Megan Abbott is an American author of crime fiction, non-fiction, and short stories. She is best known for her novels set in the 1950s and 1960s, which explore the dark side of teenage life. Abbott has won numerous awards for her work, including the Edgar Award for Best Novel and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller. She has also been nominated for the National Book Award and the Shirley Jackson Award. Abbott's work has been praised for its psychological depth and its exploration of gender roles and power dynamics. Her writing has been described as "hauntingly beautiful" and "unforgettable". Abbott is a professor at New York University and lives in New York City.