Mark Timlin (born 15 June 1944, in Cheltenham[1]) is a British author best known for his series of novels featuring Nick Sharman, a former Metropolitan Police officer who takes up the profession of private investigator in South London.
The books formed the basis for the TV series Sharman, in which Clive Owen played the eponymous detective; Timlin made a cameo appearance in the pilot episode.
[2] Before commencing his writing career, Timlin worked in a variety of jobs such as being a roadie for rock groups including T Rex and The Who,[2] running a Clapham Junction music venue,[3] minicab driver,[3] and proprietor of a skateboard company.
He has cited influences on his work as including Ed McBain, Raymond Chandler, Ross Macdonald, Richard Stark and John D.
He resigned from the Crime Writers' Association, saying he "would rather stick needles in my eyes" than ever rejoin, and was scornful of comments made by P. D. James, who argued that cosy mysteries presented opportunities to depict moral choices which hardboiled style novels lacked; Timlin claimed "I write about the reality I see on the streets of south London" and insisted that Sharman "has his own morals".
Gun Street Girl, 1990 – Sharman spots a wealthy young woman shoplifting and becomes drawn into sordid drama involving her rich family.
Dead Flowers, 1998 – Sharman is hired by a lottery winner and finds several dubious characters are very interested in his newly acquired riches.
As by Johnny Angelo: Groupies, 1993 Groupies 2, 1994 Champagne Sister, 1995 (Features a character from the Sharman novel Zip Gun Boogie) As by Jim Ballantyne: The Torturer, 1995 As by Holly Delatour (erotica): The Downfall of Danielle, 1993 What Katy Dunn Did, 1994 As by Lee Martin: Gangster's Wives, 2007 The Lipstick Killers, 2009 As by Martin Milk (anagram of 'Mark Timlin'): That Saturday, 1996 As by Tony Williams: Valin's Raiders, 1994 Blue on Blue, 1999