Kate Griffin was born within the sound of Bow bells, making her a true-born cockney. She has worked as an assistant to an antiques dealer, a journalist for local newspapers and now works for The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. Kitty Peck and the Music Hall Murders, Kate's first book, won the Stylist / Faber crime writing competition. Kate's maternal family lived in Victorian Limehouse and her grandmother told her many stories of life around the docks. She lives in St Albans.