Harry Spiller, author of the Murder in the Heartland series and nine other books, began his career in public service in 1963 as a recruiter for the United States Marine Corps, delivering death messages and organizing funerals for those killed in action. A decade later, he worked as a lawman in Southern Illinois before serving as Sheriff of Williamson County from 1982 to 1989. In 2008 he retired from his position as an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at John A. Logan College in Carterville, Illinois, where he taught for 28 years.

Spiller received a BS in Criminal Justice, a BA in Political Science, and an MPA at Southern Illinois University. He resides in West Frankfort, Illinois.