Michael McClister, the author of two mysteries featuring consulting detective Elmo Finn, was a political consultant for 20 years before escaping to write fiction and music.

His second mystery, DOUBLE DEAL, published in October 2000 by St. Martin's Press, drew immediate critical acclaim:

-- "A must-read for fans of fast-paced, exciting thrillers . . . all the excitement of a James Bond story or an episode of Mission Impossible." (Booklist Magazine)

-- "McClister keeps the reader guessing . . . crisp dialogue and an ever twisting plot make this one hard to put down." (Publishers Weekly)

-- "The action never slows nor loses focus despite numerous twists . . . a one-sitting winner." (Harriet Klausner, webreviewer)

Reviewers also liked McClister's first novel, VICTIM'S CHOICE, published in 1999, terming it "a scorcher that'll burn the tips off your fingers" (Kirkus Reviews);

-- "a corker; well constructed, genuinely surprising, an altogether satisfying mystery" (Booklist Magazine);

-- a novel with "crackling action, well-crafted characters, and suspenseful prose; for all mystery collections" (Library Journal).

A native Tennessean, Michael McClister is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of North Carolina and holds a Master's degree from Rutgers University. He lives in Florida.