Ian Hamilton is the author of the Ava Lee series. With the publication of the Imam of Tawi-Tawi, the series is now eleven books and counting.

The books have been published in seven languages, and in more than 20 countries. They have made multiple best-seller lists, and have been short-listed for many awards including the Barry, the Lambda, and Arthur Ellis. The first book in the series, The Water Rat of Wanchai, won the Arthur Ellis for the best first novel. The Water Rat was also chosen as the Amazon book of the year, and one the top five books of the year by the Quill and Quire Magazine. The Toronto Star chose The Water Rat and The Disciple of Las Vegas, the 2nd book in the series, as two of its top five books in the same year.

BBC Culture recently chose Ian as one of the top 10 crime/mystery/thriller writers from the last 30 years that you had to have on your bookshelf.

He is contracted to write at least three more books in the Ava Lee series.

He has also contracted to write a new series based on Uncle, one of the most popular characters in the Ava Lee series. The first Uncle book will be released in the summer of 2018.

All eleven Ava Lee books have been optioned for film and television. The first book, The Water Rat, is scheduled to go into full production in the fall of 2018 as an international co-production.