His crime thriller, Smoked, was published in the United States and Canada by St. Martin's Press in April 2006, and in the United Kingdom and many countries throughout the world by Hodder Headline in March 2006. It has been translated into Portuguese, Italian and Dutch. Film rights were optioned in 2007, and again in 2009.

Quinlan's second crime thriller, The Takedown, appeared in May and June 2007, from both St. Martin's and Headline. His third crime thriller, The Drop-Off is scheduled to appear in July, 2008. He is signed to deliver a fourth novel for publication in 2009.

Quinlan is the co-author, with Blade Runner film star Rutger Hauer, of Hauer's memoir, All Those Moments, released by HarperCollins in April, 2007.

Quinlan has been featured or favorably reviewed in numerous publications, including The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, The Times, The Observer, The Guardian, The New York Times, and Entertainment Weekly.

In 2002, Quinlan served as campaign manager for State Representative John Eder of Maine, who at that time became the only Green Party member in the United States elected to a state house seat. Quinlan also served as a consultant to Eder's 2004 campaign, and as Eder's legislative aide at the Maine State House during 2004 and 2005.

Quinlan attended Regis High School, a Jesuit high school in Manhattan.