Martyn Waites was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He has turned his hand to many occupations: market trader, bar manager, stand-up comic and teacher of drama to teenage ex-offenders. Following this last job he decided to go to drama school and became a professional actor. He trained at the Birmingham School of Speech and Drama and went on to play both policemen and villains in Inspector Morse, Spender, The Bill and Harry. As a theatre actor he appeared as a lead in Catherine Cookson’s plays and had a go at stand up comedy. He has also written plays and short stories. Martyn won the 2014 Grand Prix du Roman Noir Award for his novel Born Under Punches and enjoyed commercial success with the Brennan and Esposito novels written under the pseudonym of Tania Carver. He has created a new series character in Tom Killgannon.