Mike Ripley

Mike Ripley is a well-known author, renowned for his award-winning "Angel" series of comedy thrillers. He has won the Crime Writers' Association's Last Laugh Award twice, making him one of the few authors to achieve this feat. His writing style has been likened to that of the young Len Deighton, and he is often praised for his vivid depictions of London, which are said to be reminiscent of the city as described by Charles Dickens. Ripley's unique blend of humor and thrills has earned him the title of "England's funniest crime writer" from The Times.

In addition to his work as an author, Ripley is also a respected critic of crime fiction. He has written for a number of prominent publications, including The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, The Times, and The Birmingham Post. His critiques and reviews have helped to shape the discourse around crime fiction, and he has played a significant role in promoting the work of new and emerging writers in the genre. Ripley has co-edited three volumes of "Fresh Blood," a collection of stories by new British writers, which has featured the work of notable authors such as Ian Rankin, Lee Child, Ken Bruen, Charlie Higson, and Christopher Brookmyre.

Prior to his career as a writer and critic, Ripley studied history at university and worked as a journalist and public relations professional. He spent 21 years working for the Brewers Society in London, promoting British beer and pubs. In the midst of his career, Ripley experienced a life-changing event when he suffered a stroke at the age of 50. However, he survived and recovered, going on to write a book about his experiences and serving on the government's Stroke Strategy Committee. He has also worked as a scriptwriter for the BBC series "Lovejoy."

Ripley's work as a writer and critic has continued to evolve and expand over the years. He has produced festival performances with notable crime writers Colin Dexter and Minette Walters, and has devised a Creative Crime Writing course for Cambridge University. He is also the creator of the comedy panel game "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Cluedo," which was performed at the 2016 Crimefest convention in Bristol. Currently, Ripley writes the monthly "Getting Away With Murder" column on www.shotsmag.co.uk and for The Guardian newspaper. He has also served as the series editor of the Ostara Crime and Top Notch Thrillers imprints, rescuing and reviving more than a hundred crime novels and thrillers that he felt deserved to be remembered. Ripley's contributions to the world of crime fiction have been significant and far-reaching, and he continues to be a prominent and respected figure in the genre.