[3] Turton was born and raised in Widnes, England and educated at University of Liverpool, where he received a BA (Hons) in English and Philosophy.
He moved to Dubai to become a travel journalist, living there for three years until he returned to London to write his first novel.
[12] Val McDermid selected Turton to appear on her New Blood panel at the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival.
[19] It was Waterstones Thriller of the Month,[20] and selected for Between the Covers, a seven-part book TV programme on BBC Two hosted by Sara Cox.
[23][24] In December 2020 it was announced that Netflix had bought the rights to a seven-part series adaptation of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, produced by BBC Studios-owned House Productions, and to be created and written by Sophie Petzal.