Clayton Hartley Matthews (24 October 1918 – 25 March 2004) was an American writer of mystery, erotic and romance novels, with more than 35 books and many short stories as Clayton Matthews.
He often collaborated with his wife, writer Patricia Matthews (Patty Brisco); and they were called "the hottest couple in paperbacks.".
He began contributing to the Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine and then turned to writing paperback novels, mostly in the erotic genre, in the early 1960s.
After his divorce, they married on 3 November 1972, and lived near San Diego.
In the late 1970s, his agent Jay Garon, suggested to him and his wife to write romance novels.