Picture a Yorkshire storyteller who spun tales of murder and mystery, captivating readers with a detective as stubborn as he is charming—meet Roger Silverwood! This Barnsley-born author transformed his knack for storytelling into a celebrated career, crafting over two dozen crime novels centered on the unforgettable Detective Inspector Michael Angel. From humble beginnings to becoming a master of the whodunit, Silverwood’s journey is as intriguing as his plots.
The Making of Roger Silverwood
Born in Barnsley, UK, at the foot of the Pennines, Roger Silverwood lived a life steeped in Yorkshire’s rugged charm. His early years were typical, but his path to writing was anything but ordinary. After studying in Gloucestershire, he served in the National Service and worked as a toy salesman, even peddling the famous ‘Sooty’ xylophone. Later, he dabbled in copywriting and ran an antique jewelry business with his wife, retiring in 1989 to focus on writing. It was a period of personal struggle—bedridden and depressed—that sparked his first novel, Deadly Daffodils, inspired by his wife’s encouragement to pen a whodunit.
Roger Silverwood’s Unforgettable Stories
Silverwood’s signature creation is the Yorkshire Murder Mysteries series, featuring Detective Inspector Michael Angel, a no-nonsense sleuth in the fictional Bromersley, South Yorkshire. Angel, married to Mary and perpetually short on cash, solves crimes through dogged determination and unconventional methods. The series kicks off with The Missing Nurse (2004), where Angel unravels a nurse’s disappearance tied to a decades-old asylum murder. The Murder List (2015) keeps readers guessing with chilling killings marked by cauliflowers and rice. The Lipstick Murders (2016) showcases Angel tackling a glamorous yet deadly case, while Murder on Time (2021) blends time-twisting suspense. Silverwood’s style—witty, unpretentious, and packed with quirky characters—evokes classic British mysteries, earning praise for its solid plotting and humor.
His 29-book series, published by Joffe Books and Robert Hale, balances cozy charm with gripping twists, appealing to fans of Agatha Christie and Colin Dexter. Beyond novels, Silverwood wrote radio plays like The Tollington Ghost, broadcast across English-speaking countries, showcasing his knack for suspenseful dialogue.
Why Roger Silverwood Matters
Roger Silverwood’s impact lies in his ability to craft relatable, flawed heroes like Michael Angel, who resonate with readers seeking authentic, old-school policing tales. His Yorkshire settings, rich with local flavor like Bromersley’s market days and bitter ale, ground his stories in a vivid sense of place. With a fanbase spanning the UK, USA, and Canada, Silverwood’s work offers a comforting yet thrilling escape, blending humor and heart. His transition from antiques to authorship inspires aspiring writers, proving it’s never too late to uncover hidden talents.
- Born: Barnsley, UK
- Key Works: The Missing Nurse, The Murder List, The Lipstick Murders, Murder on Time
- Genre: Crime, Mystery
- Notable: Wrote 29 D.I. Angel novels and radio plays
Ready to crack a case with Detective Angel? Snag The Missing Nurse and dive into Roger Silverwood’s thrilling Yorkshire mysteries!