William Garner was an English thriller writer known for his sharp, intelligent spy fiction. A graduate of the University of Birmingham, he served as a flight lieutenant in the Royal Air Force during World War II before moving into public relations. In 1967, he became a full-time author. His early novels introduced readers to Michael Jagger, a flawed, risk-taking ex-spy, while later works such as Rat's Alley earned him critical acclaim and a Gold Dagger Award shortlisting. Praised by The Listener as “our cleverest thriller writer,” Garner combined a distinctive voice with psychological depth and political insight.