Speakers of Crime Authors

Trevor Wood is an award-winning writer known among crime fiction authors for his gritty crime novels set in the North East. His highly-acclaimed debut novel, The Man on the Street, which explores Newcastle’s homeless community, received the Crime Writers’ Association’s John Creasey New Blood Dagger and the Crimefest Specsavers Debut Novel of the Year. It was also shortlisted for Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year.

His latest series, which has been optioned for TV by Filmnation TV UK, began with The Silent Killer, featuring DCI Jack Parker, who confronts a unique challenge: early onset dementia. The sequel, The Inside Man, sees Jack investigating the mysterious disappearance of a woman and her young son.

Originally from the Midlands, Trevor served in the Royal Navy for 16 years before marrying a Geordie and settling in Newcastle, where he has lived for over 30 years with his wife and daughter. His works often blend elements of gothic thrillers with gritty realism, establishing him as a prominent figure in contemporary crime literature.

Suzy Aspley is a former journalist and one of the rising crime fiction authors whose debut novel, Crow Moon, was published by Orenda Books in 2024. This novel marks the beginning of a series of gothic thrillers featuring journalist Martha Strangeways, set in the remote and rural parts of Scotland. Originally from the north-east, Suzy has lived in Scotland for more than thirty years, drawing inspiration from the stunning landscapes that shape her crime novels.

In 2019, she won Bloody Scotland’s Pitch Perfect competition and was shortlisted for the Capital Crime New Voices award. Crow Moon has also received accolades, being shortlisted for both the Bloody Scotland and Theakston's McDermid debut prizes, as well as longlisted for the Caledonia Novel Award. In 2026, she was awarded a residency at the Moniack Mhor creative writing centre in the Highlands.

Her second novel in the Martha Strangeways series, The Bone Mother, was released on May 7th, 2026.

Abigail Fenton joined Ampersand in September 2025. Prior to that, she spent over a decade in editorial at Hachette and HarperCollins, latterly as Editorial Director for HQ Digital. She also worked as a freelance editor and book coach, where she collaborated with several crime fiction authors to refine their narratives.

Abigail is seeking adult fiction across genres, including book-club reads, crime novels, thrillers, and women’s fiction and romance of all stripes. She loves high-concept hooks, page-turning plots, and books that pose juicy questions. Recently, she has enjoyed reads such as Happy Place, Lessons in Chemistry, So Thrilled for You, Wrong Place Wrong Time, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, as well as some gothic thrillers that have captivated her attention.

Noelle Holten is an award-winning blogger at CrimeBookJunkie, where she passionately shares her love for crime novels and features various crime fiction authors. By day, she works as a book publicist and previously served as a Senior Probation Officer for eighteen years, managing a range of risk cases in a multi-agency setting. Noelle holds three Hons BA's in Philosophy, Sociology (Crime & Deviance), and Community Justice, as well as a Masters in Criminology. In her spare time, she enjoys reading gothic thrillers and attending as many book festivals as she can afford, spreading the booklove through her engaging blog.

Michael J. Malone was born and raised in the heart of Burns' country, just a stone's throw from the great man's cottage in Ayr—though perhaps a stone thrown by a catapult would be more accurate. As a notable figure among crime fiction authors, he has published over 200 poems in literary magazines throughout the UK, including New Writing Scotland, Poetry Scotland, and Markings. His debut novel, BLOOD TEARS, which falls within the realm of gothic thrillers, won the Pitlochry Prize (judge: Alex Gray) from the Scottish Association of Writers. Upon its publication, he added a 'J' to his name to distinguish his work from that of his talented U.S. namesake, making a mark in the world of crime novels.

Emma Tallon is a British author known for her gripping and gritty crime novels, specifically in the realm of organized crime thrillers. Having spent several years as a freelance ghostwriter, Emma made the professional leap into writing her own work after the birth of her son, completing her first full novel. After enduring months of rejection from publishers and agents, she finally signed a publishing contract with Bookouture in December 2017 for the first three books in the Tyler Family series. Since then, she has secured multiple contracts with Bookouture and has established herself as a prominent name among crime fiction authors, especially within the gothic thrillers genre.