D.W. Buffa is an American author and former criminal defence attorney recognised for his legal thrillers. He is best known for his Joseph Antonelli novel series.
Born in San Francisco and raised in the Bay Area, D.W. Buffa pursued higher education at Michigan State University and the University of Chicago, where he earned both an M.A. and a Ph.D. in political science.
He furthered his studies at Wayne State University, obtaining a J.D. degree. His work reflects his legal expertise and experience in the courtroom.
Buffa began his legal career as a criminal defence attorney, a role he held for a decade. His first novel, The Defense (1997), published by Henry Holt and Co., drew on his legal background. It was well-received, with Christopher Lehmann-Haupt of the New York Times calling it “an accomplished first novel.”
The Prosecution (1999) and The Judgment (2001) followed this success. The latter was nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Novel in 2002, marking a significant milestone in Buffa’s literary career.
His early novels, set in Portland, established Buffa as a noteworthy author of legal thrillers. His fourth novel, The Legacy (2002), shifted to San Francisco, blending political and legal drama. Star Witness explored the Hollywood elite, while Breach of Trust (2004) offered a critical look at Washington politics, hailed as a book of lasting significance.
Trial by Fire (2005), his seventh Joseph Antonelli novel, critiqued the media’s influence on high-profile criminal cases, earning praise from Publishers Weekly for its gripping narrative and strong character development.
Buffa’s later works transitioned from the judicial to the political arena, introducing Senator Bobby Hart, a protagonist who challenges the establishment for the greater good. This shift reflected Buffa’s growing interest in political themes.
One of Buffa’s notable works, Evangeline, initially published in Germany and Australia, was republished by Bloodhound Books in 2024. Inspired by a 19th-century English case Buffa studied in law school, the novel tells the harrowing story of the ship Evangeline, which meets disaster in a fierce storm. The survivors, led by Captain Vincent Marlowe, face dire choices, leading to Marlowe’s trial for murder. Buffa noted, “It’s a story about the things worth dying for, and, because it’s really the same thing, the things worth living for.”
Evangeline diverges from Buffa’s previous courtroom dramas. The novel’s emotional depth and legal intrigue have resonated with readers, earning critical acclaim.
D.W. Buffa resides in Northern California.
Photo credit: Kathryn Martin
Born in San Francisco and raised in the Bay Area, D.W. Buffa pursued higher education at Michigan State University and the University of Chicago, where he earned both an M.A. and a Ph.D. in political science.
He furthered his studies at Wayne State University, obtaining a J.D. degree. His work reflects his legal expertise and experience in the courtroom.
Buffa began his legal career as a criminal defence attorney, a role he held for a decade. His first novel, The Defense (1997), published by Henry Holt and Co., drew on his legal background. It was well-received, with Christopher Lehmann-Haupt of the New York Times calling it “an accomplished first novel.”
The Prosecution (1999) and The Judgment (2001) followed this success. The latter was nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Novel in 2002, marking a significant milestone in Buffa’s literary career.
His early novels, set in Portland, established Buffa as a noteworthy author of legal thrillers. His fourth novel, The Legacy (2002), shifted to San Francisco, blending political and legal drama. Star Witness explored the Hollywood elite, while Breach of Trust (2004) offered a critical look at Washington politics, hailed as a book of lasting significance.
Trial by Fire (2005), his seventh Joseph Antonelli novel, critiqued the media’s influence on high-profile criminal cases, earning praise from Publishers Weekly for its gripping narrative and strong character development.
Buffa’s later works transitioned from the judicial to the political arena, introducing Senator Bobby Hart, a protagonist who challenges the establishment for the greater good. This shift reflected Buffa’s growing interest in political themes.
One of Buffa’s notable works, Evangeline, initially published in Germany and Australia, was republished by Bloodhound Books in 2024. Inspired by a 19th-century English case Buffa studied in law school, the novel tells the harrowing story of the ship Evangeline, which meets disaster in a fierce storm. The survivors, led by Captain Vincent Marlowe, face dire choices, leading to Marlowe’s trial for murder. Buffa noted, “It’s a story about the things worth dying for, and, because it’s really the same thing, the things worth living for.”
Evangeline diverges from Buffa’s previous courtroom dramas. The novel’s emotional depth and legal intrigue have resonated with readers, earning critical acclaim.
D.W. Buffa resides in Northern California.
Photo credit: Kathryn Martin
years of life: 8 December 1940 – present
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