George V. Higgins was a renowned American author, lawyer, and newspaper columnist. He is best known for his gritty, realistic crime novels, which are celebrated for their incredibly authentic and sharp dialogue. His debut novel, 'The Friends of Eddie Coyle', is considered a landmark work in the crime fiction genre and set a new standard for the form. Throughout his prolific career, he wrote over two dozen books, cementing his legacy as a master of the modern crime story.