Justin Warren is a New Zealand author known for his atmospheric crime thrillers set in the small coastal town of Westport. Born in Westport in 1976, he began his career as a journalist at the Westport News before transitioning to teaching after graduating from the University of Canterbury with a Commerce degree in 1998. His debut novel, "The Forgotten Lands" (later retitled "Dead Ground"), was self-published in 2017 and longlisted for the Ngaio Marsh Crime Awards. This was followed by "The Lewis Pass" in 2020, which won the Book Award at the 2021 Page Turner Awards, and "The Night Belongs to Her" in 2022.
Warren's writing is deeply influenced by the rugged landscapes and tight-knit communities of New Zealand's West Coast, blending richly layered descriptions with brooding tension. His novels often feature the local newspaper as a recurring element, drawing from his early journalism experience. Inspired by crime writers like Michael Connelly and Raymond Chandler, Warren crafts stories that explore isolation, gossip, and the darker undercurrents of small-town life. He currently resides in Christchurch with his family and is working on his fourth novel.