Ben Kincaid, Mysterious Profiles
The “master of the courtroom drama” offers a behind-the-scenes look at his New York Times–bestselling legal thriller series (Library Journal).
In 1991, William Bernhardt’s novel, Primary Justice, introduced his character Ben Kincaid to the world. The fictional Oklahoma City lawyer has come a long way since his days as a junior associate at a high-powered law firm. In this essay, Bernhardt guides readers through Ben’s journey in the long-running series, discussing everything from the development of his character to what’s next for Ben. Bernhardt also talks about his experience working as a lawyer, getting started as an author, doing research, and navigating the publishing world. Fans of the New York Times–bestselling series won’t want to miss this fascinating exposé.
William Bernhardt
William Bernhardt (b. 1960), a former attorney, is a bestselling thriller author. Born in Oklahoma, he began writing as a child, submitting a poem about the Oklahoma Land Run to Highlights—and receiving his first rejection letter—when he was eleven years old. Twenty years later, he had his first success, with the publication of Primary Justice (1991), the first novel in the long-running Ben Kincaid series. The success of Primary Justice marked Bernhardt as a promising young talent, and he followed the book with seventeen more mysteries starring the idealistic defense attorney, including Murder One (2001) and Hate Crime (2004). Bernhardt’s other novels include Double Jeopardy (1995) and The Midnight Before Christmas (1998), a holiday-themed thriller. In 1999, Bernhardt founded Bernhardt Books (formerly HAWK Publishing Group) as a way to help boost the careers of struggling young writers. In addition to writing and publishing, Bernhardt teaches writing workshops around the country. He currently lives with his family in Oklahoma.
