I write crime stories about strong women.

My newest novel, MY SISTER IS GOING TO KILL ME, will be released in August 2026. It is a fun, twisty mystery about two mismatched sisters who must catch a murderer as they barrel down the Grand Canyon on a whitewater rafting trip.

My first novel, MOTHER-DAUGHTER MURDER NIGHT, is a New York Times bestselling mystery about a grandma, single mom, and teenage girl who come together to solve the murder of a naturalist who washes up in the Monterey Bay.

Writing has always been my joy. In college, I was an electrical engineering student by day and a slam poet by night. After a brief stint at NASA, I started designing interactive exhibits and eventually became a museum director. I wrote two books of nonfiction about creating participatory, relevant cultural institutions.

Then, my mom got sick. I quit museum work to care for her, and I found myself turning to fiction, and mysteries, as a way to escape and find pleasure during a hard time. I wrote my first novel by my mom's side, featuring a detective/hero based on her. Now, my mom is doing better, and I'm gratefully spending my days writing, reading, and cherishing the people in my life.

I live off-the-grid in the Santa Cruz mountains. You can find out more about me at https://ninaksimon.com/

I write a very occasional newsletter at https://ninaksimon.substack.com/