A former secretary of the Crime Writers' Association, Judith Cutler has taught Creative Writing at universities and colleges for over thirty years, and has run occasional courses elsewhere (from a maximum security prison to an idyllic Greek island). She has written over thirty novels, renowned for their feisty and intriguing heroines, including Josie Welford, DS Kate Power, DCS Fran Harman and antiques dealer Lina Townend.