Niki Etsuko

Niki Etsuko (Japanese: 仁木悦子; 1928–1986) was a Japanese novelist, noted for becoming the first female Japanese writer of mystery fiction to achieve widespread recognition and commercial success.

Niki was born in Tokyo and began writing fiction after a childhood bout of polio left her unable to walk. In 1957, Niki's detective novel The Cat Knew received the Edogawa Rampo Prize for best mystery fiction and became a best-seller, breaking all sales records for Japanese detective novels. The book was credited for introducing a new style of detective story and making the genre more accessible to female audiences in Japan.

In 1981, Niki received a Mystery Writers of Japan Award for her short fiction.