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Stephen Mertz | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1947 (age 78–79) United States |
| Died | November 6, 2024 Cochise County, Arizona, USA |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Writing career | |
| Pen name | Stephen Brett, Don Pendleton, Jack Buchanan, Jim Case, Cliff Banks |
| Genres | Mystery, Thriller, Adventure |
Stephen Mertz (born 1947) is an American fiction author best known for thriller novels.
His novels have been critical. Booklist called Nightwind, “fast-paced...a white-knuckle read.” Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine labeled Mertz, “an action specialist.”[citation needed] Edgar-winner Joe R. Lansdale supplied this career assessment: “Stephen Mertz writes a hard-edged, fast-paced thriller for those who like their tales straight and sharp and full of dark surprise,”[citation needed] while Booklist had this to say about The Korean Intercept: "Fans of political thrillers will relish this high-action tale. An adrenaline rush!”[citation needed] Ed Gorman wrote, “Stephen Mertz just keeps on getting better, each novel better in story and style.”[citation needed]
Early in his career, he was a prolific writer of paperback originals under a variety of pseudonyms. His work on Don Pendleton's Mack Bolan series is regarded by fans as some of the best in that series. He also created the Mark Stone: MIA Hunter and Cody's Army series, written under the pseudonyms Jack Buchanan and Jim Case, respectively.
