Joan Lock

Joan Lock is a British author known for her nonfiction works and crime fiction, drawing from her firsthand experience as a former policewoman and nurse. Her debut book, "Lady Policeman," chronicled her six years serving in London's West End during the 1950s, followed by "Reluctant Nightingale," which detailed her earlier nursing career in the Northeast. She has authored nine nonfiction books on policing and crime history, including three volumes on Scotland Yard's First Detectives and the first comprehensive history of British women police. Her expertise in this field established her as a leading authority, leading to contributions in the police press and a role as an advisor for the BBC4 documentary "A Fair Cop: One Hundred Years of Women Police."

Lock's fiction includes the modern crime novel "Death in Perspective" and a series of seven Victorian mysteries featuring Detective Ernest Best, beginning with "Dead Image." Her writing spans multiple genres, from radio plays and documentaries to short stories, often reflecting her deep engagement with historical and procedural accuracy. Residing in London, she has been a regular contributor to the Crime Writers' Association journal and continues to blend her investigative background with compelling storytelling.