Douglas Kennedy was born in New York City in 1955, the son of an Irish Catholic commodities broker and a German Jewish production assistant at NBC.

Kennedy is the author of seventeen novels, including the international bestsellers The Big Picture,[14] The Pursuit of Happiness,[15] Leaving the World and The Moment.

The series of children's books are entitled "Les fabuleuses aventures d'Aurore" and depict the life of young girl with low verbal autism.

Kennedy's second novel, The Big Picture, a New York Times Bestseller, was a dark exploration of identity and self-entrapment set in Connecticut's suburbs.

It was adapted as a French film (L'Homme qui voulait vivre sa vie) and released in theaters in 2010, starring Romain Duris and Catherine Deneuve.

[citation needed] Being one of the best-selling novelists in Europe, Douglas Kennedy has been called "a master storyteller with a trademark genius for writing serious popular fiction.

[citation needed] His first novel, The Dead Heart' was reviewed by Jason Cowley from The Independent and said, "This book is constantly capable of amusing us.

"[24] According to Publishers Weekly review of his best selling book The Pursuit of Happiness', "Kennedy tells his epic tale with a keen eye and brisk pace, confidently sweeping through historic events.

"[25] Liadan Hynes from Irish Independent reviewed the book The Heat of Betrayal and said, "Douglas Kennedy manages to maintain a gripping pace and it's enjoyable for the reader.