Gores is a three-time Edgar Award winner, and only one of two authors (the other being Donald Westlake) to receive the Edgar Awards in three separate categories: Best First Novel (for A Time of Predators (1969) - a story set in the San Francisco Bay Area about a Stanford professor who re-learns his military commando skills to go after a gang of juvenile thugs who raped his wife), Best Short Story ("Goodbye, Pops" (Dec. 1969) (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine), and Best TV Series Segment (for a TV episode of Kojak he had written, "No Immunity for Murder" - Airdate Nov. 23, 1975). Gores has also won the Maltese Falcon Award (Japan's highest award in the mystery field), and was elected to the Mystery Writers of America. His novels 32 Cadillacs and Come Morning were also nominated for Best Novel Edgars. Interestingly enough, Gores and Donald Westlake wrote a chapter in each of their own respective books - Westlake's Drowned Hopes and Gores' 32 Cadillacs - having their characters being influenced by the same event. Gores has also written teleplays and screenplays for popular mystery-related shows including: Kojak, Magnum, P.I., Remington Steele, Columbo, T. J. Hooker, and Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer.

Gores currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and is a longtime resident. He obtained a degree in English Literature from Notre Dame University and received a Masters degree, also in English Literature, from Stanford University in 1961. Gores has also worked for twelve years as a real private investigator and as a repo man in San Francisco, among other stints as a truck driver, logger, assistant motel manager and an English teacher at a boy's school in Kenya. According to thrillingdetective.com: "He has often relied on his former occupations, particularly his stint as a private eye, to lend an air of authenticity to his work, blasting through the 'glamour' of detective work, [and] showing the drudgery and grunt work of detection."

DKA = stories involving "Dan Kearny and Associates"

• Spade & Archer: The Prequel to Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon (2009)
• Glass Tiger (2006)
• Cons, Scams & Grifts (DKA)(2001)
• Stakeout on Page Street and Other DKA Files (DKA Short Stories)(2000)
• Cases (1999)
• Speak of the Devil: 14 Tales of Crimes and Their Punishments (Short Stories)(1999)
• Contract Null & Void (DKA)(1996)
• Menaced Assassin (1994)
• Dead Man (1993)
• Mostly Murder (Short Stories) (1992)
• 32 Cadillacs (DKA)(Edgar Award nominee, Best Novel)(1992)
• Wolf Time (1989)
• Joe Gores Interview (Audio Book)(1987)
• Come Morning (Edgar Award nominee, Best Novel)(1986)
• Gone, No Forwarding (DKA)(1978)
• Tricks and Treats (Editor with Bill Pronzini)(1976)
• Hammett (1975)
• Honolulu: Port of Call (Editor)(1974)
• Interface (1974)
• Final Notice (DKA) (1973)
• Dead Skip (DKA) (1972)
• Marine Salvage: The Unforgiving Business of No Cure, No Pay (1971)
• A Time of Predators (Edgar Award winner, Best First Novel) (1969)

EQMM = Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine; DKA = stories involving "Dan Kearny and Associates"

• "Inscrutable" (2001, The Mysterious Press Anniversary Anthology)
• "Summer Fog" (2001, Flesh and Blood)
• "Ishmael" (1993, New Mystery)
• "Sleep the Big Sleep" (April 1991, EQMM; Danny Durant)
• "Dance of the Dead" (Spring 1991, The Armchair Detective; Neal Fargo)
• "File #12: Do Not Go Gentle" March 1989, EQMM; DKA)
• "Detectivitis, Anyone?" (January 1988, EQMM; AKA "Plot It Yourself")
• "Smart Guys Don't Snore" (1987, A Matter of Crime #2; Bonecrack Krajewski)
• "File #11: Jump Her Lively, Boys!" July 1984, EQMM; DKA)
• "File # 9: Full Moon Madness" (February 1984, EQMM; DKA)
• "Rope Enough" (1976, Tricks and Treats)
• "Kirinyga" (March 1975, EQMM)
• "File #8: The O'Bannon Blarney File" (1973, Men and Malice; DKA)
• "Raptor" (October 1983, EQMM)
• "File #10: The Maimed and the Halt" (January 1976, EQMM; DKA)
• "Watch for It" (1973, Mirror, Mirror, Fatal Mirror)
• "The War Club" (May 1972, Argosy)
• "File #7: O Black and Unknown Bard" (April 1972, EQMM; DKA)
• "File #6: Beyond the Shadow" (January 1972, EQMM; DKA)
• "You're Putting Me On -- Aren't You?" (1971, Adam's 1971 Reader)
• "Trouble at 81 Fathoms" (June 1971, Argosy)
• "Force 12" (January 1971, Argosy)
• "The Andrech Samples" (September 1970, Swank)
• "The Bear's Paw" (April 1970, Argosy)
• "The Criminal" (1970, Adam 14, No. 12)
• "Goodbye, Pops" (December 1969, EQMM) (Winner of 1970 Edgar Award for Best Short Story)
• "Quit Screaming" (November 1969, Adam's Reader 41)
• "Gunman in Town" (October1969, Zane Grey's Western Magazine)
• "File #5: The Maria Navarro Case" (June 1969, EQMM; AKA "Be Nice To Me;" DKA)
• "South of the Moon" (January 1969, Argosy)
• "File #4: Lincoln Sedan Deadline" (September 1968, EQMM; DKA)
• "File #3: The Pedretti Case" (July 1968, EQMM; AKA "The Three Halves;" DKA)
• "The Golden Tiki" (June 1968, Argosy)
• "Olmurani" (February 1968, Argosy)
• "File #2: Stakeout on Page Street" (January 1968, EQMM; DKA)
• "File # 1: The Mayfield Case" (December 1967, EQMM; AKA "Find the Girl;" DKA)
• "Odendahl" (December 1967, Argosy)
• "The Second Coming" (August 1966, Adam's Best Fiction)
• "Kanaka" (1966, Adam 10, No. 11)
• "The Seeker of Ultimates" (November 1965, EQMM)
• "A Sad and Bloody Hour" (April 1965, EQMM)
• "My Buddy" (1965)
• "Sweet Vengeance" (July 1964, Manhunt)
• "Sweet Vengeance" (July 1964, Manhunt)
• "The Price of Lust" (April 1963, Manhunt)
• "Darl I Luv U" (February 1963, EQMM)
• "Trouble in Papeete" (April 1962, Rake)
• "The Main Chance" (April 1962, Gent)
• "Muscle Beach" (March 1962, Rogue)
• "The Mob" (December 1961, Negro Digest)
• "Night Out" (October 1961, Manhuny)
• "Sailor's Girl" (August 1961, Manhunt)
• "You Aren't Yellow" (January 1960, Mike Shayne's Mystery Magazine)
• "Down and Out" (June 1959, Manhunt)
• "Killer Man" (June 1958, Manhunt; AKA "Pro")
• "Chain Gang" (December 1957, Manhunt)