John Gastineau is a former attorney, book editor, and newspaper reporter, photographer, and editor.  The Judge's Brief is his first novel.  His short story, "A Coondog and Love," will be published soon by Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. He is currently at work on his second novel, Fourth Person No More, which will be published by the end of the year.  Gastineau and his wife live in Indiana and spend time with their family in Arizona and Australia.