Thierry Jonquet was a renowned French writer known for his specialization in crime novels infused with political themes. Born on 19 January 1954 in Paris, Jonquet became widely recognized outside France for his novel Mygale (1984), which was later published in the US in 2003 by City Lights and in the UK as Tarantula in 2005 by Serpent's Tail. Over his career, he authored more than 20 novels, including notable works such as Le bal des débris, Moloch, and Rouge c'est la vie.

Jonquet's work received significant attention when his novel Tarantula was adapted into the film The Skin I Live In by acclaimed Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar. This adaptation was entered into competition at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2011. Jonquet passed away at the age of 55 in a Paris hospital on 9 August 2009.