J.M. SIMPSON

J.M. Simpson was born in Essex, but was raised primarily in the West Country, never far from a rugged coastline, a sandy beach, or harbour. With a degree and PhD, much of Jo’s working career has been spent undertaking research in a variety of subjects; most notably in construction and development where her expertise lies.

Staying in the Welsh town of Tenby some years ago and watching the local lifeboat launch one stormy winter night, gave Jo the beginnings of an idea for a book. She was fascinated with the idea of the crew risking everything they know and love to plunge into a stormy sea to rescue a stranger. She wondered who these people were and what their lives were like. And so, the Castleby series was born.

Jo’s Castleby series; Sea State, Sea Change Sea Shaken, Sea Haven and Sea Rift are suspense thrillers set against the backdrop of the lifeboat crew in a coastal town.  There is a Christmas Special – Christmas in Castleby which was a finalist in the Book Bloggers Novel of the Year award 2025.

Jo lives in Kent, with her two (occasionally stroppy) teenage daughters, her extremely long-suffering husband and her rescue Border Collie Merlin. She also runs a successful research consultancy, but dreams of becoming a full-time writer.

Embla – Bonnier Books have just acquired Jo’s Scottish crime series – Whistlers Peak and the first will be shortly released – The Woman in the Loch, with more books in the series coming soon.

In what little spare time Jo has, she spends writing, walking the dogs, seeking out live music (except difficult jazz), being an armchair movie critic, dreaming of Scotland or the Pembrokeshire coast; drinking endless coffee’s in various local café’s (on the pretence of writing) or drinking copious amounts of wine in her most favourite pub with friends, (where no writing occurs whatsoever).