Which of the following is a famous American writer of thriller and mystery fiction?

Introduction / Context:
Modern popular fiction includes many authors who write fast paced thrillers and mystery novels that combine history, symbolism, and suspense. Dan Brown is one of the most widely read contemporary American authors in this category, known for bestsellers that have also been adapted into films. This question checks whether the learner can correctly identify him among other writers who belong to different literary traditions or genres.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question refers to an American writer.
• The writer is famous for thriller and mystery fiction.
• Options include authors from various countries and time periods.
• Only one matches the described profile of modern thriller writing.

Concept / Approach:
The core concept is classification of authors by nationality and genre. Dan Brown is an American novelist whose works such as The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons are prime examples of thriller and mystery fiction. The other options are poets or novelists of different eras who are not primarily known for similar modern thrillers. Therefore the learner must filter the options by both nationality and type of writing to arrive at the correct author.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the requirement that the writer should be American and a thriller or mystery specialist. Step 2: Recall that Dan Brown is from the United States of America and writes novels that mix religious history, symbols, and suspense. Step 3: Check the other names. Rupert Brooke was an English poet, Charlotte Bronte was an English novelist of the nineteenth century, John Brown is not known as a thriller writer in common exam material, and Thomas Hardy was a British novelist and poet. Step 4: Only Dan Brown fits both the nationality and genre description. Step 5: Select Dan Brown as the final answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
As an alternative check, recall the type of books placed in modern thriller sections of bookshops and in lists of bestsellers turned into Hollywood movies. Titles like The Da Vinci Code are repeatedly linked with Dan Brown, and he is frequently introduced as an American author of thriller fiction in news and interviews. In contrast, the other writers in the options are taught mainly in classic English literature courses, not in contemporary thriller lists. This contrast confirms that Dan Brown is the expected answer in competitive exams.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Rupert Brooke wrote war sonnets and lyric poetry rather than thriller novels. John Brown is a very common name and is not linked with a major thriller writer in mainstream exam references. Charlotte Bronte is known for the novel Jane Eyre and other works of Victorian literature, not for modern mystery fiction. Thomas Hardy wrote novels such as Tess of the d Urbervilles and Far from the Madding Crowd, which are realistic and tragic, not fast paced thrillers.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is to ignore the word American and focus only on recognising a literary name, leading some learners to choose a familiar classic author. Another pitfall is not differentiating between genres such as poetry, classic realism, and modern thriller writing. To avoid this, students should connect each author with at least one sample work and a simple tag such as poet, realist novelist, or thriller writer. This mental tagging technique makes it easier to classify options quickly and accurately during tests.

Final Answer:
The famous American writer of thriller and mystery fiction among the options is Dan Brown.