Jack McEvoy: Movies & Box Office

John "Jack" McEvoy is a fictional Los Angeles‑based journalist created by Michael Connelly, first appearing in the 1996 novel The Poet. Born on May 21, 1961, in Colorado to Tom and Millie McEvoy, he grew up as the twin brother of Sean and the younger sibling of Sarah, who died young. After studying journalism at the Medill School in Evanston, Illinois, and spending a formative period in Paris, Jack returned to Colorado to cover the murder beat for the Rocky Mountain News, establishing a reputation for dogged investigative work. In 1995 he was drawn into a personal tragedy when his detective brother Sean was murdered by a serial killer known as the Poet, prompting Jack to collaborate with FBI agent Rachel Walling, a partnership that blended professional tension with a brief romantic involvement. The aftermath of the case saw Jack relocate to Los Angeles, where he accepted a prestigious position at the Los Angeles Times and later authored a bestselling novel recounting his experiences. While at the Times he married fellow reporter Keisha Russell, a marriage that ultimately ended in divorce, and he endured a layoff in 2009 that forced him to train his replacement, Angela Cook. Jack’s later investigations, notably the Scarecrow murders, thrust him back into contact with Walling and resulted in a series of personal and professional setbacks, including Cook’s murder and a strained relationship with his newspaper. By 2020 he was working for the watchdog site Fair Warning, reuniting with Walling to chase a new serial killer dubbed the Shrike, and he has since become a regular guest on true‑crime podcasts, dedicating his career to cold‑case work and investigative journalism.