Tess Gerritsen is an internationally bestselling author known for her thrilling novels that blend medical knowledge with gripping suspense. Born on June 12, 1953, she began her professional journey in medicine, graduating from Stanford University and earning her M.D. from the University of California, San Francisco.

While on maternity leave from her work as a physician, Tess ventured into writing fiction. Her debut novel, Call After Midnight, a romantic thriller, was published in 1987. This marked the beginning of her prolific career, during which she has written 31 suspense novels over a span of 36 years. Her first medical thriller, Harvest, released in 1996, was her debut on the New York Times bestseller list, and her novels have consistently been bestsellers since.

Some of her notable works include Gravity, The Surgeon, Vanish, The Bone Garden, and The Spy Coast. Her books have been translated into 40 languages, with more than 40 million copies sold worldwide. Tess has received numerous accolades, including the Nero Wolfe Award for Vanish and the Rita Award for The Surgeon. Her series featuring detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles inspired the TNT television series "Rizzoli & Isles."

In addition to writing, Tess is also a filmmaker. She co-produced the feature-length documentary "Magnificent Beast" and the horror movie "Island Zero." Tess Gerritsen resides in Maine.