Harold R. Miller

Harold R. Miller, author of The Thai Moon Saloon, The Belize File, The Australian File, The Philippine Chaseand The Emerald Head Caper (The Penn Gwinn series) uses his private investigator case files as the basis for his novels.

His semi-volunteer status in the Defense Intelligence Agency found him stationed in Okinawa, Belize and other exotic locales. The proximity to the ocean and his undercover status allowed him to pursue his love of sailboats. He built four sailboats; two of which were his own design.

Five years spent in Hollywood as a member of various film crews, as well as time spent at the American Film Institute provided him with a working knowledge of the entertainment business.

His training in the agency, and a natural ability to ‘discreetly snoop’, provided an excellent background for private investigation, a career begun in 1969. He passed The California Private Investigator’s examination in 1977, and has been a career investigator ever since.

Known as ‘Hal’ to his friends, he has worked in the fields of surveillance (sub-rosa camera and stationary surveillance), undercover, loss prevention/determination, commercial insurance fraud and locating run-a-ways. Six years in Idaho allowed him to develop experience in his specialty field of criminal defense investigations. He worked for the Public Defender’s offices in Twin Falls County, Idaho and Jerome, Idaho, as well as for a number of criminal defense attorneys. He was the only private investigator sanctioned by the 5th District and 6th District Courts of Idaho to work defense investigations on capital cases. He was also the District Director for the San Francisco District of California Association of Licensed Investigators, and the President of the Idaho Private Investigator’s Association.

His experiences in journalism, the intelligence agencies, film, and private investigation provide the basis for a number of action/adventure international intrigue novels. The Penn Gwinn Series is being considered for film production, and there is talk of a television series.

For more information, check out Harold’s website!