Silvester has also co-written a number of bestselling books with Andrew Rule, based on crime in Melbourne.
Silvester received a Bachelor of Arts in politics and legal studies at La Trobe University in 1978, according to an article in the university's Alumni newsletter, Agora, which also stated that his father, Fred Silvester, was a former Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner, and head of the Australian Bureau of Criminal Intelligence.
In 2007, Silvester won the Graham Perkin Australian Journalist of the Year for his work covering crime and corruption.
Silvester writes "the Naked City", an award-winning weekly crime column in The Saturday Age.
He once fought a draw with former world champion Barry Michael in a charity boxing match.