His first novel, All the Lonely People, was nominated for the CWA John Creasey Memorial Dagger for best debut. Since then he has won prestigious awards in both the UK and US. He received the Edgar award from the Mystery Writers of America and the Dagger in the Library, voted for by UK librarians.

Martin’s acclaimed fiction includes contemporary series set in the Lake District and in Liverpool and historical mysteries featuring Rachel Savernake. He has written standalone novels and many short stories, including the Dagger-winning ‘The Bookbinder’s Apprentice’.

Martin has been commissioned to write murder mysteries for special occasions, including for the British Library and the Emirates Literature Festival, and for The Mysterious Bookshop’s series of limited edition bibliomysteries. He has been a guest speaker at festivals throughout the world, as well as on the Queen Mary and many online courses.

In addition to enjoying many years of success as a crime writer, he is the only person to have been elected to serve as Chair of the Crime Writers’ Association and President of the Detection Club at the same time. This experience gives him a special understanding of the challenges facing crime writers. Having combined his writing life with more than 30 years as a partner in a law firm, he is ideally equipped to encourage aspiring novelists to write while coping with a day job or other commitments.

Martin conceived and put together the award-winning book Howdunit, featuring invaluable advice on writing and the writing life from authors such as Val McDermid, Ian Rankin, Ann Cleeves, and John le Carré. Authors he admires from around the world have responded generously to his invitation to contribute practical tips to Crafting Crime.

Martin’s latest projects include The Life of Crime, a unique history of the genre which demonstrates his unrivalled breadth of knowledge concerning crime fiction.