Arthur Lyons
Arthur Lyons is a versatile American author and public figure, best known for his mystery novels and non-fiction works. Born in 1946 in Los Angeles, he earned a degree in political science from the University of California at Santa Barbara, after which he published his first book, "The Second Coming: Satanism in America," in 1970. This non-fiction work addressed the cultural anxieties of the era, particularly concerning the Vietnam War and societal issues related to devil worship. In 1974, he introduced the character Jacob Asch in his mystery series, a complex detective reminiscent of classic figures like Sam Spade, who grapples with ethical dilemmas and societal challenges.
Throughout his novels, Lyons explores a variety of thought-provoking topics, including political corruption, religious fanaticism, and the struggles faced by marginalized communities. He collaborated with Thomas Noguchi on two novels featuring coroner Eric Parker, providing readers with insights into forensic examinations and the dynamics between law enforcement and the coroner's office. Beyond his writing career, Lyons has also been involved in local politics and community service in Palm Springs, California, where he owned a restaurant and served as mayor pro tem. His multifaceted career reflects a commitment to engaging with complex social issues through both literature and civic involvement.
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Arthur Lyons
Writer
- Born: January 5, 1946
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
- Died: March 21, 2008
- Place of death: Palm Springs, California
Biography
Arthur Lyons has had a multifaceted career. In addition to writing mystery novels and other books, he has owned a restaurant in Palm Springs, California, where he also served as mayor pro tem and was an energy consultant to the city. Lyons was born in 1946 in Los Angeles, California, the son of Arthur and Shirley Hamilton Lyons. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1967.
Three years later, he published his first book, The Second Coming: Satanism in America, a nonfiction study of devil worship in the United States; the book later was published in Britain as Satan Wants You: The Cult of Devil Worship in America. When it first appeared in 1970, the United States was in a state of political upheaval attributable largely to concerns about the Vietnam War, which made this book particularly relevant to its time.
In 1974, Lyons published the first of his Jacob Asch mystery novels, creating a character reminiscent of such other fictional detectives as Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe. Asch is a multidimensional character who progresses both ethically and intellectually as the series evolves. He is a former newspaper reporter who stubbornly refused to identify his source for a controversial story and went to jail rather than capitulate to the authorities. Lyons establishes Asch’s basic traits in his first novel, The Dead Are Discreet: integrity, honesty, a strong sense of what is right, and loyalty to those who trust him.
Lyons deals with thought-provoking social issues in his novels. He considers such topics as religious fanaticism, punk rock music that leads to violence, abortion, sadism, illegal drug use, the legalization of prostitution, homelessness, political corruption, and the victimization of members of minority groups. Lyons’s novels give his readers an intellectual workout, leaving them with ethical problems to ponder long after they have finished reading his books.
In addition to the Jacob Asch series, Lyons has written two novels in collabroation with Thomas Noguchi, the former chief medical examiner of Los Angeles County, known as the “coroner to the stars.” The central character in Unnatural Causes and Physical Evidence is coroner Eric Parker. The authors present considerable specific information about the examination of dead bodies as well as an insight into the political intrigue between the police department and the coroner’s office.