Catherine Aird is the author of twenty-odd crime novels and story collections, most of which feature Detective Chief Inspector C. D. Sloan. She holds an honorary M. A. from the University of Kent and was made an M.B.E. Her more recent works include Chapter and Hearse (St Martin's Minotaur, 2004) and Amendment of Life (St. Martin's Minotaur, 2003). She lives in England.