James John Herbert, OBE (8 April 1943 – 20 March 2013) was an English horror writer. A full-time writer, he also designed his own book covers and publicity. His books have sold 54 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 34 languages, including Chinese and Russian. James Herbert was Britain's number one bestselling writer, a position he held ever since the publication of his first novel. He was one of the world's top writers of thriller and horror fiction, whose books are sold in thirty-three other languages, including Russian and Chinese.

Widely imitated and hugely influential, his 19 novels have sold more than 42 million copies worldwide. As an author, he produced some of the most powerful horror fiction of the past decade. With a skillful blend of horror and thriller fiction, he explored the shaded territories of evil, evoking a sense of brooding menace and rising tension. He relentlessly draws the reader through the story's ultimate revelation - one that will stay with them long after the book is closed.