Peter Riva is an esteemed American literary agent, producer, and author. He writes primarily in the thriller genre with elements of adventure and suspense. His works often involve intricate plots set in dynamic and challenging environments, such as the wild landscapes of Africa.
Peter Riva was born in Manhattan, New York. His mother, Maria Riva, was an actress and the daughter of Marlene Dietrich, and his father, William Riva, was a set designer.
After attending Institut Le Rosey and studying at Carnegie-Mellon University and UCLA Film School, Peter Riva worked with leading names in aerospace, space exploration, and environmental advocacy. His professional endeavors have ranged from managing Voyager's Round the World Flight program to producing major United Nations events.
In recent years, Peter Riva has turned his extensive experience towards writing, focusing on thrillers set in vibrant, exotic locations that reflect his deep knowledge of and experience in Africa.
His notable works include Murder on Safari (2015), where protagonist Pero Baltazar, a reality TV producer and secret courier for the US State Department, combats a terrorist threat in East Africa.
Baltazar is entangled in international espionage in Germany and faces a dangerous and mysterious assignment in The Berlin Package (2016).
Kidnapped on Safari, released in 2023, intensifies the adventure as Baltazar races to rescue a kidnapped safari guide from sinister mercenaries in Tanzania.
Thе most recent work, Elephant Safari (2024), will continue the thrilling exploits of Baltazar, this time confronting an elephant poaching operation linked to terrorist financing along the Kenya-Ethiopia border.
Photo credit: peterriva.com