Liam McIlvanney is a highly respected author, known for his bestselling Conway Trilogy and the Duncan McCormack series. Born in Kilmarnock, Ayshire, McIlvanney attended Oxford and Glasgow Universities, pursuing a deep interest in literature. His father, William McIlvanney, is also a well-regarded novelist, famous for his acclaimed DI Jack Laidlaw series.
After more than a decade of teaching Scottish and Irish literature at the University of Aberdeen, McIlvanney relocated to New Zealand to continue his career at the University of Otago. As a Stuart Professor of Scottish Studies, he currently lectures on various subjects including Scottish literature, culture, history, and the connections between Irish and Scottish literary scenes. His expertise in these areas has been recognized with a Saltire Award for his first book, Burns the Radical, which he received in 2002.
McIlvanney's foray into fiction began with a fortuitous encounter with a Faber and Faber editor, which led to the publication of his debut novel, All the Colours of the Town, in 2009. His second thriller, Where the Dead Men Go, marked the return of journalist Gerry Conway and earned McIlvanney the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel in 2014. In addition to his fiction, McIlvanney has contributed reviews and criticism to esteemed publications such as The London Review of Books, The Guardian, and others. He currently resides in Dunedin, New Zealand with his wife and three children.