Carol Higgins Clark was born in New York City in 1956 to suspense writer Mary Higgins Clark. She received a B.A. from Mount Holyoke College before studying acting at the Beverly Hills Playhouse. She is the author of the Regan Reilly mystery series. Her novel Decked was nominated for both an Agatha and Anthony Award for Best First Novel. She has also co-authored several books with her mother including Deck the Halls, The Christmas Thief, Santa Cruise, and Dashing through the Snow. As an actress, she has appeared in numerous television, film, and theater productions, including A Cry in the Night, a 1992 television movie based on a novel written by her mother.