The American thriller writer has published 35 books and sold 80 million copies in 46 languages since his debut, Play Dead, almost 30 years ago. Nine of his page-turners have been turned into Netflix series; the most recent, Fool Me Once, stars Joanna Lumley, Michelle Keegan and Richard Armitage.

So if you’re thinking of finally writing that thriller in 2024, who better to offer advice than the 62-year-old from New Jersey. —Stephen Armstrong