Steve Mosby
Alex North | |
|---|---|
| Born | Steve Mosby Leeds, England |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | British |
| Genre | Crime fiction, thriller |
| Notable works | The Whisper Man |
| Notable awards | CWA Dagger in the Library (2012) |
Steve Mosby, known by his pen name Alex North, is a British crime writer from Leeds, England. He published a series of crime novels under his own name before adopting the Alex North pseudonym. As Mosby, he won the Crime Writers' Association Dagger in the Library in 2012.[1]
His first novel as Alex North, The Whisper Man, was published in 2019. It received widespread critical coverage and was shortlisted for the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger in 2020.[2][3] The novel was adapted into the film The Whisper Man, directed by James Ashcroft and starring Robert De Niro, Michelle Monaghan, Adam Scott and Michael Keaton. The film is scheduled for release by Netflix in 2026.
Early life
[edit]Mosby was born in Leeds. He studied philosophy at the University of Leeds. He later worked in the university's sociology department before becoming a full-time writer.[4][5]
Career
[edit]His debut novel, The Third Person, was published in 2003.[6] Mosby initially published crime fiction under his own name. His novels included The 50/50 Killer, Cry for Help, Black Flowers, Dark Room, The Nightmare Place, The Reckoning on Cane Hill and You Can Run.[7]
The 50/50 Killer received a positive review in The Guardian in 2007. The review described Mosby as a skilled thriller writer.[8] The novel was also a finalist for the Barry Award for Best British Crime Novel.[9]
His 2008 novel Cry for Help was also reviewed in The Guardian. The newspaper praised its structure and psychological tension.[10]
In 2012, Mosby won the Crime Writers' Association Dagger in the Library. The award recognises an author's body of work and popularity with library users.[1] A profile published by The Guardian that year noted his success outside the United Kingdom and the critical attention given to his novels.[11]
Alex North
[edit]Mosby began writing as Alex North with The Whisper Man. The novel was published in 2019. It follows a father and son who move to a town where a child disappears in circumstances linked to a convicted serial killer.[12]
The novel received reviews in The Guardian, Kirkus Reviews and Library Journal. Its screen rights were acquired before publication by AGBO, the production company founded by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo.
North followed the novel with The Shadows in 2020. It was published in the United Kingdom as The Shadow Friend. Publishers Weekly described it as a suspenseful and fast-moving thriller.[13]
His third Alex North novel was published in 2023. It was titled The Angel Maker in the United States and The Half Burnt House in the United Kingdom. The Guardian praised North's handling of its complex plot.[14] The novel was also reviewed by Publishers Weekly.[15]
The Man Made of Smoke was published in 2025. It received positive reviews from Publishers Weekly and Bookreporter.[16][17]
Reception
[edit]Mosby's early novels were noted for combining crime plots with psychological horror. Reviews of his later work as Alex North have also discussed supernatural elements, family relationships and the effects of past violence.[8][10][2]
The Whisper Man attracted particularly broad critical coverage. Book Marks recorded reviews from publications including The New York Times Book Review, The Guardian and the New York Journal of Books.[18]
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | The 50/50 Killer | Barry Award for Best British Crime Novel | Finalist[9] |
| 2012 | Body of work | CWA Dagger in the Library | Won[1] |
| 2020 | The Whisper Man | CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger | Shortlisted[3] |
Bibliography
[edit]As Steve Mosby
[edit]As Alex North
[edit]- The Whisper Man (2019)
- The Shadows (2020), published in the United Kingdom as The Shadow Friend
- The Angel Maker (2023), published in the United Kingdom as The Half Burnt House
- The Man Made of Smoke (2025)
Personal life
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "Steve Mosby". Crime Writers' Association. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- 1 2 Wilson, Laura (14 June 2019). "The best recent crime novels". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- 1 2 "The Whisper Man". Crime Writers' Association. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Alex North". Official website. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Alex North". Penguin Books. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- ↑ Montanaro, Lee Ann (27 September 2008). "An intelligent, compelling thriller". Times of Malta. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- ↑ "Alex North". Penguin Books. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- 1 2 Jakeman, Jane (5 May 2007). "The 50/50 Killer by Steve Mosby". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Barry Awards". Deadly Pleasures. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- 1 2 Jakeman, Jane (14 June 2008). "Cry for Help by Steve Mosby". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- ↑ "Steve Mosby, Leeds crime writer, wins national award". The Guardian. 23 August 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- ↑ "The Whisper Man". Kirkus Reviews. 26 May 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- ↑ "The Shadows". Publishers Weekly. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- ↑ Wilson, Laura (21 March 2023). "The best recent crime and thriller writing". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- ↑ "The Angel Maker". Publishers Weekly. 17 November 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- ↑ "The Man Made of Smoke". Publishers Weekly. 13 March 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- ↑ "The Man Made of Smoke". Bookreporter. 16 May 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- ↑ "The Whisper Man". Book Marks. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- ↑ McCann, Mick (23 August 2012). "Watch out - Mosby's carrying a blade". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- ↑ Centorcelli, Kristin (4 December 2017). "Review: You Can Run by Steve Mosby". Criminal Element. Retrieved 15 July 2026.