Judy Clemens

Judy Clemens is an American mystery author, born in 1969, best known for the Grim Reaper series of crime novels, beginning with Embrace the Grim Reaper (2009) and continuing through Beyond the Grave (2018). She has served as president of Sisters in Crime, an organization supporting and promoting women crime writers, and remains active in that community. Clemens has lived in several states before settling in rural Ohio, where she is also active in her local Mennonite church. Her Grim Reaper mysteries are grounded in small-town and rural settings and follow a recurring cast built around a wry, closely observed tone rather than high-concept plotting. Clemens continues to write within the cozy-adjacent end of the crime genre, favoring character continuity and community ties over shocking twists.