James Ellson is a British author and former police officer whose writing career draws heavily on his law enforcement background. His debut novel, "The Trail," was published in 2020, followed by its sequel, "Cold Dawn," in 2022. The third installment in the series, "Cold Summer," is slated for release in November 2023. Ellson also writes short stories, earning recognition as runner-up in the 2021 Bay Tales Christmas short story competition for "Roisin's Christmas Party." His work "The Translator" appeared in the 2022 anthology "To Serve, Protect, and Write," a collection by former police officers turned writers.
Before turning to fiction, Ellson spent 15 years as a police officer, serving in London's Metropolitan Police and later as a Detective Inspector at Moss Side in Manchester. His experiences in law enforcement inform his writing, which often explores themes of crime, justice, and human resilience. Outside of writing, Ellson is an avid mountaineer, having climbed Nepal's 6,812-meter Ama Dablam in 2004 and soloed the Matterhorn in 2008. He resides in the Peak District with his wife, where they manage a smallholding featuring bees and an orchard.