Sue Henry is a renowned American author, celebrated for her mystery and thriller novels. She has penned 17 novels in two acclaimed series, primarily set in the Alaska wilderness. Her writing career took off after her first book, "Murder on the Iditarod Trail" (1991), received critical acclaim and won prestigious awards, including the Macavity Awards and Anthony Awards for best first novel. This success inspired her to create the Alaska Mysteries series, featuring Alaskan state trooper Alex Jensen and Jessie Arnold, a sled dog racer.
Henry's second series, introduced in 2005, stars Maxine McNab, a 63-year-old widow, and her miniature dachshund, Stretch. Maxine was first introduced in "Dead North" (2001), a part of the Alaska series. Henry's work has also been adapted for television, with "Murder on the Iditarod Trail" being filmed as "The Cold Heart of a Killer" (1996) starring Kate Jackson, who had purchased the film rights to the book.
Born in 1940, Sue Henry spent over a quarter of a century residing in Alaska, which served as the breathtaking backdrop for her mysteries. She brilliantly incorporated Alaskan history, lore, and the awe-inspiring landscape into her storytelling, immersing readers in the unique setting. In addition to her writing, Henry shared her expertise as a writing instructor at the University of Alaska, Anchorage. Sadly, Henry passed away in November 2020 in her beloved home state of Alaska.