Alan Hunter was an English author, best known for his crime fiction novels. He was born in 1922 in Hoveton, Norfolk, and attended school in Wroxham. Hunter left school at the young age of 14 to work on his family's farm near Norwich. He had a love for writing and would often contribute natural history notes to the local newspaper, as well as writing poetry. Some of his poetry was even published while he was in the Royal Air Force during World War II.
In 1950, Hunter established his own bookshop on Maddermarket in Norwich. It was during this time that he began to focus on his writing, and in 1955, he published the first novel in his Inspector George Gently series. Over the next four decades, Hunter would go on to write almost one novel per year, with the series becoming his most well-known and successful work.
Hunter's Inspector George Gently series is centered around the eponymous English detective and is highly regarded in the crime fiction genre. The series not only showcases Hunter's talent for storytelling but also his ability to create complex and engaging characters. His work has been praised for its contribution to the progression of the genre and its ability to transport readers to the time and place in which the stories are set.
In addition to his success as a novelist, Hunter also saw a television series adapted from his Inspector George Gently novels. The series, which aired from 2007 to 2017, was well-received and helped to introduce Hunter's work to a new audience. Hunter passed away in 2005, but his work continues to be celebrated and enjoyed by readers and viewers alike.