From WENN.com

He was found dead of suspected natural causes at his Santa Fe, New Mexico home on Thursday (10Jan13).

Born in Missouri, Connell wrote 19 books, including a biography of Spanish painter Francisco Goya and twin novels Mrs. Bridge and Mr. Bridge, which were adapted into 1990 movie Mr. & Mrs. Bridge, starring the late Paul Newman and his wife Joanne Woodward.

Meanwhile, the writer's historical account of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer, Son of the Morning Star: Custer and the Little Bighorn was converted into a U.S. television miniseries, which won four Emmy Awards.

His last work, Lost in Uttar Pradesh, was published in 2008.