hɪz fˈɜːst nˈɑːvəl, ðɪ ˈaɪs hˈɑːɹvɪst, wʌz pˈʌblɪʃt ɪn tˈuː θˈaʊzənd, ænd wˈʌn ðə kˌælɪfˈoːɹniə bˈʊk ɐwˈɔːɹd, æz wˈɛl æz bˌiːɪŋ nˈɑːmᵻnˌeɪɾᵻd fɚðɪ ˈɛdɡɚɹ ɐwˈɔːɹd ænd hˈæmɪt pɹˈaɪz, ænd ʃˈɔːɹtlɪstᵻd fɚðə kɹˈaɪm ɹˈaɪɾɚz ɐsˌoʊsɪˈeɪʃən ɡˈoʊld dˈæɡɚɹ ɐwˈɔːɹd.
His first novel, The Ice Harvest, was published in 2000, and won the California Book Award, as well as being nominated for the Edgar Award and Hammett Prize, and shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger Award.