Chris Simms

Chris Simms is a British author of crime novels. He was educated at Christ's Hospital school, Horsham before graduated from Newcastle University and then travelling around the world. He then moved to Manchester in 1994 where he began writing. He is married with four children and lives in Stockport and as well as being the author of a number of works he is also a freelance copywriter.

Awards and acknowledgements

Speaking in the Literary Review, Jessica Mann said Simms was one to watch after his debut novel.

His second novel Pecking Order was selected as a Best British Crime Novel by Deadly Pleasures magazine.

Killing the Beasts was named Best Crime Book for 2005 by Shots magazine.

In 2007, Simms was selected as a 'Waterstone's Author for the Future'.

Savage Moon was shortlisted for the 2009 Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award

Manchester Confidential described Simms' writing as 'thoughtful and exciting crime fiction at its best'.

He has also been described as "one of the best of the new generation" by The Guardian.

In 2026, Simms was awarded the Red Herring Award from the Crime Writers' Association. as 'an atmospheric, psychologically astute and emotionally literate study of the nature of predator and prey' and was shortlisted for the Theakston's Crime Novel of the Year.

Hell's Fire

Next in the series is Hell's Fire (2008), a thriller that looks at the role of religion in modern-day society. In it, Jon is charged with unravelling who is behind a spate of arson attacks on churches around Manchester. A city landmark that plays a part in the novel is the recently renovated Gorton Monastery. "...a persuasive, original plot... Next release is The Edge (2009). According to The Bookseller it is 'reputed to be his most powerful and personal novel yet'. The story follows Jon on a lonely quest to discover who murdered his younger brother and then dumped the dismembered body on top of a hill in the nearby Peak District National Park. The latest release in the DI Spicer series is Cut Adrift(2010). The story traces Jon's marital troubles interwoven with people trafficking, murder and the threat of international terrorism.