Robert Bidinotto is a mystery and thriller author who goes by the moniker "The Vigilante Author." His fascination with justice began in his childhood during the 1950s and 1960s when he was captivated by "Batman" comics and watched shows like "The Lone Ranger." This early interest in justice would become the dominant theme in his writing throughout his career as a nonfiction author, editor, essayist, investigative journalist, reviewer, and blogger.
As a teenager, Bidinotto began writing nonfiction pieces centered on justice, and this theme would remain consistent in his later work as a crime writer. His debut novel, "Hunter," was published in 2011 and quickly became a Kindle Editors' Pick, reaching number four on the Kindle Bestseller List ahead of renowned authors like Stephen King, James Patterson, and John Grisham. "Hunter" also became a Wall Street Journal "Top Ten Fiction Ebook." Bidinotto's experiences as an investigative journalist covering true crime stories informed the novel's plot and characters.
In addition to his fiction work, Bidinotto is an accomplished nonfiction author. His article "Getting Away with Murder" in the July 1988 issue of Reader's Digest stirred a national controversy about crime and prison furlough programs during the 1988 presidential election campaign. The article was honored as a 1989 National Magazine Award finalist for "Best Magazine Article of the Year in the Public Interest Category" by the American Society of Magazine Editors. Bidinotto's nonfiction books include "Criminal Justice? The Legal System vs. Individual Responsibility" and "Freed to Kill," a compendium of horror stories that exposed the injustices in the legal system.