Former RAF pilot and investigative journalist Frederick Forsyth defined the modern thriller when he wrote The Day of the Jackal , described by Lee Child as 'the book that broke the mould', with its lightning-paced storytelling, effortlessly cool reality and unique insider information. After that, he wrote thirteen novels which became bestsellers around the world: The Odessa File , The Dogs of War , The Devil's Alternative , The Fourth Protocol , The Negotiator , The Deceiver , The Fist of God , Icon , Avenger , The Afghan , The Cobra , The Kill List and The Fox . He also published his memoirs in The Outsider . Frederick Forsyth died in June 2025.