Stuart M. Kaminsky

Stuart M. Kaminsky was a highly prolific American author, known for his mystery novels, crime fiction, and non-fiction books. Born in 1934 in Chicago, Kaminsky was raised in a world of pulp fiction and classic cinema, which would later become the central themes of his work. He pursued his passion for film and literature through higher education, obtaining a Ph.D in speech from Northwestern University, a B.S. in journalism, and an M.A. in English from the University of Illinois.

Kaminsky's fiction career began in 1977 with the publication of his first Toby Peters novel, Bullet for a Star. The series, which featured twenty-four novels, introduced a detective who was described as the "anti-Philip Marlowe." In 1981, Kaminsky introduced another beloved series character, Moscow police detective Porfiry Rostnikov, in Death of a Dissident. The series was praised for its accurate depiction of Soviet life and became one of Kaminsky's most successful works. In addition to these series, Kaminsky also wrote popular series featuring Abe Lieberman, a hardened Chicago cop, and Lew Fonseca, a process server.

In addition to his fiction work, Kaminsky was also an accomplished film professor and writer of non-fiction books. He taught film studies at Northwestern University for sixteen years and followed that with a six-year stint at Florida State. He also served as president of the Mystery Writers of America. His non-fiction books include biographies of notable figures such as Gary Cooper, Clint Eastwood, John Huston, and Don Siegel, as well as textbooks on filmmaking and film genres.

Kaminsky received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, including the title of Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America. He was also nominated for six Edgar Allen Poe Awards and won for his novel A Cold Red Sunrise. He was also awarded the Prix De Roman D’Aventure of France and nominated for both a Shamus Award and a McCavity Readers Choice Award.

Stuart M. Kaminsky passed away in St. Louis, Missouri in 2009, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the world of crime fiction and film. His work continues to be celebrated and enjoyed by readers and scholars alike.