Howard Shrier is a two-time winner of Canada's highest crime fiction prize, the only author ever to win awards for best first novel (Buffalo Jump, 2008) and best novel (High Chicago, 2009) in consecutive years. Howard has published seven books of fiction—six novels and one collection of stories, including the acclaimed Jonah Geller series published by Random House Canada. Howard's work has received starred reviews in Library Journal and Publishers Weekly and a rare five-star rating in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine ("Shrier is my top find of 2012," wrote Steve Steinbock in his end-of-year column). His newest novel (The American Zone, 2025), a gripping tale of life and work on the Panama Canal in 1906, the deadliest year of the project, marks his first foray into historical fiction. Howard was born and raised in Montreal, where he earned an Honours Degree in Journalism and Creative Writing at Concordia University. He started out as a crime reporter at The Montreal Star and has since worked in print journalism, theatre and television, sketch comedy and improv, and corporate and government communications. Howard lives in Toronto with his wife and two sons. A former writing instructor at University of Toronto's School of Continuing Studies, he now teaches independently and mentors writers working to bring manuscripts up to professional standards. You can find out more about his work at howardshrier.com.
