- Simon Beckett
Infobox Writer
imagesize = 150px
name = Simon Beckett
birthdate =Sheffield
occupation = Journalist and novelist
nationality =United Kingdom
period = 2000s
genre =Crime fiction
subject =
website = http://www.simonbeckett.com/Simon Beckett (born 1968 in
Sheffield ) is a Britishjournalist andauthor .After earning a Master of Arts degree in English, Beckett taught in
Spain and played in several bands before becoming a freelance journalist. He has written for "The Times ", "The Independent on Sunday ", "The Daily Telegraph ", "The Observer ", amongst others. He has previously written several well-received novels and published his first novel in the David Hunter series, "The Chemistry of Death " in 2006; aforensic crime novel . Centred on a forensic anthropologist,Dr David Hunter , as theprotagonist , "The Chemistry of Death" was shortlisted for the 2006Gold Dagger award. A sequel novel featuring David Hunter, "Written in Bone " was released in August 2007 and a further novel is due for release in 2008. He has previous written several other novels (including "Fine Lines" in 1994), but these all go conspicuously unmentioned in interviews and on his website.The books and protagonist were inspired by a visit and series of articles made by Beckett to "The Body Farm" in Tennessee (Otherwise known as the Forensic Anthropology Centre, U. Tennessee, founded by the pioneer of modern forensic anthropology, Dr Bill Bass). Having watched - and participated - in "live" exercises involving manufactured crime scenes containing real decaying corpses, and having witnessed the fascinating and arcane sciences employed to ascertain how, when and where death occurred, Beckett was inspired to create a central character who is vulnerable, charming and engaging, while authoritative and knowledgeable regarding "The Chemistry of Death".
He is married and currently lives in Sheffield.
Works
Novels
*"
Fine Lines " (1994)
*"Animals" (1995)
*"Where There's Smoke" (1997)
*"Owning Jacob " (1998):David Hunter series
*"The Chemistry of Death (2006)
*"Written in Bone " (2007)
*"Whispers of the Dead" (2009 forthcoming) aka "Skin Deep"External links
* [http://www.simonbeckett.com/ Official website] (en)
* [http://book.literaryawards.info/en/simon_beckett.html Simon Beckett complete bibliography] (en)
* [http://www.houseofcrime.com.au/Author-Detail.aspx?Author=Beckett,%20Simon Simon Beckett at House of Crime]
* [http://www.randomhouse.com.au/Authors/Default.aspx?Page=Author&ID=Beckett,%20Simon Simon Beckett at Random House Australia]
* [http://www.spanningzoeker.nl/beckett/ Dutch fansite with covers and more] (nl)
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