Alanna Knight is a celebrated British author, renowned for her works in historical mystery, romance, and thriller genres. She is a prolific writer who has published more than sixty novels, including the acclaimed Inspector Faro series and the Rose McQuinn series. Knight's literary career spans over four decades, during which she has also written non-fiction, true crime, biographies, writing guides, plays, and numerous short stories.
Born and raised in Tyneside, England, Knight has spent most of her life in Edinburgh, Scotland. She has been an Honorary President of the Edinburgh Writers' Club and of the Scottish Association of Writers. Knight's writings often feature elements of romance, thrill, suspense, and historical settings. She has developed three successful historical crime book series, including the Inspector Faro series, set in the Victorian era with Detective Inspector Jeremy Faro as the main lead. The Rose McQuinn series is another popular series by Knight, featuring a lady investigator named Rose McQuinn. Additionally, she has created a time-traveling series featuring Tam Eildor as the time traveler and the main character. Knight is also known for her Annie Kelty series, for which she has already written and published the initial books.
Alanna Knight was born on Tyneside of Scots-Irish parentage. She began her writing career with historical novels and ventured into historical crime in 1988 with the Inspector Faro series and its protagonist's daughter, Rose McQuinn. Knight was a life-long fan and an authority on Robert Louis Stevenson, which led her to write about his marriage to Fanny Osbourne in 'A Violent Passion'. She was awarded the MBE for her services to literature in 2014. Knight lived in Edinburgh, beneath Arthur's Seat, in the dramatic surroundings of Scottish history. She was a founding member and Honorary President of the Scottish Association of Writers and the Edinburgh Writers’ Club, and a member of Crime writers’ Association. Knight passed away in December 2020 at the age of 97, leaving behind a vast and impressive literary legacy.