I was a latecomer to fiction writing, having spent most of my adult life producing academic papers and reports. After some limited success entering short story competitions, I submitted  the first few chapters of a novel to the Crime Writers Association Debut Dagger Awards. To my great surprise, the book was not only shortlisted but given the Highly Commended accolade, which stimulated the interest of agents and publishers and eventually led to the publication of PARIAH. Since then, I have written lots more crime thrillers, including two series set in New York and my birth city of Liverpool. I live on the Wirral with my wife, two daughters and a British Shorthair cat called Mr Tumnus.