Michael Joseph Connelly is an American author known for his detective novels and crime fiction. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 21, 1956, he moved to Florida with his family at the age of 12. His passion for writing was sparked by the works of Raymond Chandler while he was attending the University of Florida, where he majored in journalism and minored in creative writing.

After graduating in 1980, Connelly worked as a crime reporter at newspapers in Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In Fort Lauderdale, he covered the crime beat during the violent 'cocaine wars' era. His journalism career advanced significantly when a magazine story he co-wrote about an airline crash was shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize, which subsequently landed him a job at the Los Angeles Times.

Connelly is a bestselling author of 40 novels and one non-fiction work, with over 89 million copies sold worldwide, translated into 45 languages. His debut novel, The Black Echo, earned the prestigious Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award for Best First Novel in 1992. Notable films based on his work include Blood Work (2002), directed by Clint Eastwood, and The Lincoln Lawyer (2011), starring Matthew McConaughey.

He has been honored with several awards, such as the Diamond Dagger from the CWA in 2018, and the Grand Master title from the Mystery Writers of America in 2023. Connelly is an executive producer for television adaptations of his works, including Bosch and The Lincoln Lawyer, and has produced podcasts and documentaries.

Currently, Michael Connelly divides his time between California and Florida, continuing to write and contribute to the crime fiction genre.