Lawrence Sanders

Lawrence Sanders is one of America's most popular novelists and short story writers in the mystery and thriller genres. He was the author of more than twenty-two bestsellers, with more than fifty million copies of his books in print. In total, he wrote more than forty mystery and suspense novels.

Lawrence Sanders was born in Brooklyn, New York City. After public school, he obtained a BA degree from Wabash College in Indiana. Then he returned to New York and worked at Macy's Department Store.

In 1943 he joined the United States Marine Corps and was discharged in 1946. Before turning to full-time fiction writing, Sanders spent 20 years in journalism. He worked as an editorial writer for magazines like Science and Mechanics.

He wrote his first novel, The Anderson Tapes, in 1970 at the age of 50.

It deals with a plot by a group of criminals to rob a luxury apartment building. This suspense thriller immediately moved him into the ranks of bestselling authors. In 1971, Sanders received an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for the best first novel.

His enormous record includes the Edward X. Delaney, Archy McNally, and Timothy Cone series, along with his acclaimed Commandment books. Besides his series of novels, Mr. Sanders wrote adventure stories, the fictional memoirs of a murderer, and erotic psychodramas. Stand-alone novels include Sullivan's Sting and Caper.

Sanders remains one of the most popular novelists in America.