Welcome to Peter James | International Bestselling Thriller Writer

Born in Brighton, England, Peter was educated at Charterhouse, where he failed maths ‘O’ Level three times and left with 3 lowly grade “E”s in A-Levels.  Chiding him for a series of misdemeanours his headmaster’s parting words were:  “James, if you come back to me in twenty years time and tell me your schooldays were the happiest days of your life I shall consider you to have failed.”  40 years on, James accepted an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Brighton, saying:   “I guess I am living proof of Oscar Wilde’s maxim that nothing worth knowing can be taught!”

After two years at Ravensbourne film school, working for a spell as Orson Welles’s house cleaner, his first writing job was in Toronto, Canada, on the daily kids television show, Polka Dot Door.  He co-founded Canada’s largest film production company in the 1970s.  Their films included The Neptune Factor starring Ernest Borgnine and the comedy which Peter wrote and produced – Spanish Fly starring Terry-Thomas and Leslie Philips – reviewed by critic Barry Norman as “The least funny British funny film ever made, and undoubtedly the worst British film since the Second World War.

His first novel, spy thriller Dead Letter Drop was published in 1981, but it was his 4^th, Possession, in 1988 that gave him his first chart success.  He continued to alternate writing novels with film production until 2005 when he became a full time novelist.  His best known film is The Merchant Of Venice, starring Al Pacino & Jeremy Irons.

Three of his novels have been adapted for television, and his Roy Grace series is currently in development. His novella, The Perfect Murder and his novel, Dead Simple and Not Dead Enough have all been smash hit stage plays with Not Dead Enough, currently touring in the UK.

He is patron of many charities, and in 2012, in recognition of his help in raising awareness of “Date rape”, he was presented with the Sussex Police Outstanding Public Service Award.

When he was fifteen after being spotted racing, he was offered to train with the British Olympic Ski Team. He now races classic cars and has competed in many events, including the past four Goodwood Revival meetings, and in 2013 had a lucky escape in a massive accident at Brands Hatch.

He lives in Notting Hill, London and near Brighton, Sussex with his wife Lara and menagerie including two dogs, five alpacas, seven chickens and a psycho cat.