Alex Barclay author page

Alex Barclay biography

Alex Barclay is an Irish author known for her crime fiction, children’s fantasy, and young adult novels. Born Yve Morris in Bayside, Dublin, in 1974, she studied journalism and French at Dublin City University, graduating in 1996. Her studies included a period at Nanterre University in Paris. Barclay also trained at the Gaiety School of Acting and appeared on television with Podge and Rodge.

Before becoming a full-time writer, Barclay worked in various roles, including as a copywriter and fashion editor for the RTÉ Guide. She also served as features editor and deputy editor of U magazine, Ireland’s top-selling magazine for younger women at the time. Additionally, she worked on the iVenus online publishing project and in advertising and corporate copywriting.

In 2005, Barclay published her debut novel, Darkhouse, featuring NYPD detective Joe Lucchesi. The book became a Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller and was sold to more than ten markets, translated into 18 languages. It was praised for its blend of suspense and emotional depth. The sequel, The Caller, was released in 2007 and also received positive reviews.

In 2008, Barclay introduced a new protagonist, FBI agent Ren Bryce, in Blood Runs Cold. The novel won the Ireland AM Crime Fiction Award at the Irish Book Awards. Barclay continued the Ren Bryce series with several more novels, including Time of Death (2010), Blood Loss (2012), Harm’s Reach (2014), and Killing Ways (2015). The series was noted for its complex characters and intricate plotting.

In 2011, Barclay ventured into children’s fantasy with Curse of Kings, the first book in the planned six-part series The Trials of Oland Born. However, as of 2019, no further titles in the series have been published. In 2020, she released My Heart & Other Breakables: How I Lost My Mom, Found My Dad, and Made Friends with Catastrophe, a young adult novel that explores themes of loss and resilience.

Barclay’s work has been recognized with several awards, including the Ireland AM Crime Fiction Award at the Irish Book Awards for Blood Runs Cold. As of 2019, her crime novels had sold nearly 300,000 copies in the UK and Ireland, according to Nielsen BookScan.