Charles Ardai is an American businessman and writer known for his work in crime fiction and mysteries. He co-founded Hard Case Crime, an imprint dedicated to publishing pulp-style paperback crime novels, where he serves as editor. The line has become known for reviving the classic aesthetic of vintage crime fiction. Beyond his literary ventures, Ardai has had a significant career in business. He was an early employee at D. E. Shaw & Co., a major investment firm, where he eventually became a managing director. He has also served as chairman of Schrödinger, Inc., a computational chemistry company.