Martha C. Lawrence

Martha C. Lawrence (born 1956 in Waukegan, Illinois) is an American mystery novelist best known for the Elizabeth Chase series, which follows a psychic private investigator working cases across California; the series includes Murder in Scorpio, Pisces Rising, The Cold Heart of Capricorn, Aquarius Descending, and Ashes of Aries, its astrological titles reflecting the detective's method. Murder in Scorpio, her debut novel, was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best First Novel, the Anthony Award for Best First Novel, and the Agatha Award for Best First Novel. Lawrence's mysteries blend traditional detective plotting with paranormal elements, distinguishing her within the genre through the psychic dimension of her investigator's methods.