Donald Edwin Westlake was an American writer, with over a hundred novels and non-fiction books to his credit, writing under at least 20 pseudonyms. He specialized in crime fiction, especially comic capers, with an occasional foray into science fiction or other genres. He was a three-time Edgar Award winner and in 1993, the Mystery Writers of America named Westlake a Grand Master, the highest honor bestowed by the society. Source: wikipedia