Lisa Gardner

Lisa Gardner

Lisa Gardner is a bestselling American author known for her thriller novels. Raised in Hillsboro, Oregon she began writing her first book as a teenager while juggling food service jobs and college. After three years of hard work, she published her debut novel at age 20.

Reflecting on that time, she said, “One summer, I decided to see if I could write a whole novel. I spent my days drafting a book and my nights working as a waitress. The results were one complete, albeit truly dreadful novel, plus shorter hair that I’d caught on fire twice serving an appetizer called flaming saganaki. Realizing my future in food service was limited, I focused on polishing my novel. The rest, as they say, is history.”

Lisa began her career writing romance novels under the pseudonym Alicia Scott while working as a research analyst in Boston, before shifting to writing thrillers after realizing she couldn’t make a living writing romances. “I’d have to write five books a year…So, as I make these revelations, I understand I really need an agent. I really have a business problem. I really don’t know how to make a living at this.” (Crime Reads). She quit her job in research consulting to write her first thriller, applying her research skills to learning about police procedures and crime. Her domestic thriller The Perfect Husband became an instant bestseller in 1997, propelling her to international fame. Since then, she has published over 20 novels, and four of her books have been adapted into TV movies.

Lisa has earned numerous awards, including the Grand Prix des Lectrices de Elle in France and multiple awards from the International Thriller Writers. She also received the Daphne du Maurier Award in 2000 for The Other Daughter. In 2017, Lisa was honoured with the Silver Bullet Award from the International Thriller Writers for her charitable work with animal rescue and at-risk children.

Lisa currently resides in New Hampshire, where she enjoys spending time with her dogs, hiking, gardening, and snowshoeing.

Recommendations For Lisa Gardner

Recommended by Kennedy Ross

If you’re looking for an addictive new series where the books are hard to put down and will get your

Recommended by Kendall Morales

After seeing that Louise Penny recommended Lisa Gardner’s Before She Disappeared, I thought I’d give

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Books By Lisa Gardner

The 4th Man: An FBI Profiler / Detective D. D. Warren Story

The Laughing Buddha: Malachai Samuels vs. D.D. Warren

Tips and Resources From Your Lisa Gardner Book Club Friends:

Lisa Gardner is known for her page-turning psychological thrillers, although she began her career writing romances. Whether it’s Detective DD Warren, the vigilante Flora Dane, Frankie Elkin, Tessa Leoni, or Pierce Quincy and Rainie Conner, Lisa writes strong, complex characters who tackle chilling crimes. Many of her books explore the minds of the detectives and the criminals, adding depth and suspense to her plots. She says, “I like to believe my suspense novels marry the strong characters from my romance writing past with the twisty, clever plots of my mystery writing present.” She adds, “What romance taught me was that the ‘who’ will always matter more than the ‘what.’ It’s fun to come up with plots, but I want to make sure the reader cares about who it’s happening to.”

the order of the Books and all Related Books Available

All Lisa Gardner’s Book Series in Order of Publication

Find the right order of the books in the series.

Frankie Elkin Books In Order

DD Warren Books In Order

FBI Profiler Books In Order

Family Secrets Books In Order

Tessa Leoni Books In Order

Recommendations From Lisa’s Fans

Donna Leon

Recommended by Bonnie Ward

Only just picked two books at a library sale yesterday but they look interesting!

Kathy Reichs

Recommended by Sophie Adams

Love Kathy Reichs! Deja Dead from the Temperance Brennan Series is excellent, as are all the books s

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Recommended Books From Lisa Gardner Fans

Blindman's Bluff: A Decker/Lazarus Novel

Chance Developments: Unexpected Love Stories

The Mysterious Bookshop Presents the Best Mystery Stories of the Year 2024

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Death of a Stranger: A William Monk Novel

Unnatural History: An Alex Delaware Novel

In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead

Disappeared: A Kate Burkholder Short Mystery

Random Acts: A Joanna Brady and Ali Reynolds Novella

Long Lost: A Kate Burkholder Short Story

Macbeth: William Shakespeare's Macbeth Retold

Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage

Christmas Crumble: An Agatha Raisin Short Story

The Boy Who Taught the Beekeeper to Read: and Other Stories

Standing by the Wall: The Collected Slough House Novellas

All That Glitters: A Sgt. Windflower Mystery

Old Haunts: A Simon Serrailler Short Story

A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows: An Outlander Novella

Bitter Medicine: A V.I. Warshawski Novel

11 out of 10: A Collection of Humorous Medical Short Stories

I'm With the Bears: Short Stories from a Damaged Planet

An Ensuing Evil and Others: Fourteen Historical Mysteries

Revenge in a Cold River: A William Monk Novel

I Know a Secret: A Rizzoli & Isles Novel

The Camera Man: A DC Smith Investigation

“Survivors make it because they learn to adapt. Adaptation is coping. Coping is strength.”

Lisa Gardner, Find Her

“When I’m ready to curl up with a good book that has strong female characters, loads of suspense, and intense twists and turns I look to Lisa Gardner. Her books are exciting and unpredictable and deliver lots of thrills.”

Dana Richardson

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