Best-selling British crime writer Ruth Rendell has died at the age of 85.
Ms Rendell suffered a stroke in January and had been in a critical condition in hospital.
Her publishers Penguin Random House said she passed away in London at 8am today.
Ms Rendell wrote dozens of books, including the Inspector Wexford novels, which were turned into a TV series.
In a statement, Penguin Random House said: "We are devastated by the loss of one of our best-loved authors."
It added: "Ruth has been published by Hutchinson since 1964 and under her pen name Barbara Vine, she wrote 14 novels for Penguin.
"Ruth was very much part of our publishing family and a friend to many at Penguin Random House. We will miss her enormously. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time."
Ms Rendell produced a steady stream of best-sellers for more than half a century in a career that began on the lowest rung of local journalism and ended on the benches of the House of Lords.
Her work includes more than 60 best-sellers, written under her own name and the pseudonym Barbara Vine, which were translated into more than 20 languages and regularly filmed for television.
She made her name with her Inspector Wexford novels, starting with 1964's From Doon with Death, which found her a whole new audience when they were televised with George Baker in the title role. Reginald Wexford featured in 24 subsequent novels.
She had worldwide sales of around 60 million and won a variety of awards, including the Crime Writers' Association Cartier Diamond Dagger for sustained excellence in crime writing.
Her final novel, Dark Corners, is set to be published in October.
Baroness Gail Rebuck, chair of Penguin Random House UK, said: "Ruth was much admired by the whole publishing industry for her brilliant body of work.
"An insightful and elegant observer of society, many of her award-winning thrillers and psychological murder mysteries highlighted the causes she cared so deeply about.
"Ruth also became one of the first New Labour working peers, continuing to effect change through the House of Lords, most particularly on the issue of FGM (female genital mutilation).
"Ruth was a great writer, a campaigner for social justice, a proud mother and grandmother, a generous and loyal friend and probably the best read person I have ever met.
"Her many close friends in publishing and the House of Lords will greatly miss her wonderful company and her truly unique contribution to our lives."
