Born in Texas, Aileen Schumacher is a registered professional engineer and since 1982 owns as well as manages an engineering consulting firm together with her husband, Richard Blum. She actually graduated in biology as desert study field technician but later switched to civil/environmental engineering. Schumacher has also written A Guide to Hazardous Materials and has formed a technical supply company that supplies equipment and materials worldwide. She lives in Florida with her husband and two children. Her first mystery, Engineered for Murder, introduced her characters Tory Travers, an engineer, and Detective David Alvarez. The series is based at El Paso. Schumacher states that the reason for writing this novel was to promote the visibility of females in non-traditional careers.