Doris Gercke (born 7 February 1937 in

Greifswald Greifswald (), officially the University and Hanseatic City of Greifswald (german: Universitäts- und Hansestadt Greifswald, Low German: ''Griepswoold'') is the fourth-largest city in the German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania after Rostoc ...

) is a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

writer of crime thrillers. She also works under the nom de plume Mary-Jo Morell.

Biography

Born to a working-class family, Doris Gercke's family could not afford higher education for her, so she became an administrator at the age of 16. Married at 20, she had her second child at the age of 22, and gave up working to be a full-time homemaker and mother. In 1980 Gercke finally fulfilled her dream of studying law, funded by a scholarship. However, she never practised, and wrote her first novel in 1988. Gercke identifies with the political left and is connected with pacifism and the struggle against neo-fascism and communism. She takes part in political marches and demonstrations. She also participates in the ''UZ-Pressefesten'' (loosely, "Media Festivals") of the German Communist Party.

Unsere Zeit ' (') is a weekly newspaper published by the German Communist Party. The paper's full name is ' (). History and profile ''Unsere Zeit'' was established in Düsseldorf in 1969. It is the organ of the German Communist Party. Its circulation was 6 ...

, 2 February 2007, S. 13 Doris Gercke lives in

Hamburg (male), (female) en, Hamburger(s), Hamburgian(s) , timezone1 = Central (CET) , utc_offset1 = +1 , timezone1_DST = Central (CEST) , utc_offset1_DST = +2 , postal ...

Awards

* 1991

Martin Beck Award The Martin Beck Award is an award given by the Swedish Crime Writers' Academy (''Svenska Deckarakademin'') for the best crime novel in translation. It is one of the most prestigious international crime-writing awards. The Award is named after Martin ...

for: ''Du skrattade, du ska dö''. * 2000 Glauser Prize of the Association of German-language thriller authors – For lifetime achievement in the service of German thrillers

Works

* ''Königin der Insel''. Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg 2015, * ''Beringers Auftrag''. Ullstein, München 2003, * ''Milenas Verlangen. Roman''. Ullstein, München 2002, * ''Duell auf der Veddel. Ein Krimi-Märchen''. Hamburger Abendblatt, Hamburg 2001, * ''Der Tod ist in der Stadt. Roman''. Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg 1998, * ''Für eine Hand voll Dollar. Jugendbuch''. Elefanten Press bei Bertelsmann 1998, * ''Eisnester. Gedichte''. Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg 1996, * ''Kein fremder Land''. 1993, * ''Versteckt. Ein Kinderkrimi''. Espresso/Elef.Press, Berlin 1993, Mysteries in the

Bella Block ''Bella Block'' is a long-running German detective television series starring Hannelore Hoger as inspector Bella Block. The show was first broadcast in 1994 on ZDF and last aired in 2018, having run for 38 seasons. See also * List of German t ...

series (also filmed): * ''Schweigen oder Sterben''. Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg 2007, * ''Georgia''. Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg 2006, * ''Bella Ciao''. Ullstein, München 2004, * ''Die schöne Mörderin''. Ullstein, Berlin 2001, * ''Die Frau vom Meer''. Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg 2000, * ''Dschingis Khans Tochter''. Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg 1996, * ''Auf Leben und Tod.''. Hoffmann & Campe 1995, * ''Ein Fall mit Liebe''. Hoffmann und Campe 1994, * ''Kinderkorn''. Galgenberg, Hamburg 1991, * ''Die Insel''. Galgenberg, Hamburg 1990, * ''Der Krieg, der Tod, die Pest''. Galgenberg, Hamburg 1990, * ''Moskau meine Liebe''. Galgenberg, Hamburg 1989, * ''Nachsaison''. Galgenberg, Hamburg 1989, * ''Weinschröter, du mußt hängen''. Galgenberg, Hamburg 1988,

References

External links

Portrait and interview

FAZ, 14 January 2006, Nr. 12, S. 45, Interview with

Hannelore Hoger Hannelore Hoger (; born 20 August 1942) is a German actress and director. From 1958–1961 she studied acting at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg. She has appeared in numerous German films, television programs, and stage production ...

and Doris Gercke {{DEFAULTSORT:Gercke, Doris 1937 births Living people People from Greifswald 20th-century German novelists 21st-century German novelists German women novelists 20th-century pseudonymous writers 21st-century pseudonymous writers Pseudonymous women writers