Tess Gerritsen, born Terry Tom, on June 12, 1953, is an American novelist and retired general physician known for her internationally bestselling works.

Gerritsen's journey to a writing career was unusual. After graduating from Stanford University, she attended medical school at the University of California, San Francisco, where she earned her M.D. While on maternity leave from her work as a physician, she began writing fiction.

In 1987, her first novel, Call After Midnight, a romantic thriller, was published. This was followed by eight more romantic suspense novels. Her screenplay "Adrift" aired as a 1993 CBS Movie of the Week starring Kate Jackson.

Her first medical thriller, Harvest, released in 1996, marked her debut on the New York Times bestseller list. Among her notable titles are Gravity, The Surgeon, Vanish, The Bone Garden, and The Spy Coast.

Tess's novels have been translated into 40 languages, selling over 40 million copies worldwide. She has received numerous accolades, including the Nero Wolfe Award for Vanish and the Rita Award for The Surgeon. Critics have lauded her work as "Pulse-pounding fun" and "Scary and brilliant".

Her series featuring homicide detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles inspired the hit TNT television series "Rizzoli & Isles."

In addition to writing, she is a filmmaker. Together with her son Josh, she produced the documentary "Magnificent Beast" and the horror movie "Island Zero".

Tess Gerritsen currently resides in Maine.