Martin Cruz Smith
Martin Cruz Smith is an American mystery novelist. He is best known for his eight-novel series on Russian investigator Arkady Renko, who was first introduced in 1981 with Gorky Park. Wikipedia
-
Timothy Hallinan
Locations-Bangkok & Los Angeles
Timothy Hallinan
Latest in the Poke Rafferty Series —
Edgar, Shamus, Macavity and Lefty nominee Timothy Hallinan has written twenty-one published novels, all thrillers and mysteries, all critically praised. He currently writes two series, one set in Los Angeles and the other in Bangkok, and in 2017 he also revived his earlier series, written in the 1990s about the overeducated slacker private eye Simeon Grist. The new book, the first since 1995, is “Pulped.”
His 2014 Junior Bender novel, “Herbie’s Game,” won the Lefty Award for Best Comic Crime Novel of the year. His 2010 Poke Rafferty Bangkok novel, “The Queen of Patpong,” was nominated for the Edgar as Best Mystery of the Year.
The Junior Bender mysteries chronicle the adventures of a burglar who moonlights as a private eye for crooks. Six titles have been published to date, and “Herbie’s Game” (2015) won the Lefty Award for Best Comic Crime Novel. The other titles in the series are “Crashed,” “Little Elvises,” “The Fame Thief,” “King Maybe,” and “Fields Where They Lay,” which was on many “Best Books of 2016” lists. Coming in 2018 is “Nighttown.”
The Junior Bender books are presently in development as a primetime television series.
In 2007, the first of his Edgar-nominated Poke Rafferty Bangkok thrillers, “A Nail Through the Heart”, was published. “Hallinan scores big-time,” said Kirkus Reviews, which went on to call the book “dark, often funny, and ultimately enthralling.” “Nail” was named one of the top mysteries of the year by The Japan Times.
Rafferty’s Bangkok adventures have continued with “The Fourth Watcher,” “Breathing Water,” “The Queen of Patpong,” “The Fear Artist,” “For the Dead,” and “The Hot Countries.” Coming in 2017 is “Fools’ River.”
In the 1990s he wrote six mysteries featuring the erudite private eye Simeon Grist, beginning with “The Four Last Things,” which made several Ten Best lists, including that of The Drood Review. The other books in the series were well reviewed, and several of them were optioned for motion pictures. The series is now regarded as a cult favorite and is being revived, in one sense of the word, with “Pulped.”
He has also edited two books. “Shaken: Stories for Japan” contained original stories by top mystery writers and raised more then $100,000 for tsunami relief efforts, with every penny going straight to Japan. “Making Story: 21 Writers and How They Plot” contained practical ideas on plotting by well-known mystery and thriller writers.
Hallinan divides his time between Los Angeles and Southeast Asia, the setting for his Poke Rafferty novels. (Amazon)In addition to the Lefty, the Edgar, and the Macavity, Hallinan’s books have been nominated for the Shamus and Nero award.
-
Phillip Margolin
Location – Oregon
Phillip Margolin
A great collection of legal thrillers written over a span of forty years.
-
Michael Connelly
LOCATION – LOS ANGELES
Michael Connelly
Michael Connelly is a titan of modern crime fiction, renowned for crafting intricate, gritty thrillers centered on iconic characters like LAPD Detective Harry Bosch and defense attorney Mickey Haller, evolving from a journalist’s keen eye for detail into a global bestselling author with over 90 million books sold, earning Edgar Awards, and successfully translating his complex legal and police procedurals into hit TV series like Bosch and The Lincoln Lawyer, solidifying his place as a master storyteller of Los Angeles’ underbelly and justice system.
Born in Philadelphia in 1956, Michael Connelly’s path to literary stardom began not in fiction, but in the trenches of journalism, particularly covering crime for newspapers in Florida and then the Los Angeles Times. This front-line experience, interviewing cops and victims, observing the gritty realities of law enforcement, became the bedrock of his storytelling, lending unparalleled authenticity to his future novels. His breakthrough came in 1992 with The Black Echo, the debut novel featuring Harry Bosch, which immediately earned the prestigious Edgar Award for Best First Novel, signaling the arrival of a major new voice in mystery.
Connelly’s success transcends the printed page. He has become a prolific producer for television, overseeing the highly acclaimed Bosch series (Amazon Prime/Freevee) and The Lincoln Lawyer (Netflix), which brought his beloved characters to vibrant life for a global audience. He also produced the television adaptation of his Renée Ballard novel, The Law of Innocence, and previously saw his novel Blood Work adapted into a film directed by and starring Clint Eastwood.
With over forty novels, numerous awards (including the Grand Master title from the MWA), and a global readership, Michael Connelly remains a leading figure in crime fiction, continually reinventing his universe while staying true to the core themes of justice, redemption, and the relentless search for truth in a world that often hides it. His work offers readers thrilling plots, complex characters, and a deep dive into the heart of criminal investigation.
