Mike Dickson lives in Minnesota with his wife and three children. His passion for crime fiction began at age 12 when he handwrote his first manuscript, "Neighbors," about an organized crime family. The eighty-page story opened with three characters meeting their fate on the first page. He still has it today.

Mike's fascination with organized crime runs deeper than fiction. In 2012, he created AmericanMafiaHistory.com, where he writes detailed biographies of past members of the American mafia. At its peak, the website ranked #1 on Google worldwide—a testament to his extensive research into mob history and culture. He continues adding new biographies regularly.

This deep knowledge informs his ambitious fictional universe. Mike has created the Marcuccio crime family, a fully developed South Philadelphia crime syndicate historically tied to the real American mafia. The Marcuccio world extends beyond traditional novels—willryland.com features investigative journalist Will Ryland reporting on organized crime activity, with stories that sometimes appear in the books, sometimes foreshadow upcoming releases, and sometimes stand alone. As the universe expands, readers can expect additional series featuring different protagonists, all connected to the Marcuccio family's web of influence.

His debut novel, Criminal Code, introduces protagonist Michael Donatello and launches the Code series. Moral Code, the second book, reveals how Will Ryland became the independent journalist whose investigations intersect with the novels.