After a peripatetic childhood in Glasgow, Denise Mina left school at 16 before doing her law degree at Glasgow University. Her first novel, Garnethill, was published in 1998 and won the CWA John Creasey Dagger for Best First Crime Novel.

She has published twelve novels including the Garnethill trilogy, the Paddy Meehan series and the Alex Morrow series. She has been nominated for many prizes including the CWA Gold Dagger and has won the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award twice. In addition to novels, Denise has also written plays and graphic novels including the adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

In 2014, she was inducted into the Crime Writers¿ Association Hall of Fame. She has also presented TV and radio programmes as well as appearing regularly in the media. She lives and works in Glasgow.