Welcome To The Aaron Elkins Web site
Aaron Elkins
Former anthropologist Aaron Elkins has been writing mysteries and thrillers since 1982, having won an Edgar for Old Bones, as well as a subsequent Agatha (with his wife Charlotte), and a Nero Wolfe Award. His major continuing series features forensic anthropologist-detective Gideon Oliver, "the skeleton detective". The Gideon Oliver books have been (roughly) translated into a major ABC-TV series and have been selections of the Book-of-the-Month Club, the Literary Guild, and the Readers Digest Condensed Mystery Series.
Visit the Book Case page for a complete listing including reviews of all the Gideon Oliver books.
A second series features art curator-sleuth Chris Norgren, and he and Charlotte have collaborated on five mysteries with female golfer Lee Ofsted. In addition Aaron is the author of Loot, a massively researched, critically acclaimed novel dealing with modern-day consequences of Nazi art plunder in World War II and Turncoat, which explores a similar subject.
Aaron speaks often at professional conferences, is a frequent contributor to the New York Times' travel magazine, has written for Smithsonian magazine, and is the author of several short stories and numerous articles on the craft of writing.
He and his wife Charlotte live on Washington's Olympic Peninsula, their marriage having survived (more or less intact) their collaboration on novels and short stories. A former anthropology professor himself, he keeps his hand in the game by serving as the forensic anthropologist for the Olympic Peninsula Cold Case Task Force.
On the Calendar page you'll see when Aaron is your vicinity.
Aaron's work has been published in over a dozen languages. He and his wife Charlotte live on Washington's Olympic Peninsula, their marriage having survived (more or less intact) their collaboration on novels and short stories. He keeps his hand in the forensic game by serving as the forensic anthropologist for the Clallam County Cold Case Task Force.
Latest Releases From Aaron Elkins
NOW IN HARDBACK-The latest adventure of Gideon Oliver
Anthropology professor Gideon Oliver and his wife Julie head for a vacation in the charming little Mexican village of Teotitlán del Valle in the state of Oaxaca. Up to his ears in forensic work at home, the celebrated "Skeleton Detective" looks forward to a week of leisure and touring. Teotitlán is an out-of-the-way weaver's village, peaceful and virtually crime- and drug-free, What could go wrong?
Plenty.
Atmospheric . . . a suspenseful puzzle . . . the final revelations should leave you--if not the unflappable Bone Detective--pleasantly surprised". Publishers Weekly
NOW IN PAPERBACK--UNEASY RELATIONS
Before the sun set on the last of the Neanderthals 25,000 years ago, was he living in peace with his smarter, handsomer cousins Homo sapiens (modern humans)? Or were the two deadly enemies? Archaeologists had debated this question for decades. Then, a spectacular find on the Rock of Gibraltar leaves everyone speechless.
Absorbing....Gideon gets the job done without CSI gimmicks and glitz.... In addition, Elkins offers readers a pleasant tour of the Rock and its neighborhood." Publishers Weekly
"Aaron Elkins is that most cherished of authors, one who leaves you feeling you've absorbed important knowledge you never knew you lacked.
Murder, a singular detective, a winning supporting cast, humor--what more could we want from a mystery?" The Chicago Sun-Times
"Elkins' writing skills are superb, his research impeccable, and his plots intriguing. . . Elkins has established himself as a master craftsman both in the Oliver series and in his stand-alone thrillers." Booklist
"A pleasure . . . sit back and enjoy . . . while wallowing in all that deliciously obscure and newly learned information."-USA Today
"The whole world is Gideon Oliver’s playing field in Elkins’ stylish mysteries"New York Times Book Review
"Aaron Elkins is one of the best in the business and getting better all the time; when his new book arrives I let the cats go hungry and put my own work on hold until I've finished it." -Elizabeth Peters
"Elkins has long been a top-rank writer and it's always pure delight when he brings out another book. -Earl Emerson
"First rate! Elegant, ingenious, and beautifully crafted." - Sue Grafton (in a review of Good Blood
Page updated 8-30-2010