Marc Olden

Biography

A highly regarded crime writer, mostly in the suspense-thriller category, Marc Olden was the author of 40 published books.

Recognized from the beginning of his career as a masterful crime novelist, Olden’s works regularly drew acclaim and honors. His novels have been praised as:

• “Intelligent, suspenseful…unfailingly readable and terrifically well-written.” -Booklist
• “Top notch… providing one cliff-hanging chapter after another.” -Kirkus Reviews
• “Difficult to put down.” -Publishers Weekly
• ‘Wonderfully complex… a gripping, satisfying read.” -The Denver Post

Early in his career he was nominated for the coveted Edgar Award for THEY’VE KILLED ANNA from his popular HARKER FILE series about an investigative reporter. In 2000, the Black Caucus of the American Library Association presented Olden with the Literary Fiction Honor Award for his crime novel THE GHOST.

As a young writer, Olden’s first book was ANGELA DAVIS, a study of the controversial Black American militant. He followed this with COCAINE, about the rising tide of cocaine abuse. Research for COCAINE introduced Olden to the world of law enforcement and the contacts made in the NYPD, DEA AND FBI would bring a distinct authenticity to all his crime novels, such as the six-book series NARC about a federal narcotics agent, and THE INFORMANT, about a narcotics agent and his female informant.

During those prolific early years Olden produced the BLACK SAMURAI, which follows the exploits of Robert Sand, a martial arts expert and the only non-Japanese trained by a Japanese samurai master. It became a successful novel series and in 2022 was optioned by Netflix as a feature film to be helmed by Chad Stahelski, famed director of the John Wick film franchise, with Leigh Dana Jackson set to adapt the screenplay.

Many of Olden’s books, such as the eastern-influenced GIRI, DAI-SHO, GAIJIN, ONI, TE, KISAENG and KRAIT reflect his twin passions for eastern culture and philosophy. With advanced degree black belts in Japanese Karate and Aikido, Olden coached and mentored many members of the New York Police Department in Aikido.

He was also a devoted student of British and Medieval history. His study of the life and works of Edgar Allen Poe resulted in one of his most well-known and highly regarded novels, POE MUST DIE, a haunting mystery in which Poe teams with Pierce James Figg, an English bare-knuckle fighter and teacher of sword and knife fighting (based on an actual historical figure). The book is considered by many to be the definitive novel on Edgar Allen Poe and is currently under option as a possible TV series by Elcho Productions UK.

Olden was born in Poe’s birthplace, Baltimore, Maryland. His father was the noted graphic artist, Georg Olden, and his mother Courtenaye, a successful model and actress. The family moved to New York when his father was named the first Art Director of the fledgling TV division at CBS and was responsible for the creation of the famous CBS ‘eye’. Marc attended Queens College in New York, where he attained a BS degree in creative writing and history.

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