Robert Crais is an American author of detective fiction and a former television screenwriter. Born on June 20, 1953, Crais began his career writing scripts for popular television shows such as Hill Street Blues, Cagney & Lacey, Quincy, Miami Vice, and L.A. Law. His writing is notably influenced by literary giants like Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, Ernest Hemingway, Robert B. Parker, and John Steinbeck.

Crais has earned numerous awards for his crime novels, which have been published in 62 countries and are bestsellers globally. In 2006, he received the Ross Macdonald Literary Award, and in 2014, he was named Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America. Renowned author Lee Child has cited Crais as one of his favorite American crime writers.