Jake Needham

Jake Needham is an accomplished American novelist and screenwriter, best known for his crime novels. He has built a significant following in Asia and is often referred to as "Michael Connelly with steamed rice." Needham is a top-selling author in Asia, renowned for his captivating storytelling and intriguing characters. He is married to Pinptuporn Sawamiphakdi and they enjoy spending their time between Thailand and the United States.

Born in Houston, Texas, Needham earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History & Economics from Rice University. He later pursued his passion for law at Georgetown University, graduating with a master’s degree in the field. His academic background has provided him with a strong foundation for creating well-researched and believable storylines in his novels.

Needham has received recognition for his work, including being a two-time finalist for the Barry Award for Best Original Paperback Mystery of the Year and a finalist for the International Thriller Writers' award for Best Ebook Thriller of the Year. He has published twelve popular international crime novels, including two series: The Inspector Samuel Tay Novels and The Jack Shepherd Novels. One of his most acclaimed works, THE BIG MANGO, has become an international bestseller. Renowned author Brendan DuBois has praised Needham, stating, "His characters are moral men and women struggling in an increasingly immoral world, his suspense and plotting are top-notch, and his writing is exquisitely fine." Needham and his wife have made their home in Thailand for nearly three decades, providing him with unique insights and experiences that further enrich his writing.
Inspector Samuel Tay Books
# Title Year
1 The Ambassador's Wife 2008
2 The Umbrella Man 2012
3 The Dead American 2014
4 The Girl in the Window 2016
5 And Brother It's Starting to Rain 2019
6 Mongkok Station 2020
7 Who the Hell is Harry Black? 2023
Jack Shepherd Books
# Title Year
1 Laundry Man 2002
2 Killing Plato 2007
3 A World of Trouble 2012
4 The King of Macau 2014
5 Don't Get Caught 2017
6 And Brother It's Starting to Rain 2019
7 The Nineteen 2022
The Mean Streets of Asia Crime Novels
# Title Year
1 The Big Mango 1999
2 Laundry Man 2002
3 Killing Plato 2007
4 The Ambassador's Wife 2008
5 A World of Trouble 2012
6 The Umbrella Man 2012
7 The King of Macau 2014
8 The Dead American 2014
9 The Girl in the Window 2016
10 Don't Get Caught 2017
11 And Brother It's Starting to Rain 2019
The Mean Streets of Asia Crime Novels Series in Chronological Order
# Title Year
1 The Ambassador's Wife 2008
2 The Umbrella Man 2012
3 The Big Mango 1999
4 Laundry Man 2002
5 Killing Plato 2007
6 The Dead American 2014
7 A World of Trouble 2012
8 The Girl in the Window 2016
9 The King of Macau 2014
10 Don't Get Caught 2017
11 And Brother It's Starting to Rain 2019
Standalone Novels
# Title Year
1 The Big Mango 1999