Mary Higgins Clark was an acclaimed American author known for her suspense novels. Born as Mary Theresa Eleanor Higgins on December 24, 1927, she wrote a total of fifty-one books that were bestsellers in the United States and various European countries.

Her first suspense novel, Where Are the Children?, remains a significant success, reaching its 75th printing as of 2015. Mary began writing early in her life, working initially as a secretary and copy editor, followed by a stint as a stewardess for Pan-American Airlines.

After marrying and starting a family, she supplemented the family's income with short stories. Following the death of her husband in 1964, she worked for years writing short radio scripts, before her agent encouraged her to try writing novels. Her initial attempt, a fictionalized account of George Washington's life, did not do well, leading her to focus on mystery and suspense genres, which brought her immense popularity.

Mary co-authored the Under Suspicion series with Alafair Burke and collaborated on several novels with her daughter, Carol Higgins Clark. Her books have sold more than 100 million copies in the U.S. alone, making her an international bestseller.