MARTIN CLARK is a retired Virginia circuit court judge, who served twenty-seven years on the bench. His novels have appeared on numerous bestseller lists and have been chosen as a New York Times Notable Book, a New York Times Editors' Choice, a New York Times Best Thriller of the Year, a Washington Post Book World Best Book of the Year, a Bookmarks magazine Best Book of the Year, a Boston Globe Best Book of the Year, a Book-of-the-Month Club selection, a finalist for the Stephen Crane First Fiction Award, and the winner of the Library of Virginia's People's Choice Award in 2009, 2016, 2020 and 2024. Martin received the Patrick County Outstanding Community Service Award in 2016 and the Virginia State Bar's Harry L. Carrico Professionalism Award in 2018. He and his wife, Deana, live on a farm with dogs, cats, chickens and donkeys.