Doris Gercke

Doris Gercke
Doris Gercke at a reading of one of her novels, 2007
Born	7 February 1937 Greifswald
Other names	Mary-Jo Morell
Occupation	Novelist
Years active	1988–present
Known for	the creation of the fictional detective Bella Block
Notable work	Weinschröter, du mußt hängen Nachsaison

Doris Gercke (born 7 February 1937 in Greifswald) is an award-winning German 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 practiced, 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.^[1]

Doris Gercke lives in Hamburg.

Awards

• 1991 Martin Beck Award 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, ISBN 978-3-455-60027-8 Beringers Auftrag. Ullstein, München 2003, ISBN 3-550-08423-4 Milenas Verlangen. Roman. Ullstein, München 2002, ISBN 3-550-08363-7 Duell auf der Veddel. Ein Krimi-Märchen. Hamburger Abendblatt, Hamburg 2001, ISBN 3-921305-47-0 Der Tod ist in der Stadt. Roman. Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg 1998, ISBN 3-455-02294-4 Für eine Hand voll Dollar. Jugendbuch. Elefanten Press bei Bertelsmann 1998, ISBN 3-570-14560-3 Eisnester. Gedichte. Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg 1996, ISBN 3-455-02292-8 Kein fremder Land. 1993, ISBN 3-455-02287-1 Versteckt. Ein Kinderkrimi. Espresso/Elef.Press, Berlin 1993, ISBN 3-88520-430-4

Mysteries in the Bella Block series (also filmed): Schweigen oder Sterben. Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg 2007, ISBN 978-3-455-40076-2 Georgia. Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg 2006, ISBN 3-455-40013-2 Bella Ciao. Ullstein, München 2004, ISBN 3-548-25804-2 Die schöne Mörderin. Ullstein, Berlin 2001, ISBN 3-89834-032-5 Die Frau vom Meer. Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg 2000, ISBN 3-455-02295-2 Dschingis Khans Tochter. Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg 1996, ISBN 3-455-02293-6 Auf Leben und Tod.. Hoffmann & Campe 1995, ISBN 3-455-02289-8 Ein Fall mit Liebe. Hoffmann und Campe 1994, ISBN 3-625-20394-4 Kinderkorn. Galgenberg, Hamburg 1991, ISBN 3-925387-89-7 Die Insel. Galgenberg, Hamburg 1990, ISBN 3-925387-74-9 Der Krieg, der Tod, die Pest. Galgenberg, Hamburg 1990, ISBN 3-925387-69-2 Moskau meine Liebe. Galgenberg, Hamburg 1989, ISBN 3-925387-59-5 Nachsaison. Galgenberg, Hamburg 1989, ISBN 3-925387-46-3 Weinschröter, du mußt hängen. Galgenberg, Hamburg 1988, ISBN 3-925387-41-2

References

1. Unsere Zeit, 2 February 2007, S. 13

External links

• Doris Gercke in the German National Library catalogue
• Portrait and interview
• www.krimilexikon.de
• „Hannelore Hoger als „Bella Block“. Am liebsten würde sie die Verbrechen verhindern“, FAZ, 14 January 2006, Nr. 12, S. 45, Interview with Hannelore Hoger and Doris Gercke