Jon Talton

Jon Talton is an accomplished American author, well-known for his mystery novels. He is best recognized for the David Mapstone Mysteries series, which features a historian-turned-deputy navigating the challenging streets of the urban West. Talton's debut novel, "Concrete Desert," received critical acclaim, with Kirkus praising it as an "impressive debut" and the Washington Post describing it as "more intelligent and rewarding than most contemporary mysteries." His award-winning work has continued to gain recognition, with the Chicago Tribune lauding the "twisty and crafty" plot of "Camelback Falls" and Publishers Weekly commending the "winning, sensitive portrayal" of the Mapstones in "Dry Heat."

Before turning to fiction, Talton pursued a career in journalism, becoming a respected economics columnist for the Seattle Times and serving as a business and op-ed columnist for the Arizona Republic. He has also contributed to newspapers in San Diego, Denver, Dayton, Cincinnati, and Charlotte. His journalistic career followed his work as an ambulance medic in the inner city of Phoenix and his time as an instructor in theater at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Talton is a fourth-generation Arizonan, but he currently splits his time between Seattle and Phoenix.

In addition to his David Mapstone Mysteries series, Talton has written the Cincinnati Casebooks series and authored a non-fiction book, "A Brief History of Phoenix." His latest novel is the mystery, "The Bomb Shelter." He is also a prolific blogger, running the Rogue Columnist blog. Talton's work has earned him a reputation as one of the most "extremely talented but under-recognized" authors in the country, as acclaimed by Don Winslow. His columns have appeared in newspapers across the continent, and he has made regular appearances on CNBC.