Craig Russell is a British author of crime fiction and thriller novels. He is known for his Jan Fabel series, as well as the Lennox series. Russell is fluent in German and has a deep interest in post-war German history, which is often reflected in his writing. Many of his novels incorporate historical or mythological themes, and he has been recognized for his ability to describe the Europe of today through the lens of crime investigation, often featuring mythological and historical figures.
In addition to his work as a novelist, Russell has also written short stories and has worked as a creative director, freelance writer, and police officer. He was born in Fife, Scotland and draws inspiration from 1950s Glasgow. His crime novels have gained him worldwide acclaim and numerous awards. In fact, he is the only non-German recipient of the prestigious Police Star award, which was given to him by the Hamburg Police for his Jan Fabel series. Russell's work has been translated into 23 languages and he has a significant following in Germany. He has also made a cameo appearance in a film adaptation of one of his novels.
Russell has received numerous accolades for his work, including the 2015 Crime Book of the Year (McIlvanney Prize) for 'The Ghosts of Altona', and is currently longlisted for the 2017 McIlvanney Prize for 'The Quiet Death of Thomas Quaid', the latest in the Lennox series. He was also a finalist for the 2013 Ellis Peters Historical Dagger and the 2012 Crime Book of the Year (McIlvanney Prize). In addition, he won the 2008 CWA Dagger in the Library for the Fabel series. He was a finalist for the 2007 CWA Duncan Lawrie Golden Dagger and the 2007 SNCF Prix Polar in France. His novel, Biblical, was acquired by Imaginarium Studios/Sonar Entertainment for development as a science-fiction film. The movie rights to his forthcoming novel, THE DEVIL ASPECT, have been acquired by Sony Pictures/Columbia Pictures. The LENNOX series has been acquired by BAFTA award-winning Synchronicity Films for adaptation into a returning TV series.