Jeffery Deaver

Jeffery Deaver is an American bestselling mystery and crime writer. His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into twenty-five languages. According to his web, Deaver has sold 50 million books worldwide.

Jeffery Deaver was born near Chicago in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. He is from a family with a creative background: his mother was an artist, and his father worked as an advertising writer. His sister, Julie Deaver, is also an author, focusing on young adult novels. Jeffery's early literary inspiration came from the James Bond novel From Russia With Love.

Jeffery Deaver earned a bachelor of journalism degree from the University of Missouri and a J.D. degree from Fordham University. Initially embarking on a career as a journalist, he later transitioned into practicing law before becoming a successful novelist.

One of Deaver's most notable series features the character Lincoln Rhyme, a quadriplegic detective, and NYPD Detective Amelia Sachs.

His first novel in the Lincoln Rhyme series, The Bone Collector (1997), was adapted into a major motion picture starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. Additionally, The Bone Collector became a television series, Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector.

In total, Deaver has written forty novels, three collections of short stories, and a nonfiction book on law. He has written lyrics for country-western-style albums and has won or been nominated for dozens of awards. Deaver has been nominated for eight Edgar Awards by the MWA.

He is known for his skillful portrayal of complex crime-solving scenarios and gripping storytelling.

Among his works, The Blue Nowhere stands out as it delves into the world of criminal hackers and the computer crime unit of law enforcement. In this novel, Deaver pays tribute to Lee de Forest, the inventor of the Audion (triode tube), acknowledging his pivotal role in advancing electronic development.

His novels, A Maiden's Grave and The Devil's Teardrop, have been also adapted into films.

Deaver collaborated with 14 other prominent writers to create The Chopin Manuscript, a 17-part serial thriller narrated by Alfred Molina, originally broadcast on Audible.com. He was chosen to continue the legacy of James Bond novels, writing Carte Blanche, set in 2011 and published in 2011. Jeffery Deaver became the second American author, following Raymond Benson, to contribute to the James Bond series.

Jeffery Deaver has been honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention, the Strand Magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Raymond Chandler Lifetime Achievement Award in Italy.

In 2023, a television series based on his novel, The Never Game, is set to premiere.

Photo credit: Niko Giovanni Coniglio