The first hint of Andy Straka’s future as a mystery writer came at the age of four when he appeared at his small-town neighbor’s back door carrying a butcher’s knife. Thankfully, the neighbor called Andy’s mother instead of social services.

​A bestselling, award-winning author, Andy’s novels include the recently released Split City, the first in a new amateur sleuth series, the #1 bestselling private eye novel A Witness Above (part of the Shamus Award-winning Frank Pavlicek series), and a number of other crime novels and thrillers. A past finalist for the Agatha and the Anthony Awards, he is also the co-author of the inspirational memoir The Reason for Tears by Tony Weedor.

Andy is a former college basketball player and licensed falconer. A graduate of Williams College, he holds an MFA from Lindenwood University, is a three time judge for the Edgar Allan Poe Award, and also co-founded the popular Crime Wave program at the annual Virginia Festival of the Book.