James Howe McClure was a renowned British author and journalist, born on October 9, 1939, in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was educated in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, attending Scottsville School, Cowan House, and Maritzburg College between 1947 and 1958. McClure initially worked as a commercial photographer with Tom Sharpe before becoming an English teacher at Cowan House in 1959-63. His journalism career began when he joined the Natal Witness as a photographer and crime reporter, leading to his employment by the Natal Mercury and Natal Daily News.
In 1965, McClure moved to Britain with his family, joining the Scottish Daily Mail as a sub-editor. He later worked for the Oxford Mail and The Oxford Times. McClure's first crime novel, The Steam Pig, won the CWA Gold Dagger in 1971, encouraging him to resign as deputy editor in 1974 to write full-time. He is best known for his Kramer and Zondi mysteries set in South Africa, featuring the detective partnership of Afrikaner Lieutenant Tromp Kramer and Bantu Detective Sergeant Mickey Zondi. Apart from his successful crime fiction, McClure also wrote non-fiction works, including 'Spike Island: Portrait of a Police Division (Liverpool)' and 'Copworld: Inside an American Police Force (San Diego)'.
McClure's experiences in South Africa significantly influenced his writing, as he had witnessed the darker side of the country's politics during his time as a crime reporter. This is evident in his Kramer and Zondi series, which subtly brought the reality of apartheid-era South Africa to an international audience. His work as a newspaper editor also demonstrated his independent-mindedness and campaigning spirit. McClure's literary achievements include two CWA Dagger awards and having two of his novels featured in a list of the 100 Best Crime Novels of the 20th century. He passed away on 17 June 2006, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the world of journalism and literature.