Dan Laughey is a crime writer. First and foremost. In-between times, he's a lecturer at Leeds Beckett University where he teaches a course called 'Youth, Crime and Culture' among other things. He has written several books on the subject including Music and Youth Culture, based on his PhD in Sociology at Salford University. He also holds a BA in English from Manchester Metropolitan University and an MA in Communications Studies from the University of Leeds.

Before entering academia he enjoyed a brief career in public relations, became a secondary school teacher, barman, waiter, trader, door-to-door salesman, car park attendant, film extra and convenience-store manager (not necessarily in that order).