Jode is a life-long resident of the beautiful Hudson Valley in New York State. After many years of practicing law, she semi-retired her briefcase to write. Her award-winning debut thriller, THE MIDNIGHT CALL (2019) was the recipient of the 2020 BRONZE IPPY AWARD, 2020 AMERICAN Fiction Award for Legal Thriller, 2021 Independent Press Award, Finalist - 2021 Book Excellence Award, Finalist - 2020 Write Touch Readers Choice Awards, Finalist - 2020 National Readers Choice Award, Shortlist - 2019 CLUE AWARD. In 2014, THE MIDNIGHT CALL was designated as the "Best Police Procedural" by Chantireviews.com and was short-listed for the Clue Award. Her second thriller, HOOKER AVENUE, was released in April 2022, and is a Finalist for the RWA/KOD Daphne Du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. It won the 2022 Independent Press Award, was a Finalist for the American Fiction Award and is a First Place in the Clue Awards. In addition to writing crime fiction, Jode loves reading a good mystery. She holds a Masters In English Literature, and has taught undergraduate and law school, where her classes combined her interests in Law and Literature. She is a book reviewer for Booktrib.com and New York Journal of Books, and a podcaster.