An American author known for his award-winning detective novels, he is most famous for The Monkey's Raincoat (1987), Sunset Express (1996), and The Watchman (2007). He also had a screenwriting career; his television credits include episodes of Miami Vice, Quincy, and Hill Street Blues. He studied mechanical engineering at Louisiana State University before moving to Los Angeles in the mid-1970s. He began his career writing scripts for shows such as Cagney & Lacey and L.A. Law.
