Shirley Kennett is the author of the "PJ Gray" thriller series, featuring a psychologist and single mother who uses virtual reality technology to assist the St. Louis Police Department in solving homicides. The series includes titles such as "Gray Matter," "Fire Cracker," "Chameleon," "Act of Betrayal," and "Time of Death." She has also written the standalone environmental mystery "Burning Rose." Under the pseudonym Dakota Banks, Kennett penned the "Mortal Path" series, a collection of supernatural thrillers.
With a background in corporate analysis, business systems programming, and independent computer consulting, Kennett brings a technical perspective to her writing. Her early fascination with mystery fiction was influenced by her upbringing in a converted turn-of-the-century funeral home. She has been a longtime advocate for integrating technology into healthcare, specializing in computerized clinical applications to enhance patient care.
Kennett is an active member of several professional organizations, including Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and Sisters in Crime. A St. Louis native, she enjoys reading, gardening, and photography in her spare time. Her work spans multiple genres, blending suspense, police procedurals, and paranormal elements with a distinctive analytical approach.