About Elizabeth Heider
Elizabeth Heider writes literary crime fiction at the intersection of psychological thriller and political noir. Her novels draw on decades of work across military, government, academia, international organizations, and the private sector.
Her debut novel, May the Wolf Die (Penguin, 2024), was named a Best Book of the Year by The New York Times, The Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, Best Thriller Books, and CriminOlly. Her follow-up, Children of the Savage City (Penguin, February 2026), was named a Financial Times Best New Thriller. Her Nikki Serafino series has been optioned and is currently in development for a Television Series by a major streaming platform.
Elizabeth holds a PhD in physics and most recently worked as a Senior Technical Program Manager for Microsoft's AI4Science program and was a co-author on the 2025 Nature Magazine article, A Foundation Model for Earth Systems. In the previous eight years, Elizabeth was a scientist in the European Space Agency’s human spaceflight program where she supported operations aboard the International Space Station.
Prior to this, she served as a civilian analyst for the US Navy for eight years, deployed aboard US and European naval ships and embedding as a Senior Program Manager with the US Navy’s mission in Africa, Africa Partnership Station based out of Naples Italy.
Elizabeth's authored original scientific research, a patent in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, analytical reports for the US government and military, and a journal article with astronaut Thomas Pesquet. She also founded her own consultancy, Cap-Geo B.V., whose clients have included the US Navy, INTERPOL, and Northrop Grumman.
Originally from Utah, she now lives in The Hague.
Conversation with Ken Jones on Seattle Public Radio: a wonderful conversation about Children of the Savage City
Utah Public Radio Interview: Access Utah
Townlift News
"The author’s background spans physics, military analysis, and space research. She holds a B.S. in Physics from the University of Utah and a PhD from Tufts University. Her career includes work with the European Space Agency’s Human Spaceflight program and her current role as a program manager for Microsoft’s AI4Science program in the Netherlands."
Deseret News
" As a civilian analyst for the U.S. Navy, Heider spent three years in Naples, Italy, which is the backdrop in Heider’s debut novel “May the Wolf Die,” a captivating mystery and Heider’s debut book that was released in July through Penguin Publishing."
U of U Alumni Magazine
"...after completing her degree at the University of Utah, she worked as a deployed civilian analyst with the U.S. Navy, including three years stationed in Naples. Her work took her to 15 African countries, saw her training troops in Senegal, Gabon, and Cameroon, and even lecturing at INTERPOL headquarters in France."
Ken Jones and KBOO Community Radio
" May the Wolf Die is Elizabeth’s first published novel and, if you’re like me, you’ll find it hard to believe she hasn’t already written a dozen. The book was named a New York Times Best Crime Novel of 2024, a Washington Post Best Mystery of 2024, and a Publisher's Weekly Best Book of 2024."
University of Utah Magazine
Elizabeth Heider is a PhD physicist and a talented fiction author whose recent roles include program management for Microsoft’s AI4Science, providing science support for the European Space Agency, and consulting for the commercial spaceflight industry. She lived and worked in Naples, Italy, for several years.
📚 By Plane or By Page with Sarah Howard
" Let’s not bury the lede here. I loved May the Wolf Die..."