I still very vividly remember the pleasure of starting one of her books, which began in a reform school with a rape scene. She was a groundbreaker not only as a cop but as a woman writing gritty books.
The obit says she committed suicide after having talked about it for a long time.
Here's one fan who remembers and mourns.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/12/arts/12uhnak.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1152817310-seHJILUmVE679JZlXmPaJg
Maybe the message is to tell other authors how much you enjoy their works. I used to love Alan Nourse, and then last year I found out he died a long time ago. That hurt in an odd way. This week I sent a note to Cammie McGovern telling her how much I loved Eye Contact.