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Melanie McGrath

メラニー・マクグラス

Melanie McGrath

Pen Names: M.J. McGrath（Used for crime novels, notably the Arctic-set trilogy）, Mel McGrath（Used for standalone thrillers）

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
Romford, London, United Kingdom
Nationality
English
Languages
English
Residence History
London → Kent coast → Childhood: Basildon; a village in Germany; Kent; Lancashire; Buckinghamshire

Career

Occupations
Author, Non-fiction writer, Crime novelist, Reviewer and travel writer, Creative writing tutor
Active Years
1996-
Affiliations
Roehampton University (tutor), University of North Carolina (tutor), Arvon Foundation (creative writing)

Education

University of Oxford
Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE)
Country: United Kingdom
Studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE)

Awards

John Llewellyn Rhys Prize
1995
Work: Motel Nirvana
Organization: BookTrust (John Llewellyn Rhys Prize)
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Motel Nirvana

1996 Non-fiction (investigative travel / New Age)

A travelogue investigating the New Age movement across the American Southwest.

New Age movementtravelcultural observation

Hard, Soft and Wet

1998 Non-fiction (Information Age commentary)

Essays examining cultural changes brought by the Information Age and technology.

information agetechnologycultural change

Silvertown

2002 Non-fiction (British social history)

A social history of Silvertown in East London.

social historyurban historylabour

The Long Exile

2006 Non-fiction (High Arctic relocation history)

An examination of the High Arctic relocation policy and its effects.

relocationindigenous communitiesgovernment policy

Hopping

2009 Non-fiction (20th-century British social history)

Explores social changes and everyday life in 20th-century Britain.

social historyeveryday life

Pie & Mash down the Roman Road

2018 Non-fiction (local cultural history)

A look at the history and food culture around the Roman Road in London.

local historyfood culture

White Heat

2011 Crime fiction (Arctic mystery)

First in the Edie Kiglatuk series, an Arctic-set crime novel featuring an Inuit detective.

Arcticcultural clashcrime investigation

The Boy in the Snow

2012 Crime fiction (Arctic mystery)

Second Edie Kiglatuk novel; continues to explore crime and survival in the High Arctic.

survivalcommunityinvestigation

The Bone Seeker

2014 Crime fiction (Arctic mystery)

Final book of the Edie Kiglatuk trilogy, addressing tensions between indigenous communities and outsiders.

indigenous issueshistoryjustice

Give Me the Child

2017 Thriller / Crime fiction

A standalone thriller focusing on family and memory.

familymemorysuspense

The Guilty Party

2019 Thriller / Crime fiction

A standalone crime thriller about guilt and responsibility.

guiltresponsibilityinvestigation

Bibliography

  • Motel Nirvana
  • Hard, Soft and Wet
  • Silvertown
  • The Long Exile
  • Hopping
  • Pie & Mash down the Roman Road
  • White Heat
  • The Boy in the Snow
  • The Bone Seeker
  • Give Me the Child
  • The Guilty Party

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Investigative, reportage-driven non-fictionDetailed social-historical narrativeQuiet, tense crime writing set in the Arctic
Recurring Motifs
movement and relocationcommunity and memoryisolated Arctic landscapessocial marginalization

Legacy

A British writer active in both non-fiction and crime fiction. Known for investigative works on the New Age and information age and for social histories of Britain, she has also gained recognition in crime fiction with the Arctic-set Edie Kiglatuk series. Winner of the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize.

Trivia

  • Uses pen names M.J. McGrath and Mel McGrath.
  • Won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize in 1995 for 'Motel Nirvana'.
  • Moved several times during childhood within the UK and abroad.
  • The Edie Kiglatuk trilogy is set among Inuit communities in the Arctic.