James Stewart "Jim" Thayer (born May 25, 1949) is an author of thriller novels and an attorney. His first six novels were written under his full name, but since then his middle name is not used.
Thayer was born in Eugene, Oregon. His father was a farmer. He is a graduate of Washington State University where he was inducted in to the honors fraternity Phi Beta Kappa. Subsequently he graduated from the University of Chicago Law School.
He is a member of the Washington State Bar Association. He has also been a creative writing instructor at the University of Washington. He is a regular contributor to Author magazine.