Anne Perry, the prolific crime novelist who was convicted of murder when she was a teenager in a high-profile New Zealand case, has died at 84. Random House Group, whose imprint Ballantine Books published Perry’s work, announced the author’s death in a news release.

Perry, born Juliet Marion Hulme, was a London native who moved to New Zealand as a child. She was 15 when she and her best friend, Pauline Parker, were convicted of murdering Parker’s mother; both served five years in prison. The case was depicted in a 1994 film, Heavenly Creatures, directed by Peter Jackson and starring Kate Winslet as Perry.

Perry made her literary debut in 1979 with The Cater Street Hangman, a crime novel set in the Victorian era, which featured the characters Thomas and Charlotte Pitt. The husband-and-wife team would appear in more than 30 more novels, including Highgate Rise, Farrier’s Lane, Brunswick Gardens, and Dorchester Terrace.

She was also known for her series of novels featuring detective William Monk (A Dangerous Mourning, Dark Tide Rising). Her most recent novel, The Fourth Enemy, was published Tuesday; a critic for Kirkus called it “familiar fare well served in Perry’s plush, comfortable prose.”

Perry’s readers and colleagues remembered her on social media. On Twitter, literary agent Donald Maass wrote, “It’s with enormous sorrow that I must report the passing of mystery writer Anne Perry, winner of the Edgar Award, author of 101 volumes, and a client of 33 years. Thank you, Anne, working with you has been the highlight of my career.”

And voice actor Samuel Roukin tweeted, “I developed a deep respect for her skillful storytelling, being trusted with narrating the Daniel Pitt series. So many wonderful characters. I’ll have fond memories of her work.”

Michael Schaub, a journalist and regular contributor to NPR, lives near Austin, Texas.