Andrew Pyper, a prolific and acclaimed Toronto-based writer of literary thrillers, has died at the age of 56, his family has confirmed.

Pyper was known for his bestselling spine-tingling novels, including Lost Girls and The Demonologist, a number of which were acquired for TV or film development.

He passed away at home on Friday, Jan. 3, his obituary says.

“Andrew was not done living, writing, raising his children or loving his wife but accepted his illness with tremendous courage and grace,” says the obituary.

“Over the past year he often remarked how grateful he was, saying that if someone were to offer him more time, but a different journey, he would not trade any of it.”

Pyper was born in Stratford, Ont. and was the youngest of five children. His love of literature began early, opting to carry around a briefcase of New Yorker magazines and Graham Greene novels in grade school, which earned the nickname “the professor”, his death notice says.

Before establishing a successful writing career, he received a law degree from the University of Toronto. Despite being called to the bar in 1996, the same year he published a collection of short stories, he never practiced law.

Instead, he chose to pursue a career as a writer, going on to publish 14 novels.

His most recent novels were published under the pseudonym, Mason Coile, including William in 2024.  Two more are slated to be published posthumously.

Pyper is survived by his wife of 20 years, Heidi, his two children, four siblings and several extended family members.