Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages,[1][2][3] and have been published in the United Kingdom,[4][5] Brazil,[6] Spain, and Italy.

[7] Katsu has also had a 29-year career in the NSA and CIA working in a number of positions dealing with intelligence and foreign policy, with an emphasis on technology issues.

She spent the majority of her youth living near Concord, Massachusetts, to which she attributes her interest in the early American history featured in her novels.

It received praise from outlets such as Booklist and The Washington Post[18] and was recognized as one of the ten best debut novels of the year by the American Library Association.

[13] The Taker was named one of the ten best debut novels of 2011 by Booklist magazine, the publication of the American Library Association.