Stephen Mertz


Stephen Mertz is an American fiction author who is best known for his mainstream thrillers and novels of suspense. His work covers a wide variety of styles from paranormal dark suspense to historical speculative thrillers and hardboiled noir.
His novels have been well-received critically. Booklist called Nightwind, “fast-paced...a white-knuckle read.” Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine labeled Mertz, “an action specialist.” Edgar-winner Joe R. Lansdale supplies 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,” while Booklist had this to say about The Korean Intercept: "Fans of political thrillers will relish this high-action tale. An adrenaline rush!” Ed Gorman wrote, “Stephen Mertz just keeps on getting better, each novel more dazzling in story and style.”
Mertz is also a popular lecturer on the craft of writing and has appeared as a guest speaker before writer's groups and at universities. 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.
Stephen Mertz has traveled widely and is a U.S. Army veteran. He presently lives in the American Southwest, and he is always at work on a new book.

Novels

  • Some Die Hard
  • The Vampire Chase
  • Blood Red Sun
  • Tunnel Rats
  • Tunnel Rats: Mud and Blood
  • Sudden Death
  • Night Wind
  • Fade to Tomorrow
  • Devil Creek
  • The Korean Intercept
  • Dragon Games
  • Hank & Muddy
  • The Castro Directive
  • ''Blaze!''

    The Executioner Series (as Don Pendleton)

  • The Iranian Hit #42
  • Return to Vietnam #43
  • The Libya Connection #48
  • Tuscany Terror #52
  • Day of Mourning #62
  • Dead Man Running #64
  • Beirut Payback #67
  • Appointment in Kabul #73
  • Teheran Wipeout #76
  • Dirty War
  • Moscow Massacre #92
  • Save the Children #94

    Cody's Army Series (as Jim Case)

  • Cody's Army
  • Assault into Libya
  • Philippine Hardpunch
  • Belfast Blitz
  • D.C. Firestike
  • Hellfire in Haiti
  • ''Sword of the Prophet''