American crime and mystery novelist, born June 24, 1938, in Buffalo, New York. Best known for the Matthew Scudder detective novels and the Bernie Rhodenbarr burglar series, he has also written the Evan Tanner and Keller series across a career spanning more than five decades. Named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America in 1994, and a four-time winner of both the Edgar and Shamus Awards.
Hill is the second child of authors Stephen and Tabitha King. He grew up in Bangor, Maine. His younger brother Owen is also a writer. Hill has three sons.
Hill chose to use an abbreviated form of his given name (a reference to executed labor leader Joe Hill, for whom he was named) in 1997, out of a desire to succeed based solely on his own merits instead of as the son of Stephen King. After achieving a degree of independent success, Hill publicly confirmed his identity in 2007 after an articl...