Picture an English storyteller who turned the crime genre upside down with wit, heart, and a detective named Manon Bradshaw—meet Susie Steiner! A former Guardian journalist, Steiner swapped newsrooms for novels, crafting stories that blend mystery, family drama, and sharp social commentary. Her untimely death in 2022 left readers craving more, but her four novels remain a testament to her genre-defying brilliance.
The Making of Susie Steiner
Born on June 29, 1971, in London, Susie Steiner grew up in a North London household shaped by her psychoanalyst parents, John and Deborah Steiner. Her love for stories sparked early, devouring classics like Charlotte’s Web and Jane Austen’s novels. Educated at Henrietta Barnett School and later earning an English Literature degree from York University in 1993, Steiner’s path to writing began in journalism. She honed her craft at The Independent, The Times, and The Guardian, where she spent 11 years as a lifestyle features editor, famously spotlighting the 'Keep Calm and Carry On' poster.
Susie Steiner’s Unforgettable Stories
Steiner’s novels are a masterclass in blending literary depth with page-turning suspense. Her debut, Homecoming (2013), explores a Yorkshire farming family’s tangled relationships, inspired by her cottage on the North York Moors. But it’s the Manon Bradshaw trilogy—Missing, Presumed (2016), Persons Unknown (2017), and Remain Silent (2020)—that cemented her fame. These crime thrillers follow DS Manon Bradshaw, a flawed, funny, and fiercely human detective navigating cases and personal chaos in Cambridgeshire. Missing, Presumed, a Richard and Judy Book Club pick, sold 250,000 UK copies by 2022, earning starred reviews for its witty prose and emotional depth. Persons Unknown tackles racial bias in policing, while Remain Silent dives into modern slavery, showcasing Steiner’s knack for weaving social issues into gripping plots.
Steiner’s style is distinct: present-tense narratives, sharp humor, and intimate character insights. She drew inspiration from Kate Atkinson’s Jackson Brodie series, aiming for a 'mashup' of literary elegance and crime novel grip. Her characters’ inner monologues—bouncing from parenting woes to political rants—are as compelling as the mysteries themselves.
Why Susie Steiner Matters
Steiner’s impact lies in her ability to humanize the crime genre. Manon Bradshaw, with her messy life and mordant wit, redefined what a detective could be—not a superhero, but a relatable woman juggling motherhood and murder cases. Despite battling retinitis pigmentosa, which left her legally blind, and a glioblastoma diagnosed in 2019, Steiner wrote with unflinching honesty. Her novels, translated into multiple languages, resonate globally, inspiring readers and writers to embrace stories that are both thrilling and deeply human. Her loss at 51 was a blow, but her work continues to captivate.
- Born: June 29, 1971, London, England
- Key Works: Homecoming, Missing, Presumed, Persons Unknown, Remain Silent
- Awards: Shortlisted for Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year (2017, 2018)
- Died: July 2, 2022
Snag Missing, Presumed and dive into Susie Steiner’s brilliant blend of mystery and heart!