Sussex Crime Author Matthew J. Evans
I’m an independent crime author from the beautiful city of Chichester, West Sussex. I set my police procedurals right here, using nearly twenty years of policing experience to craft stories full of twists, turns, and authenticity.
To date, I have published six crime mystery and thriller novels in three distinct series. Check out my books here to get started.
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I’m married to Valerie, a charity consultant. We have three grown-up children and two grandchildren. I’m also a carer for my autistic son, Zac, who also has Down’s Syndrome.
I made a radical career change after my son was born—leaving software engineering after twenty years—to join Hampshire Constabulary as a police officer. I served in Hampshire and Sussex as a PC and a special constable for nearly twenty years before retiring to write full-time.
In addition to writing, I’m a folk musician specialising in meditative music. I play a blend of Irish, Scottish, and English tunes, and compose meditative pieces. From the Irish whistles to the melodeon, ukulele and an EWI, my instruments are as diverse as my musical influences, which include folk icons like Cara Dillon and Kate Rusby to gospel bands like Casting Crowns. I’ve also performed live and recorded tunes for others, including most recently on the Prayerscapes albums, playing whistles.
Inspiration Behind My Writing
I’m drawn to suspense and mystery in my reading. Authors like Cara Hunter, Elly Griffiths, Lee Child, Greg Mosse, and Ian Rankin often inspire me, as do the fantastical worlds created by C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Frank Peretti. One book that had a particularly profound effect on me was The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho; I love the beauty of magic realism. With such a mix of influences, my writing—primarily crime fiction—blends the gritty with the ethereal.
My Learning
Every day is a tough learning curve. I wasn’t born a writer; in fact, English was a tough subject for me in school. But I’ve come a long way, honing my craft through trial and error, endless reading, and a handful of writing courses—including an eye-opening Crime Fiction Certificate course at West Dean College with Elly Griffiths and Lesley Thomson. Writing, publishing, marketing—it’s been a journey of continuous growth and discovery.
I took my first steps as a crime fiction author during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. At the time, I was reading a Cara Hunter novel featuring DI Adam Fawley and found myself inspired. With my police experience, I thought I’d try my hand at writing a police procedural novel. It was a steep learning curve. Writing about police procedures can be dry, so I aimed to make it a compelling story—something I would want to read myself.
