Thomas Perry

Thomas Perry is an American writer of mystery books. He was born in a town called Tonawanda in New York in 1947. Perry specializes in writing fictional suspense novels. So far, he has written sixteen mystery novels, not including one that is scheduled to be released in 2009.

Thomas Perry has an impressive higher education and work history. In 1969 he graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor’s degree. He later achieved his Ph.D. in English Literature in 1974 from the University of Rochester. Some of Perry’s past occupations include being a laborer, a fisherman, a maintenance man, and a weapons mechanic. He later went on to become a university administrator as well as a teacher. One of his most popular jobs was when he became a well known television producer and writer. Some of the hit television shows that he produced are "Simon and Simon," "Star Trek: The Next Generation," and "21 Jump Street."

In 1983, the Mystery Writers of America presented Perry with the Edgar Award for Best First Novel. This award is more commonly known as the Edgar Allan Poe award. He received this award for publishing his first mystery novel called "The Butcher’s Boy." The main character in this suspense novel is a professional hitman who isn’t given a name. He is given the title “The Butcher’s Boy” because his father was known as Eddie the Butcher because of his profession. In the book, the hitman ends up running from the Mafia as well as the US government.