I’ve always been fascinated by how chance encounters can shape a life. One such moment came in junior high school in New York, where a turbulent “forced integration” experiment unexpectedly led me to an inspiring English teacher, Louis Brill. His passion for language sparked my love of writing—a gift I might never have discovered otherwise.
Years later, after earning a bachelor’s in English and then practicing chiropractic, another random phone call changed my path. A conversation with the head of the Department of Justice’s Criminalists Institute led me to audit a blood spatter class, where I met an FBI agent who introduced me to the Behavioral Analysis Unit. That relationship opened doors to FBI seminars, Quantico visits, and countless hours of research alongside two senior FBI profilers, Mark Safarik and Mary Ellen O’Toole—insights and personal tutoring that formed the foundation of both my characters and novels.
Over the past thirty years, I have applied this behind‑the‑scenes approach to researching the law enforcement agencies and officers who perform the jobs I write about. That commitment to authenticity is a big reason why readers across the law enforcement community enjoy my books. By striving for accuracy in portraying the challenges they face, I aim to respect the difficult jobs they have—and give my readers stories that feel both true and compelling.
My debut, False Accusations, was followed by The Hunted, both national bestsellers. Then came The 7th Victim, introducing FBI profiler Karen Vail, who grew into a long-running series highly praised by the likes of blockbuster authors James Patterson, Michael Connelly, and Nelson DeMille for its authenticity and depth. From Napa Valley in Crush and Velocity, to Alcatraz in Inmate 1577, London in No Way Out, and Manhattan in Spectrum, Vail’s stories have been called “epic,” “shocking,” and “exceptional.” Many have been awarded “best novel of the year” while several have been optioned by Hollywood. False Accusations was adapted into successful film by acclaimed Czech screenwriter Jiri Hubak.
Alongside Karen Vail, covert operatives Hector DeSantos and Aaron Uziel comprise the OPSIG Team Black thrillers, a book series that expanded my universe to high-stakes domestic and international intrigue. Starting with The Hunted and continuing with Hard Target, The Lost Codex, Dark Side of the Moon, and Die Trying, the series has been raved about by Vince Flynn, David Morrell, Lee Child, David Baldacci, Thomas Perry, and Dale Brown—and received numerous “Best thriller of the year” accolades.
Although my novels have been optioned for Hollywood, my focus remains on the page—crafting characters and stories that pull readers in and don’t let go. And it all traces back to those chance meetings that changed everything.