Lois Duncan was the author of many popular books for young readers, several of which were adapted for film and television. Her best known titles included I Know What You Did Last Summer and Hotel for Dogs.

Duncan began writing as a child and sold her first story to a magazine when she was 13 years old. She studied at Duke University, but left before graduating to marry and start a family. She continued to write, however, and for a time she taught journalism at the University of New Mexico while working on books and magazine articles.

In addition to I Know What You Did Last Summer and Hotel for Dogs, both of which became movies, Duncan wrote several books that became telefilms, including Stranger in Our House, Killing Mr. Griffin, Don't Look Behind You and Stranger with My Face.

Duncan died on June 15, 2016, in South Sarasota, Florida. She was 82.