Picture a British storyteller who swapped the bustling world of TV drama for the gritty, pulse-pounding realm of crime fiction—meet Susan Wilkins! Born in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, this bestselling author has captivated readers with her addictive thrillers, weaving complex female protagonists and tension-soaked narratives that keep you up past midnight. From creating the pioneering BBC detective drama South of the Border to penning the acclaimed Kaz Phelps trilogy, Wilkins has carved a unique path in the crime genre, blending psychological depth with breakneck pacing.
With a knack for crafting stories that explore how ordinary people tumble into the dark side of the law, Wilkins’s work is as thrilling as it is thought-provoking. Her journey from television scriptwriter to novelist is a testament to her storytelling prowess, and her books are a must-read for anyone craving a gripping crime saga.
The Making of Susan Wilkins
Susan Wilkins grew up in Essex, where the colorful characters and vibrant language of her hometown later inspired her fiction. After earning a degree in Law, she briefly dabbled in journalism before being lured into the fast-paced world of television. For 25 years, she wrote scripts for iconic British shows like Casualty, Coronation Street, and EastEnders, amassing over 130 broadcast credits. Her creation, South of the Border, a London-based detective drama, ran for two BBC series and showcased her talent for crafting compelling crime stories. This rich TV background became the perfect training ground for her transition to novels, where she could dive deeper into character-driven narratives.
Susan Wilkins’s Unforgettable Stories
Wilkins burst onto the crime fiction scene in 2014 with The Informant, the first book in her Kaz Phelps trilogy. This gritty series follows Kaz Phelps, a former teen tearaway trying to escape her Essex gangster family’s violent legacy. Packed with suspense and raw emotion, the trilogy (The Informant, The Mourner, and The Killer) showcases Wilkins’s ability to craft strong, flawed female leads who fight back against impossible odds. Readers love Kaz’s resilience and the trilogy’s exploration of loyalty, betrayal, and redemption.
Beyond Kaz, Wilkins introduced Detective Jo Boden in It Should Have Been Me (2019), a series delving into personal trauma and police corruption. Her Detective Megan Thomas series, starting with Buried Deep (2020), brings Devon’s coastal landscapes to life as Megan battles vicious killers and her own past. Wilkins’s style is cinematic, blending psychological insight with fast-paced plots. Her fascination with social inequality and human psychology shines through, making her stories resonate with fans of authors like Paula Hawkins and Lisa Jewell.
With 16 published novels, including standalones like You Left Me (2023), Wilkins keeps readers hooked with twisty, character-driven thrillers. Her settings—whether the murky Thames or sleepy Devon harbors—add a vivid backdrop to her tales of crime and survival.
Why Susan Wilkins Matters
Susan Wilkins has redefined crime fiction by centering complex women who navigate moral gray areas with grit and heart. Her shift from TV to novels brought a fresh voice to the genre, blending the immediacy of screenwriting with the depth of literary storytelling. Her focus on female detectives and protagonists challenges stereotypes, offering readers empowering, relatable characters. Wilkins’s exploration of social issues, like inequality and corruption, adds a layer of relevance that elevates her work beyond mere entertainment.
Now settled in Devon, where she walks by the sea daily, Wilkins continues to write stories that grip and inspire. Her influence is felt in the growing demand for character-driven crime thrillers, and her loyal fanbase eagerly awaits each new release.
- Born: Southend-on-Sea, Essex, UK
- Key Works: Kaz Phelps trilogy, Detective Jo Boden series, Detective Megan Thomas series
- Notable TV Credit: Created South of the Border (BBC)
Snag The Informant or Buried Deep and dive into Susan Wilkins’s thrilling world of crime and redemption! You won’t put it down until the last page.