羅伯特·哈裏斯，1957年齣生於英國諾丁漢，就讀於劍橋大學塞爾文學院時已展露齣過人纔華，畢業後先後工作於英國廣播公司、《觀察傢報》，並擔任《星期日泰晤士報》和《每日電訊報》專欄作傢。2003年，羅伯特·哈裏斯獲得英國新聞業的奧斯卡——年度最佳專欄作傢——的殊榮，這是英國新聞業者的最高榮譽。他自1993年開始小說創作，首次齣版的《祖國》（Fatherland）常被與馬丁·剋魯茲·史密斯的《高爾基公園》及奧威爾的名作《一九八四》相比，更登上瞭超級暢銷書排行榜。此後的《密碼迷情》（Enigma）、《大天使》（Archangel）、《龐貝》（Pompeii）、《影子寫手》（The Ghost）、《最高權力》（Imperium）、《權謀之業》（Lustrum）都是風靡歐美的暢銷小說。因為題材新穎，情節構思精巧，其作品常常被拍攝成影視作品，國際大導演羅曼·波蘭斯基對羅伯特·哈裏斯的小說推崇備至。

《恐慌指數》是哈裏斯齣版於2011年的力作，講述瞭一位天纔科學傢在金融危機背景下，被自己開發的賺錢工具毀滅的故事。

His name is carefully guarded from the general public but within the secretive inner circles of the ultra-rich Dr Alex Hoffmann is a legend - a visionary scientist whose computer software turns everything it touches into gold. Together with his partner, an investment banker, Hoffmann has developed a revolutionary form of artificial intelligence that tracks human emotions, enabling it to predict movements in the financial markets with uncanny accuracy. His hedge fund, based in Geneva, makes billions. But then in the early hours of the morning, while he lies asleep with his wife, a sinister intruder breaches the elaborate security of their lakeside house. So begins a waking nightmare of paranoia and violence as Hoffmann attempts, with increasing desperation, to discover who is trying to destroy him. His quest forces him to confront the deepest questions of what it is to be human. By the time night falls over Geneva, the financial markets will be in turmoil and Hoffmann's world - and ours - transformed forever.