// Workers AI · dad joke modeWho's Stephen Mertz? A mertz-terious writer.

Stephen Mertz
Born	1947 (age 78–79) United States
Died	November 6, 2024 Cochise County, Arizona, USA
Pen name	Stephen Brett, Don Pendleton, Jack Buchanan, Jim Case, Cliff Banks
Occupation	Writer
Nationality	American
Genre	Mystery, Thriller, Adventure

Stephen Mertz (born 1947) is an American fiction author best known for thriller novels.

His novels have been well-received critically. Booklist called Nightwind, “fast-paced...a white-knuckle read.” Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine labeled Mertz, “an action specialist.” Edgar-winner Joe R. Lansdale supplies this career assessment: “Stephen Mertz writes a hard-edged, fast-paced thriller for those who like their tales straight and sharp and full of dark surprise,” while Booklist had this to say about The Korean Intercept: "Fans of political thrillers will relish this high-action tale. An adrenaline rush!” Ed Gorman wrote, “Stephen Mertz just keeps on getting better, each novel more dazzling in story and style.”

Early in his career, he was a prolific writer of paperback originals under a variety of pseudonyms. His work on Don Pendleton's Mack Bolan series is regarded by fans as some of the best in that series. He also created the Mark Stone: MIA Hunter and Cody's Army series, written under the pseudonyms Jack Buchanan and Jim Case, respectively.

Bibliography

Novels

• Some Die Hard (1979, as Stephen Brett)
• The Vampire Chase (1979, as Stephen Brett)
• Blood Red Sun (1989)
• Tunnel Rats (1989, as Cliff Banks)
• Tunnel Rats: Mud and Blood (1990, as Cliff Banks)
• Sudden Death (1995)
• Night Wind (2002)
• Fade to Tomorrow (2004)
• Devil Creek (2004)
• The Korean Intercept (2005)
• Dragon Games (Five Star Books, 2010)
• Hank & Muddy (Perfect Crime Books, 2011)
• The Castro Directive (Crossroad Press, 2013)
• Blaze! (Rough Edges Press, 2015)

The Executioner Series (as Don Pendleton)

• The Iranian Hit #42 (1982)
• Return to Vietnam #43 (1982)
• The Libya Connection #48 (1982)
• Tuscany Terror #52 (1983)
• Day of Mourning #62 (1984)
• Dead Man Running #64 (1984)
• Beirut Payback #67 (1984)
• Appointment in Kabul #73 (1985)
• Teheran Wipeout #76 (1985)
• Dirty War (SuperBolan #4) (1985)
• Moscow Massacre #92 (1986)
• Save the Children #94 (1986)

Cody's Army Series (as Jim Case)

• Cody's Army (1986)
• Assault into Libya (1986)
• Philippine Hardpunch (1987)
• Belfast Blitz (1987)
• D.C. Firestike (1987)
• Hellfire in Haiti (1988)
• Sword of the Prophet (1988)