Meet Carolyn
Cozy mysteries and thrillers with strong female leads, and dialogue readers call realistic and compelling.
USA TODAY Bestselling Author Carolyn Ridder Aspenson writes cozy mysteries and thrillers with strong female leads. Her readers rave about her engaging dialogue, calling it realistic and compelling—a hallmark of her storytelling.
Carolyn's debut, Unfinished Business, not only earned a coveted five-star rating from Reader's Favorite but also clinched finalist status in the Rone Awards, soaring to number one on both Amazon and Barnes & Noble. In 2021, she introduced the sharp and savvy detective Rachel Ryder in Damaging Secrets, which quickly joined the ranks of Amazon's bestsellers. Several books in the series reached number one in various genres on Amazon. The series' third installment, Overkill, was hailed as one of the best thrillers of the year by Thrillerfix.
Critics describe her thrillers as "intense" and "edge-of-your-seat thrillers" that you'll "want to read all night long."
Before her publishing career, Carolyn honed her craft as a journalist in the suburbs of Atlanta, contributing to various newspapers and magazines, and penned a popular monthly column for Northside Woman magazine.
She resides in the mountains of North Georgia, enjoying life as an empty nester with her husband, a feisty cat, and her beloved dogs.
Books published
Series across two genres
Bestselling author
Off the page
When she isn't writing, Carolyn is an empty nester in the mountains of North Georgia with her husband and a houseful of animals who all believe they're the main character.
Release news, behind-the-scenes, and the occasional dog.