John Rickards (born 7 January 1978 in Barnet, North London, England) is a British crime writer who signed with Penguin Books at the age of 24. Life Before becoming a novelist, Rickards worked as a freelance journalist in the shipping industry on a succession of magazines and news publications, often in an editorial role. He graduated from Cardiff University with a degree in Environmental Engineering, although he has never worked in the field. He lives in Eastbourne, Sussex with his partner and son. He also writes under the pseudonym SEAN CREGAN. His novels feature an ex-FBI agent named Alex Rourke. Publications Alex Rourke books Winter's End (2004) The Touch of Ghosts(2005) The Darkness Inside (2007) Anthologies Dublin Noir (the short story "Wish", 2006) Fuck Noir (the short story "Twenty Dollar Future") References External links Interview on Penguin site Interview at GreatWriting.co.uk English crime fiction writers English mystery writers Alumni of Cardiff University 1978 births Living people People from Chipping Barnet People from Eastbourne English male novelists