Pierre Lemaitre was born in Paris in 1951. He worked for many years as a teacher of literature before becoming a novelist. He was awarded the Crime Writers' Association International Dagger, alongside Fred Vargas, for Alex. In 2013 his novel Au revoir la-haut (The Great Swindle, in English translation) won the Prix Goncourt, France's leading literary award.
A really excellent suspense novelist -- Stephen King. Lemaitre is worthy of all the fuss -- Barry Forshaw Independent. Crime fiction of the highest class -- Geoffrey Wansell Daily Mail. Immediately propels Lemaitre to the front rank of the French crime-writing fraternity -- William Grimes New York Times.