The Author
Laurie R. King is the New York Times bestselling author of 30 novels and other works, including the Mary Russell-Sherlock Holmes stories (The Beekeeper’s Apprentice was chosen as one of the “20th Century’s Best Crime Novels” by the IMBA.) She has won the Agatha, Anthony, Creasey, Edgar, Lambda, Macavity, Wolfe, and Romantic Times Career Achievement awards, has an honorary doctorate in theology, and is a Baker Street Irregular. In 2022, she was named Grand Master by Mystery Writers of America. She co-edited (with Lee Child) the handbook from Mystery Writers of America, How to Write a Mystery, and has a new contemporary series with SFPD Inspector Raquel Laing, beginning with Back to the Garden.
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See Laurie’s full Biography and longer Autobiography
For an overview of Laurie’s writing by one of the most eminent publisher/editors out there, see the Neil Nyren article.
For events or interview requests, please contact Laurie’s publicist & agent, Alec Shane (Writers House).
Awards
- Edgar Award, Best First Novel, 1994, for A Grave Talent
- John Creasey Award (Best First Novel), 1994, for A Grave Talent
- ALA Notable Young Adult book and ALA Outstanding Book for the College Bound awards, 1995, for The Beekeeper’s Apprentice
- Nero Wolfe Best Novel Award, 1996, for A Monstrous Regiment of Women
- IMBA 100 Favorite Mysteries of the Twentieth Century, 2000, for The Beekeeper’s Apprentice
- Macavity Award (Mystery Readers International), 2002, for Folly
- LAMBDA Best Lesbian Mystery Literary Award, 2006, for The Art of Detection
- Anthony Best Anthology Award, 2015, for In the Company of Sherlock Holmes, co-edited with Leslie S. Klinger
- Agatha Award, 2015, for Dreaming Spies
- Goodreads Top 100 Mysteries, 2018, for The Beekeeper’s Apprentice
- Agatha, Macavity, and Anthony Nonfiction Awards, 2022, for How to Write a Mystery, co-edited with Lee Child
- Agatha Award nomination: 1995, for The Beekeeper’s Apprentice
- Best Edgar Award and Orange Award nominations: 1998, for With Child
- Best Edgar Short Story nomination, 2001, for “Paleta Man”
- Barry Award nomination: 2004, for Keeping Watch
- Lefty Award nominations: 2009, for Touchstone; 2016, for Dreaming Spies; 2017, for The Murder of Mary Russell; 2019, for Island of the Mad; 2021, for Riviera Gold; 2023, for Back to the Garden; 2025, for The Lantern’s Dance; 2026, for Knave of Diamonds
- Macavity Award nominations: 1994, for A Grave Talent; 2000, for “Paleta Man”; 2016, for Dreaming Spies; 2019, for Island of the Mad; 2023, for Back to the Garden
- eDunnit award nominations (CrimeFest): 2016, for Dreaming Spies; 2025, for The Lantern’s Dance
- LA Times Book Prize nomination (Mystery/Thriller), 2023, for Back to the Garden
- Anthony Award nominations: 1994, for A Grave Talent; 2000, for “Paleta Man”; 2025, for The Lantern’s Dance
Author Awards
- Honorary doctorate, the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, 1997
- Gail Rich Award for the Arts, 1998
- Guest of Honor, Left Coast Crime XII, 2002
- Career Achievement Award, Romantic Times Magazine, 2005
- Artist of the Year, Santa Cruz County, 2006
- Jack Reacher Award, Bouchercon, 2008
- Inducted into the Baker Street Irregulars as “The Red Circle,” 2010
- US Guest of Honor, Bouchercon, 2010
- 45+5 Prominent and Influential Alumni from University of California Santa Cruz, 2010
- US Guest of Honor, Malice Domestic, 2013
- Toastmaster, Left Coast Crime, 2017
- Grand Master Award, Mystery Writers of America, 2022
- Lifetime Achievement Award Guest of Honor, Bouchercon 2028
