Louise Penny, born July 1, 1958, is a distinguished Canadian author known for her mystery novels set in the province of Quebec, focusing on the work of francophone Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec. Before embarking on her successful writing career, Penny was a radio broadcaster for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).

Penny's literary work has garnered her numerous prestigious awards, including the Agatha Award for best mystery novel of the year five times, four of which were consecutive (2007–2010), and the Anthony Award for best novel of the year five times, with four consecutive wins (2010–2013). Her novels, celebrated for their intricate plots and deep character development, have been published in 23 languages globally. In addition to her series of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels, which have topped the #1 New York Times and Globe and Mail bestseller lists, she has received a CWA Dagger and the Agatha Award seven times, and was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Novel.

In 2017, Louise Penny was honored with the Order of Canada for her significant contributions to Canadian culture. She resides in a small village south of Montréal, continuing to enchant readers with her captivating mysteries.