Brian Garfield

Brian Francis Wynne Garfield was an American novelist, historian, and screenwriter who produced over seventy books across multiple genres during his career. His work sold more than twenty million copies worldwide, with nineteen of his works adapted for film or television, and he earned both an Edgar Award and was nominated as a Pulitzer Prize finalist. Best known for "Death Wish" (1972), which spawned a successful film franchise, Garfield demonstrated remarkable literary productivity early in his career. His first novel, "Range Justice," was published when he was just eighteen years old, and by the end of the 1960s, he had authored sixty novels. The author's versatility extended beyond writing, as he toured with the musical group the Palisades in the 1950s and served in the U.S. Army and Army Reserves from 1957 to 1965. His notable works include the Edgar Award-winning novel "Hopscotch" and numerous historical works, marking him as a multifaceted talent in both fiction and non-fiction. Born in New York City to George Garfield and portrait artist Frances O'Brien, Garfield came from a creative lineage that included a distant relation to Mark Twain. He continued writing throughout his life at a measured pace after turning fifty, maintaining his literary career until his death in 2018.

Readers highlight Garfield's tight pacing and research depth, particularly in his Western and thriller novels. Many note his ability to write believable action sequences without sacrificing character development. Readers appreciate: - Historical accuracy in his Westerns - Complex character motivations - Clear, straightforward writing style - Attention to technical details Common criticisms: - Some books seen as overly violent - Occasional slow story buildups - Political viewpoints in later works - Uneven quality across his large bibliography On Goodreads, "Death Wish" averages 3.9/5 from 2,400+ ratings. Readers often mention it surpasses the film adaptation in psychological depth. "Wild Times" maintains 4.1/5 from 300+ ratings, with readers praising its authentic Western atmosphere. Amazon reviews across his works average 4.2/5, with highest marks for his Western novels. Multiple reviewers note his range across genres, though some find his crime fiction more compelling than his other work.

Death Wish A New York accountant seeks vigilante justice after criminals attack his family, exploring themes of vengeance and moral decay in urban America.

Death Sentence The sequel to Death Wish follows Paul Benjamin's continued descent into vigilantism while examining the consequences of taking justice into one's own hands.

Hopscotch A former CIA operative plays a complex game of cat and mouse with his former employers, revealing covert operations while staying one step ahead of assassination attempts.

The Paladin Set in World War II, a teenage boy is trained by a British spy to become an undercover operative, detailing his transformation from student to covert agent.

Range Justice A western novel about frontier justice and cattle ranching in the American territories, marking Garfield's debut as an eighteen-year-old author.

Donald Westlake His mix of crime fiction and dark humor parallels Garfield's style, particularly in handling revenge themes. He wrote prolifically across multiple series and standalone novels, demonstrating similar versatility in the crime genre.

Elmore Leonard Leonard's crime fiction features the same attention to realistic detail and complex character motivations found in Garfield's work. His books share Garfield's focus on the psychological aspects of crime and justice.

John D. MacDonald MacDonald's Travis McGee series shows similar themes of justice and revenge that appear in Garfield's work. His plotting and character development match Garfield's methodical approach to storytelling.

Richard Stark His Parker series contains the same hard-edged crime narrative style that Garfield employed in Death Wish. Stark's work shares Garfield's interest in exploring the consequences of violence and vigilantism.

Lawrence Block Block's Matthew Scudder series demonstrates the same careful attention to procedural detail and moral complexity found in Garfield's crime fiction. His work explores similar themes of justice and redemption in urban settings.