[1] She has published a wide range of writing including reviews, articles, short stories and non-fiction, but she is best known for her psychological thrillers.

She was educated at Kincoppal Rose Bay School of the Sacred Heart and the University of New England in Armidale, where she obtained an Honours degree in Victorian Literature.

It was an instant success and, with the money from the film rights, she was able to leave paid employment in 1983 and return to full-time writing (Jennifer Ellison, Rooms of their Own, Penguin, Ringwood, 1986, p. 202).

In February 2017, Lord spoke at a fundraising event for the far-right Q Society of Australia, where she claimed that there was a "war" going on between Islam and the West, and that the Muslims were "better prepared than we are".

She believes strongly in research, saying it is "necessary for today's savvy readers"[3] and to this end has, over the years, spent time with scientists, detectives, and forensic anthropologists; she has studied some Anatomy at the University of Sydney; and has done work experience with a private security business.