Mo Hayder

awards = Edgar Award children = 1

Beatrice Clare Dunkel (born Clare Damaris Bastin; She won an Edgar Award in 2012.

Her novels have sold more than 6.5 million copies, as of 2021.

Early life Born in Epping, Essex on 2 January 1962, Hayder grew up in Loughton as the daughter of John Bastin, an astrophysicist, and Susan Hollins (née Jacobsen), a teacher. She had a younger brother, Richard. She left school and home for London shortly before her 16th birthday. Hayder was educated at The American University and Bath Spa University.

Acting and modelling career As Candy Davis, she won the Miss Nude beauty pageant in 1982 and became a Page 3 model. Her second novel, The Treatment, was a Sunday Times bestseller and won the 2002 WH Smith Thumping Good Read Award.

Her third novel, Tokyo, was published in May 2004 and was another Sunday Times bestseller. Tokyo was published as The Devil of Nanking in the United States in March 2005. Pig Island was her fourth best seller, published in April 2006. Pig Island was nominated for both a Barry Award for Best British crime novel, and a CWA dagger. Her fifth book, Ritual was the first in "The Walking Man" series, and was nominated for CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger award. Skin is the second book in The Walking Man series, and was released in early 2009. Gone, the third book in the series, was released in February 2011. Gone won the Edgar Award for Best Novel. Her novel Hanging Hill was published 2011, Poppet in 2013, and Wolf in 2014.

Her novels were controversial when published. Birdman was seen as violent and disturbing. Her second novel, The Treatment tackled themes of paedophilia. The San Francisco Chronicle called the novel a "disturbing journey into the pedophile mind". A sequel Ritueel followed in 2022, based on The Ritual. A television adaptation of Wolf was made for the BBC in 2023.

Shortly before her death, she completed a new novel, The Book of Sand, a speculative thriller written under the pseudonym Theo Clare, which was published in 2022.

Personal life In 1985, she married actor Gary Olsen. The couple divorced in 1990. She had one daughter. Skin (2009) Gone (2010) Poppet (2013) Wolf (2014)

Stand-alone novels Tokyo (2004), also published as The Devil of Nanking (2010) Pig Island (2006) Hanging Hill (2011) Bonehead (2024)

Writing as Theo Clare The Book of Sand (2022)

Filmography Television Year Title Role Notes 1982 Minder Stripper Episode: "Rembrandt Doesn't Live Here Anymore" 1983 The Benny Hill Show Hill's Angel Comic Strip Presents Janie Episode: "Five Go Mad on Mescalin" 1983–1985 Are You Being Served? Miss Belfridge Regular role; 13 episodes 1983; 1985–1986 The Two Ronnies Various roles 4 episodes 1984 Bottle Boys Deirdre Episode: "Here Comes the Groom" 1984 Cannon and Ball Herself 1 episode

Film Year Title Character Notes 1983 Fanny Hill Girl in bed Uncredited 1985 Underworld Barmaid