Shortlisted for Carnegie Medal 2009.

'Praise for Kevin Brooks: 'He's an original. And he writes one hell of a story' -- Meg Rosoff, author of How I Live Now (on Being) 'Watch this guy, he's good' -- Melvin Burgess, author of Junk (on Martyn Pig) '... you want to tell everyone how good it is' -- Sunday Times (on Lucas)' Various '... this credible, violent thriller pulls together all its apparent inconsistencies in a revealing resolution. Unmissable' - Tina Massey, Carousel 'Complex and involving, this is his [Brooks's] best book since the wonderful Lucas, and it deserves every success' Bookseller 'A masterly writer, and this book would put many authors of "grown up" detective fiction to shame' Mail on Sunday 'A compulsive, atmospheric mystery' Sunday Times 'Gripping, disturbing ... brilliant' Sunday Express 'A cracking story ... grips like a vice' Guardian

Kevin Brooks was born in Exeter, Devon, and he studied in Birmingham and London. He had a varied working life, with jobs in a crematorium, a zoo, a garage and a post office, before - happily - giving it all up to write books. Kevin is the author of seven critically acclaimed novels and now lives in North Yorkshire.