Ray Celestin is a British author who is well-known for his historical mystery novels, as well as his screenplays, short stories, and comic books. He was born in London, England, and has created a successful career as a writer. Celestin's works often fall into the category of crime fiction, and he has gained a significant following due to his captivating storytelling and richly detailed historical settings.
Celestin's debut novel, "The Axeman's Jazz," was published in 2014 and quickly gained popularity. This marked the beginning of his City Blues Quartet series, which has since grown to include "Dead Man's Blues," "The Mobster's Lament," and "Sunset Swing." The series, as a whole, explores the intertwined histories of jazz and the mob throughout the middle fifty years of the twentieth century. Each novel in the quartet stands out for its unique blend of historical detail, engaging characters, and suspenseful plotlines.
In addition to his work as a novelist, Celestin is an experienced scriptwriter for TV and film. His background in scriptwriting has significantly influenced his approach to novel writing, as he utilizes techniques such as location description, character description, and character actions in a sequential manner. This skillset has allowed him to create vivid and engaging narratives that transport readers to the historical settings of his stories.
Celestin's works have received numerous accolades, including the CWA New Blood Dagger for "The Axeman's Jazz" as the best debut crime novel of the year. The second and third books in the series, "Dead Man's Blues" and "The Mobster's Lament," were shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger and the Capital Crime Novel of the Year, respectively. The final novel in the series, "Sunset Swing," won both the CWA Historical Dagger and the Gold Dagger in 2022, solidifying Celestin's reputation as a master of historical crime fiction.