William Diehl was an accomplished American novelist and photojournalist. Before beginning his writing career, Diehl had already found success in photojournalism and journalism. At the age of fifty, he decided to try his hand at writing novels. His first novel, Sharky's Machine, was a great success and was even adapted into a major motion picture of the same name. The movie was directed by and starred Burt Reynolds and was filmed in and around Diehl's hometown of Atlanta, Georgia.
After the success of Sharky's Machine, Diehl chose to relocate to St. Simons Island, Georgia. It was there that he spent the next fifteen years writing and completing eight more novels. One of his most well-known novels, Primal Fear, was also adapted into a successful film featuring Richard Gere and Edward Norton. Throughout his writing career, Diehl's works were well-received and often adapted for the screen.
Diehl passed away on November 24, 2006, at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. At the time of his death, he was a resident of Woodstock, Georgia and was working on his tenth novel. Despite his passing, Diehl's contributions to the world of literature and his impact on the mystery and thriller genres continue to be felt and appreciated.