Smithsonian Journeys Experts

Michael Jecks has been a professional crime writer for 25 years and is the author of 43 novels. His work encompasses his highly acclaimed Templar series of historical thrillers, his humorous Bloody Mary Tudor series, the Vintener trilogy, and a modern spy story, Act of Vengeance - described by Lee Child as ‘an instant classic British spy novel’. His books are inspired by history and legends covering the moors where he lives, but his stories are grounded in real life and real people: what motivates them, and what makes them turn to violence. His novel Death Ship of Dartmouth (Headline, 2006) was short-listed for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award, and he has been published by HarperCollins, Headline, Simon and Schuster and Severn House.

The founder of Medieval Murderers, he has served on the committees of the Crime Writers’ Association, Historical Writers’ Association and The Detection Club. He has taught writing at Swanwick, Evesham, and tutored for the Royal Literary Fund at Exeter University. An international speaker, he has worked with the British Council in Bogota, at festivals through Europe and all over the United States. His work has been celebrated by Visconti and Conway Stewart. In 2014 he was honored as the International Guest of Honour at the Bloody Words festival in Toronto, and as Grand Master of the first parade in the New Orleans Mardi Gras!