Simon McCleave
Writer - fiction
Books
Simon McCleave was born in South London. When leaving University, he worked in television and film development. He was a Script Editor at the BBC, a producer at Channel 4 before working as a Story Analyst in Los Angeles. He worked on films such as 'The Full Monty' and television series such as the BBC Crime Drama 'Between The Lines'.
Simon then became a script writer for television and film. He wrote on series such as Silent Witness, Murder In Suburbia, Teachers, Attachments, The Bill, Eastenders and many more. His film, 'Out of the Game' for Channel 4 was critically acclaimed - 'An unflinching portrayal of male friendship.' (Time Out)
Simon is now a best-selling crime novelist. His first book, 'The Snowdonia Killings', was released in January 2020 and soon became an Amazon Bestseller, reaching No 1 in the Amazon UK Kindle Chart and selling over 170,000 copies. His eight subsequent novels in the DI Ruth Hunter Crime Thriller Series have all ranked in the Amazon Top 20 and are Amazon Best Sellers. Simon also has released three books in a second series, The Ruth Hunter Murder Cases.
His first book with Avon (Harpercollins), THE DARK TIDE, was published in May 2022 and was Waterstones Wales' Book of the Month for its publication month, and was followed by four more in the Angelsey series in 2023 and 2024. His first standalone thriller LAST NIGHT AT VILLA LUCIA (Canelo) publishes summer 2024.
Simon has sold over 1 million books and downloads.He lives in North Wales with his wife and two children.
Praise for LAST NIGHT AT VILLA LUCIA:
'I was gripped by Simon McCleave’s dark, whodunnit, captivating in every way. It effortlessly weaves the perspectives of four generations of women, and lives pierced by addiction, toxic men, and the violence that ensues. You can feel the hum of the cicadas and the corrupting beauty of the Italian landscape. A perfect summer read…' Abi Morgan, Emmy / BAFTA winning screenwriter of Netflix hit 'Eric', 'The Split' (BBC), and movies such as 'Iron Lady' and 'Suffragette'.
‘Smart, evocative… full of the kinds of twist and surprises that makes a first-time reader into a lifelong fan. Terrific!’ Gregg Olsen
‘Had me gripped from the first page to the last, outstanding!’ J M Dalgliesh
‘Absolutely loved it. It was totally absorbing and I didn’t want to put it down. The setting was perfect and just superbly crafted… satisfying, stunning and stylish.’ Rachel Lynch
Praise for the Angelsey series:
‘Action-packed! McCleave has crafted a propulsive police procedural that races from major kidnappings to crime sprees to fugitive chases without ever losing sight of the compelling characters who are the heart of the real story.’ Lisa Gardner
‘The tension keeps you gripped until the very last page and I look forward to reading more from Simon.’ Rachel McLean
‘An intriguing crime thriller.’ The Sun
‘Full of twists and with plenty of atmosphere.’ Million-copy bestseller Faith Martin
Fiction
Publication Details | Notes |
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THE DARK TIDE 2022 Avon ( (Harpercollins) | Will there be blood in the water? Three years ago, DCI Laura Hart was the top Hostage and Crisis Negotiator for the Greater Manchester Police. Then her husband was kidnapped. Despite her best efforts to reason with the criminals, he was brutally murdered. Now living on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales, Laura is slowly healing. Then she gets a call: armed drug dealers have seized a tourist boat – and her ten-year-old son Jake is on board. There’s no other negotiator available, and the police need her to step up. With the life of a loved one yet again on the line and memories of the last time she failed still searingly fresh, Laura is living her worst nightmare. Can she lay to rest the ghosts of her past in time to save her son? |
IN TOO DEEP 2023 Avon (Harpercollins) | Two months since ex-Police Negotiator Laura Hart was forced back into action after her son’s kidnap, she has re-joined the force as a DI. On her first day, an anonymous tip-off leads to the discovery of a skeleton in a crumbling castle ruin near the seaside town of Beaumaris, Anglesey. Laura can’t wait to prove herself by solving the case and when the investigation leads her to MI5 and the Real IRA, she knows she’s on the trail of something truly explosive. But some people will do anything to stop their secrets coming out – as the rising body count shows. With the threat drawing in and her family yet again in danger, this time, is Laura in too deep? |
BLOOD ON THE SHORE 2023 Avon (Harpercollins) | The beautiful Isle of Anglesey has been rocked by the brutal murders of three female students at a local college. DI Laura Hart is called in to track down the murderer – who the papers have dubbed the Anglesey Ripper – before he strikes again. She quickly identifies a suspect but just as she is about to pounce, he slips through her fingers. Laura and the Beaumaris CID must pursue the serial killer across the island in an increasingly dangerous game of cat and mouse – but he’s always one step ahead of them. And soon, the hunters will become the hunted… |
THE DROWNING ISLE 2024 Avon (Harpercollins) | Bestselling phenomenon Simon McCleave is back with another gripping, atmospheric new crime thriller set on the Isle of Anglesey, Wales. On a remote island, there’s nowhere to run… When a teenage boy goes missing on a camping trip with his friends, the close-knit community of Anglesey is shaken. DI Laura Hart is brought in to lead the murder investigation and instantly feels the pressure, not least because her colleague’s son was the last to see the missing boy alive. Laura’s investigations force her to delve into the tangled web of relationships and personal lives of her own neighbours. The trail leads her to uncover a religious cult called The Fair Men, who locals say have a dark history and still hold their ceremonies on the island where the boys were camping. But could it be that yet more secrets are hidden behind closed doors? Amongst all the mysteries and lies, Laura is sure about one thing: the island will not give up the truth easily… |
DEAD IN THE WATER 2024 Avon (Harpercollins) | Bestselling phenomenon Simon McCleave is back with another Anglesey-set gripping, crime thriller full of twists that will keep you guessing until the last page. Pre-order now! When a seventeen-year-old girl vanishes from her home overnight, DI Laura Hart knows that time is of the essence. Then, an inmate at the local prison is murdered in her cell and suddenly Beaumaris CID is juggling two major investigations. With inmates refusing to talk to the police, Laura is forced to take drastic action: going undercover behind bars. With everyone under suspicion, Laura’s true identity must be kept a secret, meaning no one can protect her. Locked in with a killer, it’s a race against time – can Laura find a lead… before she’s found out? |
LAST NIGHT AT VILLA LUCIA 2024 Canelo | A murdered guest. A villa full of secrets. One night that changes everything. Recently divorced Cerys thought buying a luxury Tuscan villa would be the fresh start she so desperately needed. But a year later, she's struggling to move on from the pain of her past. Determined to make Villa Lucia a success, she's pinned all her hopes on this season's guests. Until one of them is found murdered in the villa's infinity pool. Now, as the police descend on the property, the secrets of her guests begin to unravel, and Cerys is forced to confront her own demons. But can she uncover the truth about that fateful night before the paradise she’s built shatters around her? |