John Malcolm was born in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, and spent a few boyhood years in Uruguay before returning to school and university in England. He had a business career in engineering, and is also the author of eighteen crime novels. He was Chairman of the Crime Writers' Association in 1994-5 and Chairman of Rye Art Gallery Trustees 1995-2005. He is also the author (as John Andrews) of reference books on antique furniture and is managing editor of Antique Collecting magazine. His most recent crime novel is A Damned Serious Business.