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
Goodreads
Amazon
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
Goodreads
Amazon
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
Goodreads
Amazon
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