Philip Nicholson (25 June 1940 – 10 July 2005), known by his pen name A. J. Quinnell, was an English thriller novelist.
When the author was preparing to publish his first book, Man on Fire, he wanted to keep his real identity a secret.
[1] Nicholson frequented Gleneagles bar in Mġarr, Gozo, the town where the Malta ferry disembarks.
The author's best-known creation was the character of Marcus Creasy, an American-born former member of the French Foreign Legion.
This resulted in a wider demand for Quinnell's books, especially those that feature Creasy (listed in the Bibliography below).