David Ellis is an accomplished American novelist, renowned for his legal thrillers. Born in the United States, Ellis has established himself as a masterful storyteller, particularly in the mystery, suspense, and thriller genres. He is best known for his series character, Jason Kolarich, who appears in several of his books.
Ellis' journey as a writer began with his debut novel, Line of Vision, which won the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best First Novel. His legal career, which began in private practice in Chicago in 1993, provided him with a wealth of material to draw upon for his writing. In a notable turn of events, Ellis served as the House Prosecutor who tried and convicted Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich in the Impeachment Trial before the Illinois Senate. This experience became the basis for his novel Breach of Trust.
In addition to his solo works, Ellis has also collaborated with James Patterson, co-authoring five books together. Their successful partnership has resulted in numerous awards and bestsellers, including Guilty Wives, which spent two months on the New York Times bestseller list.
Ellis' achievements extend beyond writing, as he has also enjoyed a successful career in law. He was elected to the Illinois Appellate Court in 2014 and took office in December of that year. Ellis currently serves as Special Counsel to the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. He lives outside Chicago with his wife and three children.