Paul Gitsham is a British author best known for his DCI Warren Jones crime fiction series, which includes six full-length novels and four novellas. His debut novel, "The Last Straw," introduced readers to the titular detective, a character who emerged after years of Gitsham seeking a protagonist distinct from existing literary figures. The series has since expanded, with the seventh installment slated for release in summer 2021. Gitsham's early creative endeavors included childhood attempts at speculative fiction, including a time-traveling detective story influenced by 1980s pop culture, though his focus later shifted firmly to crime fiction.
Before becoming a published author, Gitsham pursued a diverse career path that included work as a biologist in Manchester and Toronto, followed by roles as a receptionist and a fraud prevention analyst at a UK bank. He later retrained as a science teacher, a profession he continues to practice alongside his writing. Gitsham's academic background includes a PhD, and his transition to serious writing began during a period of underemployment when he participated in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), producing 30,000 words of speculative fiction. Though that project remains unfinished, it marked the beginning of his commitment to writing. His primary school teachers once predicted he might become the next Roald Dahl, though they also noted his persistently poor handwriting—a trait he humorously acknowledges has not improved with time.