Kathleen Kent is a highly accomplished American author, known for her work in historical fiction, literature, and crime fiction. She was born and raised in Dallas, and attended the University of Texas at Austin. After graduating, she moved to New York and worked in commodities and for the United States Department of Defense, with a significant amount of travel in the Former Soviet Union.
Kent made her debut as an author in 2008 with the release of her first novel, The Heretic's Daughter, which became a New York Times bestseller. The novel is a story about the Salem Witch Trials and is based on the experiences of Kent's 9X great-grandmother, who was hanged as a witch in 1692. The book was well-received and has been published in 17 countries. This success was followed by two more bestselling historical novels, The Traitor's Wife and The Outcasts.
In addition to her historical fiction, Kent has also found success in contemporary crime fiction. She is the author of the Detective Betty Rhyzyk series, which includes The Dime, The Burn, and The Pledge. The first book in the series was nominated for an Edgar Award. Kent has stated that she drew from her own experiences for the character of Betty Rhyzyk, as she has family in law enforcement and has always admired female police officers.
Kent's latest novel, BLACK WOLF, is an international spy thriller, published in February 2023. It has received glowing reviews in both the US and the UK. Kent has also written short stories and essays for various publications, including D Magazine, Texas Monthly, and LitHub. She was inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters in March 2020 for her contribution to Texas literature.