Best-Selling Mississippi Author Greg Iles Passes Away at 65 After Long Battle with Cancer

Renowned author Greg Iles, known for his “Natchez Burning” trilogy and other works, passed away at the age of 65. His agent, Dan Conaway, announced the news on Facebook, revealing that Iles had lost his battle with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer he fought for decades.

Born in Germany but raised in Natchez, Mississippi, Iles nurtured a profound affinity for the region, which often served as the backdrop for his narrative creations. Many of his novels, including the “Natchez Burning” trilogy, delve into the complexities of race and class during the 1960s Jim Crow South, offering historical fiction suspense that captivated readers worldwide.

Described by Conaway as warm, humorous, fearless, and completely unique, Iles was admired for his ability to seamlessly blend storytelling prowess, profound human emotion, and a growing sense of moral and political responsibility with the precision of a skilled watchmaker or whirling dervish.

In March 2011, Iles suffered a ruptured aorta and underwent a partial leg amputation following a car accident on Highway 61 near Natchez. After spending eight days in a medically induced coma, he made a remarkable recovery.

Iles was also a member of the musical group The Rock Bottom Remainders, performing alongside notable authors such as Stephen King and Amy Tan.