Mark de Castrique is a highly respected American author, known for his mystery novels. He has written two popular series, the Buryin' Barry Mysteries and the Sam Blackman series. In addition to his writing, De Castrique has a successful background in broadcast and film production. He has won an Emmy Award for his documentary film work and is the founder of Mark et al., a company that produces videos for both corporate and broadcast clients. De Castrique also provides consultation for first drafts of fiction works. He and his wife, Linda, have two adult daughters and split their time between North Carolina and Washington D.C.
De Castrique is a multi-talented individual, not only excelling in writing but also as a playwright, public speaker, and television producer. His works have earned him numerous awards, including Telly, Emmy, and Clio Awards. Many of his scripted stories have been aired on PBS and other commercial network partners. Born and raised in western North Carolina, De Castrique often sets his mystery books in Asheville and the surrounding regions of the Appalachian mountains, making use of his familiarity with the area to add depth to his stories.
In addition to his mystery novels, De Castrique has also written young adult and science fiction books. He began his writing career in 2003 with the release of his debut book, Dangerous Undertaking, which marked the beginning of his Buryin' Barry mystery series. Since then, he has written several books in this series as well as in another novel series. His novels have received critical acclaim, with starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Booklist. The Chicago Tribune wrote that De Castrique has a "subtle way of capturing the geography – both physical and human – of a unique part of the American South."
De Castrique's years in Washington D.C. inspired his DC thrillers, including The 13th Target, The Singularity Race, and Secret Lives and Dangerous Women. The latter series features Ethel Fiona Crestwater, a seventy-five-year-old retired FBI agent who now rents rooms to active agents and is the smartest and most fearless of anyone in her household. Secret Lives is nominated for the Edgars 2023 G.P. Putnam's Sons Sue Grafton Memorial Award.