Picture a rugged Wyoming mountainside where crime meets adrenaline-pumping adventure—meet Clinton McKinzie, the former deputy district attorney turned bestselling crime fiction author! With his Antonio 'Ant' Burns series, McKinzie blends heart-pounding rock climbing with gritty investigations, captivating over a million readers across eight languages. His thrillers are a wild ride through Wyoming’s stark beauty, proving he’s a master of mystery with a knack for scaling literary heights.
Born in Santa Monica, California, McKinzie’s journey to authorship was as winding as a mountain trail. A passionate climber and legal eagle, he traded courtroom battles for crafting novels that pulse with raw emotion and high-stakes drama. Let’s dive into the life, works, and legacy of this thrilling storyteller!
The Making of Clinton McKinzie
Clinton McKinzie, born June 7, 1969, in Los Angeles, grew up with a love for adventure and storytelling, inspired by literary giants like Ernest Hemingway and Jack London. His eclectic education took him from Santa Monica College to Millsaps College (B.A., 1993) and the University of Wyoming (J.D., 1997). Before writing, McKinzie tackled odd jobs—chauffeur, bouncer, ski instructor—while honing his passion for rock climbing in Wyoming’s majestic peaks. His time as a deputy district attorney in Denver (1997–2000) gave him a front-row seat to the gritty underbelly of crime, fueling his future novels with authentic legal drama.
McKinzie didn’t start writing until his thirties, when Wyoming’s landscapes and his climbing escapades sparked a creative fire. Settling in Colorado with his wife, Justine, and their sons, he channeled his dual loves of alpine adventure and courtroom tension into fiction that feels as real as it is thrilling.
Clinton McKinzie’s Unforgettable Stories
McKinzie’s Antonio 'Ant' Burns series, spanning five books from 2002 to 2005, is his crowning achievement. The series follows Special Agent Antonio Burns, a Wyoming climber and cop whose investigations intertwine with perilous ascents. The debut, The Edge of Justice (2002), sets the tone with Burns probing a climber’s fatal fall in Laramie, uncovering murder and corruption amid Wyoming’s peaks. Critics praised its “sizzling courtroom drama” and “gripping” climbing scenes.
Point of Law (2003) takes Burns to Colorado’s Wild Fire Valley, where a family reunion turns deadly amid environmental disputes. Trial by Ice and Fire (2003) sees him protecting a prosecutor while scaling the Grand Teton, blending extreme action with personal stakes. Crossing the Line (2004) and Badwater (2005) round out the series, tackling drug lords and wrongful convictions with McKinzie’s signature mix of raw emotion and breakneck pacing. His style—vivid, testosterone-driven, and steeped in Wyoming’s rugged beauty—makes every page a pulse-pounding escape.
McKinzie’s climbing expertise shines through, offering readers a vicarious thrill of dangling from sheer cliffs. His legal background adds authenticity, crafting villains and heroes who feel ripped from reality. Fans of Michael Connelly and Jon Krakauer find his work a perfect blend of mystery and adventure.
Why Clinton McKinzie Matters
Clinton McKinzie carved a unique niche in crime fiction, merging extreme sports with legal thrillers in a way few authors have matched. His Antonio Burns series, with over a million copies sold, brought Wyoming’s wild landscapes to life, inspiring readers to explore both nature and noir. Though he hasn’t published fiction since 2005, his books remain beloved for their intensity and authenticity, resonating with climbers, mystery buffs, and anyone craving a thrilling escape.
McKinzie’s legacy lies in his ability to make readers feel the rush of a thousand-foot drop or the tension of a courtroom verdict. His work reminds us that adventure and justice are two sides of the same coin, forever linked in the human spirit.
- Born: June 7, 1969, Los Angeles, CA
- Key Works: The Edge of Justice, Point of Law, Trial by Ice and Fire, Crossing the Line, Badwater
- Passion: Rock climbing and alpine adventures
- Career: Former deputy district attorney in Denver
Snag The Edge of Justice and dive into Clinton McKinzie’s electrifying world of crime and climbing—you won’t want to come down!