother, Gardner has described her personal life as a phase centered on compromise, particularly in balancing the demands of authorship with family responsibilities.[19] The family shares their home with multiple canine companions, including a gentle old sheltie, reflecting Gardner's deep affinity for dogs.[20][1] Gardner's lifestyle in rural New England emphasizes outdoor activities; she frequently hikes, gardens, snowshoes, and plays cribbage to unwind and brainstorm ideas away from her writing desk.[1] These pursuits, along with her love of animals, subtly influence elements in her novels, such as settings and character motivations tied to domestic environments.[1][20] In philanthropy, Gardner supports at-risk children and animal welfare initiatives, earning the Silver Bullet Award from the International Thriller Writers in 2017 for her contributions to these causes, including work with the Humane Society.[1][21]Literary Works
Publications as Lisa Gardner
Lisa Gardner began publishing novels under her own name in 1997, transitioning from romantic suspense to psychological thrillers and crime fiction. Her works under this pseudonym encompass a mix of standalone novels and interconnected series featuring recurring characters such as FBI profiler Pierce Quincy and Boston detective D.D. Warren. By 2025, she had released over 25 full-length novels and several e-novellas, many of which have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list and been translated into more than 30 languages, primarily through publishers like Bantam and Dutton.[6]Standalones
Gardner's standalone novels, independent of her major series, explore intense personal and criminal dynamics without ongoing character arcs. Key titles include:- The Other Daughter (1999, Bantam)[22]
- The Survivors Club (2002, Bantam)[23]
- I'd Kill for That (2004, Pocket; collaborative with six other authors)[24]
FBI Profiler Series
Introduced in 1997, the FBI Profiler series centers on special agent Pierce Quincy and follows high-stakes investigations into serial crimes. The series comprises seven main novels and one e-novella, published chronologically as follows:- The Perfect Husband (1997, Bantam)[25]
- The Third Victim (2001, Bantam)[26]
- The Next Accident (2001, Bantam)
- The Killing Hour (2003, Bantam)
- Gone (2006, Bantam)
- Say Goodbye (2008, Bantam)
- The 4th Man (2016, e-novella, Dutton)
- Right Behind You (2017, Dutton)[27]
Detective D.D. Warren Series
Launched in 2005, the Detective D.D. Warren series features Boston homicide detective Danielle "D.D." Warren tackling complex cases, often intersecting with other characters from Gardner's universe. It includes 11 main novels, four e-novellas, and some crossovers, listed in publication order:- Alone (2005, Bantam)[28]
- Hide (2007, Bantam)
- The Neighbor (2009, Bantam)
- Live to Tell (2010, Bantam)
- Love You More (2011, Bantam; crossover with Tessa Leoni)[29]
- Catch Me (2012, Dutton)
- The 7th Month (2012, e-novella, Dutton)
- Fear Nothing (2014, Dutton)
- 3 Truths and a Lie (2016, e-novella, Amazon Original Stories)
- Find Her (2016, Dutton)[30]
- Look for Me (2018, Dutton)
- The Guy Who Died Twice (2019, e-novella, Dutton)
- Never Tell (2019, Dutton)
- When You See Me (2020, Dutton)[31]
Tessa Leoni Series
The Tessa Leoni series, spanning three novels from 2011 to 2015, follows state trooper Tessa Leoni in fast-paced investigations, beginning as a crossover from the D.D. Warren books. The titles in order are:- Love You More (2011, Bantam)
- Touch & Go (2013, Dutton)
- Crash & Burn (2015, Dutton)
Frankie Elkin Series
Gardner's most recent series, introduced in 2021, features amateur investigator Frankie Elkin, who specializes in finding missing persons overlooked by authorities. By 2025, it consists of four novels:- Before She Disappeared (2021, Dutton)[33]
- One Step Too Far (2022, Dutton)[34]
- Still See You Everywhere (2024, Dutton)[35]
- Kiss Her Goodbye (2025, Dutton)[36]
Publications as Alicia Scott
Lisa Gardner initially published romantic suspense novels under the pseudonym Alicia Scott, targeting romance readers through Silhouette Books' Intimate Moments line. These early works, spanning from 1992 to 1998, incorporated lighter suspense elements intertwined with romantic narratives, setting them apart from the intense psychological thrillers she later developed under her real name. The ten novels from this period marked her entry into publishing and were characterized by themes of hidden dangers in personal relationships and family secrets.[38] The debut novel, Walking After Midnight (1992), follows a woman uncovering threats from her past while navigating new romantic entanglements. This was followed by Shadow's Flame (1994), which explores obsession and redemption in a suspenseful romantic context.[38] In 1995, Gardner launched the Guiness Gang series, a five-book arc centered on siblings confronting criminal legacies and romantic pursuits amid danger:- At the Midnight Hour (1995)
- Hiding Jessica (1995)
- The Quiet One (1996)
- The One Worth Waiting For (1996)
- The One Who Almost Got Away (1996)
| Title | Publication Year | Series Position |
|---|---|---|
| Maggie's Man | 1997 | #1 |
| MacNamara's Woman | 1997 | #2 |
| Brandon's Bride | 1998 | #3 |