Peter Lovesey

Peter Harmer Lovesey is a British author best known for his detective novels, like the Victorian-era Sergeant Cribb series and the Peter Diamond series set in modern-day Bath. Over a prolific career, Lovesey has won numerous awards, including the prestigious Cartier Diamond Dagger for Lifetime Achievement and the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America.

His latest book, Peter Diamond (2024), continues the story of his well-known Bath detective.

Lovesey was born in Middlesex, England, and attended Hampton Grammar School before enrolling at Reading University in 1955. He initially studied Fine Art because he lacked a Latin qualification, but later switched to an English degree thanks to the support of tutors John Wain and Frank Kermode. Lovesey graduated in 1958 and then did his National Service in the Royal Air Force, where he served as an Education Officer.

After leaving the RAF, Lovesey began teaching in 1961 at Thurrock Technical College in Essex. In the early 1970s, he was Head of General Education at Hammersmith College in London. During this time, Lovesey developed an interest in writing crime fiction.

His debut novel, Wobble to Death (1970), set in Victorian athletics, was an immediate success. The book won a £1,000 prize in a competition for first crime novels and launched his career as a writer. "I had no idea it would take off," Lovesey later recalled, "but my wife Jax encouraged me, and I'm grateful she did.

Lovesey's early works were mainly historical mysteries, including eight novels in the Sergeant Cribb series, later adapted into a television series. In 1991, he introduced readers to Peter Diamond, a modern-day detective in Bath, with The Last Detective. The series has since become one of his best-known works, with over twenty books. Lovesey's portrayal of Diamond earned him praise for its wit and realism, and Peter Diamond (2024) offers a new exploration of the detective's life and career.

Lovesey has won several prestigious awards, including the Gold and Silver Daggers of the British Crime Writers' Association. In 2000, he was honoured with the Cartier Diamond Dagger for Lifetime Achievement, and in 2018, he received the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Award.

Peter Lovesey lives near Chichester with his wife Jacqueline and their family.

Photo credit: peterlovesey.com