Nicci French

Nicci French is the pseudonym for the British writing duo Nicci Gerrard and Sean French. Nicci Gerrard was born in Leicester, England, in 1958, and Sean French was born in London, England, in 1959. They met while studying English at the University of Bristol and married in 1981. The couple began writing together in 1997 and published their debut novel, "Killing Me Softly," in 1999. The novel was a critical and commercial success, and it introduced Detective Inspector (DI) Frieda Klein, a complex and driven protagonist who would appear in many of the duo's subsequent novels. French has written 21 novels featuring DI Klein, including the bestselling "Beneath the Skin" (2003), "Secret Smile" (2005), and "Until It's Over" (2017). Their novels are known for their psychological suspense, complex characters, and exploration of dark themes. French has won numerous awards for their work, including the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger Award for Best Crime Novel in 2001 for "Killing Me Softly" and the WHSmith People's Choice Award in 2003 for "Beneath the Skin." Their novels have been translated into more than 30 languages and sold millions of copies worldwide, making them one of the most successful crime-writing duos in the world.