Bestselling Author

Raymond Draper

Raymond Draper (1950 -) was born in Northampton, England. He began his writing journey in 1990 with his first book, Millars, which received much critical acclaim. His subsequent books have all featured the detective duo Thomas & Grey. Starting with Murder in Manfield Road and Doubting Thomas, followed by Grey Matter, Cold Winds in Autumn, Innocents and Wolves, and The Cuckoo Murders, these gripping murder mysteries, set in Northampton, have captivated a growing audience of readers. Raymond has three children and lives in Northampton with his partner Bronwen.

Raymond Draper: Master of Northampton Mysteries

Raymond Draper, born in Northampton, England, began his literary journey in 1990 with his critically acclaimed debut novel Millars. Since then, Draper has captivated readers with his compelling detective series featuring the dynamic duo of Detective Chief Inspector Brian Thomas and Detective Inspector Sheila Grey. Set in the evocative landscape of Northampton, Draper’s murder mysteries skillfully combine fast-paced investigations with richly woven narratives that delve into the darkest recesses of human nature.

From the harrowing search for a missing girl in Innocents and Wolves to the chilling ritualistic murders in Cold Winds in Autumn, each of Draper’s novels promises gripping plots and unexpected twists. The series also includes Murder in Manfield Road, where Thomas and Grey uncover secrets in what seems like a domestic killing, Grey Matter, an intricate tale of crime and conspiracy, and Doubting Thomas, which exposes a sinister world of deceit.

Raymond Draper’s work has garnered a loyal following for its intricate storytelling, relatable characters, and atmospheric settings. Draper lives in Northampton with his partner Bronwen and is the proud father of three children. His books are must-reads for fans of thrilling, character-driven mysteries.

#1 Amazon Best-Seller

Murder In Manfield Road

The body of a young woman is found in Manfield Road Northampton. Her throat has been cut. Enter Chief Inspector Brian Thomas and Detective Inspector Sheila Grey. Together they set out on a relentless pursuit of the killer and unravel a complex web of deceit. Murder In Manfield Road is a fast paced study in major crime investigation.

#1 Amazon Best-Seller

Doubting Thomas

In the cold basement of Tresham’s Triangular Lodge two women are found shot dead.

Who are they and why have they been left in a place noted for its religious symbolism?

DCI Brian Thomas and his assistant DI Sheila Grey embark on a mystery that will test all of their powers.

Set in the old market town of Northampton, England, Doubting Thomas explores the dark motives behind the murders and takes Thomas & grey into the vicious secret world of paedophilia.

#1 Amazon Best-Seller

Grey matter

Grey Matter is the third Thomas & Grey murder mystery. Set in the old market town of Northampton, England Grey Matter features, Chief Inspector Brian Thomas and his assistant Detective Inspector Sheila Grey.

When Dale Haynes accidentally runs over a young woman he is relieved to find that she is uninjured. He tries to help her but has no idea how this chance encounter will send his life hurtling into a maelstrom of accusation and recrimination.

Detective Inspector Sheila Grey is called in to investigate the rape of a young Polish immigrant Ania Gens. but quickly discovers that all is not as it first appears. Soon afterwards Gens is found murdered, hanging from a hook in the meat room of a local convent.

Detective Chief Inspector Brian Thomas is struggling to cope with the twin threats of losing his wife and his job. He has a new boss, Superintendent Malan, a lifelong careerist who has no time for Thomas’ problems and demands instant results.

As Thomas & Grey delve deeper their investigations take them into the seedy underworld of Northampton’s nightclub scene and as the body count rises the pressure is on to find a determined and brutal killer.

#1 Amazon Best-Seller

Cold Winds In Autumn

Detective Chief Inspector Brian Thomas is no stranger to murder and mayhem, having seen the worst of the worst at crime scenes. Even so, his newest case is different. The son of a millionaire investment banker goes missing—and then, two days after his disappearance, a video arrives on the desks of local media that shows the young man’s murder in a highly violent, ritualistic fashion. Thomas thinks the killing may be personal and soon discovers there is no shortage of family members with sound motives for wanting the man dead. Soon, however, another video arrives depicting an apparently unconnected murder by the same chilling method. This is no personal vendetta. Instead, Thomas must go head-to-head with a deranged, merciless killer. In this the fourth novel in the Thomas and Grey detective series, Thomas and Detective Inspector Sheila Grey race against time as they seek to stop a murderer before more lives are lost.

#1 Amazon Best-Seller

Innocents and Wolves

It’s a bright sunny evening in early summer and young Jennifer Stewart is playing happily with her friends on the green outside her house in the Semilong district of Northampton. Squeals and screeches can be heard as they happily chase a football around their homemade pitch, but minutes later there is only numb silence after Jennifer is snatched and driven away in a car.

Detective Chief Inspector Thomas and his Serious Crimes team are stretched to near breaking point when Superintendent Malan demands Thomas releases one of his staff to The Met’s anti terrorist unit. But Thomas would never forgive himself if he didn’t pull out all the stops to save the missing girl; he assigns his best two detectives to the case, Inspector Sheila Grey and Constable Jo Giordano.

It soon becomes clear that the abduction was the work of an organised gang and young Jennifer was not their first victim.

Meanwhile just days after assigning Detective Constable Andrew to The Met, Thomas is called to the scene of a murder in the Grange Park district and is stunned to find the victim is Andrew. He quickly discovers that Andrew had begun an affair with a colleague in The Met and when she too is murdered, Thomas becomes embroiled in a murder investigation that places him and his family in mortal danger.

Can Grey and Giordano save young Jennifer? What is the motive behind the murders of the two police officers? Who is behind them?

In this the fifth Thomas and Grey mystery, the detective duo face a race against time and their most dangerous adversaries yet.