Carol Ritz writes the kind of thrillers she loves to read—smart, fast-paced stories where every clue matters and every secret comes at a cost.
Her debut spy thriller, 3 Ciphers, introduces readers to Simon Blake, a young NSA cryptologist whose search for the truth about his brother’s death leads him into the shadowy mystery of the legendary Beale Ciphers. Blending real historical puzzles with pulse-pounding suspense, Ritz delivers a reading experience where each solved riddle uncovers an even greater danger.
Before becoming an author, Carol immersed herself in the worlds of espionage history, cryptography, and treasure lore, fascinated by how codes and ciphers have shaped real-world events. Her writing is informed by meticulous research, a lifelong love of puzzles, and a storyteller’s instinct for weaving emotional stakes into high-intensity plots.
When she’s not plotting her next twist, you might find Carol exploring small-town archives, solving cryptic crosswords, or creating challenges for her readers through her Cipher Club newsletter.