Michael Joseph Connelly is a renowned American author known for his detective novels and crime fiction. He was born on July 21, 1956, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and moved to Florida with his family at the age of 12. Connelly decided to pursue writing after discovering the works of Raymond Chandler during his studies at the University of Florida, where he majored in journalism and minored in creative writing.

After graduating in 1980, Connelly built a career in journalism, specializing in crime reporting. His investigative work earned him recognition and eventually led to a position at the Los Angeles Times. This career path significantly influenced his writing, especially his famous character LAPD Detective Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch.

Michael Connelly is the bestselling author of 41 novels and one non-fiction work, having sold over 89 million copies worldwide. His debut novel, The Black Echo, received the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award for Best First Novel in 1992. Other notable works include Blood Work, adapted into a film directed by and starring Clint Eastwood, and The Lincoln Lawyer, which was also turned into a successful movie featuring Matthew McConaughey.

Connelly's contributions to crime fiction have earned him numerous accolades, including the Diamond Dagger from the Crime Writers' Association and the Grand Master title from the Mystery Writers of America. He is also the executive producer of the Amazon series Bosch and its sequel Bosch: Legacy, as well as Netflix's The Lincoln Lawyer.

Beyond writing, Connelly is involved in several other projects, including podcasts and documentary films. He divides his time between California and Florida.