Max Allan Collins

MAX ALLAN COLLINS was named a Grand Master in 2017 by the Mystery Writers of America. He is a three-time winner of the Private Eye Writers of America’s Life Achievement award (2006), the Eye. His graphic novel Road to Perdition (1998) became the Academy Award-winning film directed by Sam Mendes and starring Tom Hanks. His other comics credits include the syndicated strip Dick Tracy, Batman, and (with artist Terry Beatty) his own Ms. Tree and Wild Dog. He has completed fourteen Mike Hammer novels begun by the late Mickey Spillane, and his Hammer audio novel The Little Death with Stacy Keach won a 2011 Audie. Recently he adapted the first of his Nathan Heller novels into a ten-part audio drama, True Noir.
For five years, he was sole licensing writer for TV’s CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, creating best-selling novels, graphic novels, and video games. His movie tie-in
novels have appeared on the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists, including Saving Private Ryan, Air Force One, and American Gangster.
Max has written and directed two documentaries and seven feature films, including the Lifetime movie Mommy (1996); and he scripted The Expert, a 1995 HBO World Premiere, as well as the film-festival favorite The Last Lullaby (2009) based on his innovative Quarry novels, which were also adapted as a 2016 TV series by Cinemax, for which Max wrote two scripts. Collins properties have also been optioned by Skydance, Lionsgate and CBS Films. His most recent self-scripted/directed indie films are Mickey Spillane’s Encore for Murder (2022), Blue Christmas (2023) and Death by Fruitcake (2024).

Books

  • Ink and Daggers

    Format:
    Paperback
    Released:
    16 Sep 2025

    OVER TWENTY CWA DAGGER AWARD-WINNING SHORT STORIES FROM THE BEST OF THE BEST IN CRIME FICTION

    Legendary editor, Maxim Jakubowski, …

  • The First Quarry

    Format:
    Paperback
    Released:
    9 Sep 2025
    Series:

    BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

    Crime fiction readers know Quarry, the ruthless killer-for-hire, from Max Allan Collins’ acclaimed novels – most …

  • The Last Quarry

    Format:
    Paperback
    Released:
    15 Apr 2025
    Series:

    THE BOOK THAT IGNITED THE QUARRY REVIVAL!

    The ruthless professional killer known as Quarry long ago disappeared into a well-earned …

  • Mike Hammer Baby, It's Murder

    Format:
    Hardback
    Released:
    4 Mar 2025
    Series:

    The concluding Hammer novel begins with a 21st-century funeral before flashing back to summer, 1973.

    Nine years after the events …

  • Quarry's Return

    Format:
    Paperback
    Released:
    5 Nov 2024

    Someone snatched his daughter. Someone’s going to pay.

    After nearly 50 years in the killing business, the hitman known as …