Phillipa (P.D). Martin
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I live in Melbourne, Australia and developed a passion for crime fiction and story telling at an early age, starting off with Nancy Drew and Famous Five before graduating to Agatha Christie at the tender age of eight.
I wrote my first mystery novella in Grade 5, and then focused more on maths and science in high school. This lead me to a psychology degree, and I also took lots of subjects in criminal law and criminology. At this time I was also singing, and after I finished my Bachelor of Behavioural Sciences, I studied music full time, gigged a bit and started writing songs – rediscovering my love of writing. A couple of years later I completed a postgraduate certificate in creative writing and started writing in earnest. But it was not an easy or fast road to publication!
After writing three unpublished young adult novels, I decided to try my hand at my other early love, crime fiction. The result was Body Count, my first published novel. To date, I have written five novels featuring Aussie FBI profiler Sophie Anderson (check my books page for more information). I’ve also written the sixth Sophie book as an interactive ebook, Coming Home. You can download this novella at Amazon.
Like most crime authors I spend a lot of time researching police (and FBI) procedures, and I’m often checking facts with my pool of experts – a forensic pathologist, a doctor, two profilers and one retired US cop.
I’ve also worked as a corporate writer for over 10 years, for companies such as Genesys Wealth Advisers, AXA, BHP Billiton and Momentum Technologies Group, writing award-winning copy for flyers, brochures, web copy, newsletter articles, etc.
I’m married with one daughter and one son. And just like my leading lady, I enjoy my exercise – except Sophie never hits snooze at 6am and I do!
Crime, Mystery, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Suspense, Thriller & Suspense
The Wanderer (Guardian and Wanderer Trilogy Book 1)
The Wanderer marks a new direction (and pen name) for author PD Martin, whose first five crime fiction novels have been published in 13 countries to date. In the not too distant future … The digger clips the side of the ancient container, cracking it. The banished ones flicker—escape is near. The crack widens and The Wanderer worms its way upwards; into the cables, into cyberspace. The Protector follows, ready to fulfill his duty. The unstoppable chain of events is about to begin. Sasha and Andy have known each other forever, and share everything—including cool email attachments. The latest one, a strange creature, is no exception. However, when Sasha gets sick with symptoms that don’t add up, they wonder if the creature from the email could somehow be involved. It’s creepy … scary … and it seems to control them. In a race against time, they must discover the secret of the strange creature and save themselves and their town from the ancient Wanderer. But there’s more to the creature than meets the eye, and Sasha and Andy will be drawn into a world of the Ancients—the Guardians and Wanderers. The Wanderer intertwines time zones, bringing together a magical mix of the past and future, dipping into the world of sci-fi and techno-fantasy.
Grounded Spirits (ghost story/mystery set in Ireland)
Grounded Spirits is a new offering from author PD Martin, whose first five crime fiction novels have been published in 13 countries to date. A tortured face. A haunted ancient hotel. An obsession to solve the mystery. Grounded Spirits is part ghost story, part mystery and part historical fiction—set in Ireland in both the current day and the 1820s. With a teenage central character, Grounded Spirits will appeal to teen readers as well as adults. Fiona Thomas is sick of trekking after her father on his business trips—but with her options anything but open, she finds herself in Ireland. As usual, she’s thoroughly bored within minutes. But when she comes face to face with what appears to be a haunted painting—and a haunted hotel—her boredom quickly disappears. Captivated by the tortured looking face in the painting, Fiona sets out to solve the mystery. Who owns the face and how did they die? Fiona discovers Ireland of the 1820s—a world where New English landlords rule over the Irish inhabitants. Things get complicated for one local Irish girl, Caitriona O Flaherty, when she falls in love with her da’s landlord. Note: This story is based on a real hotel in Ennis, Ireland, that is rumored to be haunted. The painting described in the story does, indeed, exist—a photograph of the tortured face is included in the book and that face appears on the book's cover.
Hell's Fury (spy thriller) (RB and The Committee Book 1)
Hell's Fury is the first book in a new spy thriller series from PD Martin, whose first five crime thriller novels have been published to international acclaim in 13 countries. "A corker of a heroine with a tale that's worth her time." Crime Factory 13 "A red hot page turning plot with a Bourne Series feel to it that keeps you guessing!" Amazon reviewer She lies in an Afghani prison cell, disowned by the CIA and regularly tortured. Seven months into her prison term, a lone operator stages a daring extraction. But who is Decker, the mysterious man behind her rescue? He claims to represent The Committee, an international group made up of ex-professionals from the CIA, FBI, Interpol, MI5, Scotland Yard, Mossad and ASIS; a private organization that serves and protects where the current intelligence or justice agencies fall short. Decker also claims to know her long-dead father, and brings to the table an offer she can't refuse; "Go on one mission, and I'll tell you about your father's secret life." Her assignment: John Hope. Her orders: kill him. Hell's Fury introduces "RB" and is best described as a spy thriller / espionage novel with a twist...who is giving the orders? It will appeal to fans of action-packed spy fiction like the Bourne series and the TV show Alias.
The Murderers' Club
Six months ago, a case nearly cost Sophie her life. So when a detective friend asks her to visit Arizona, she welcomes the break. But her vacation ends abruptly when bodies are found at a university and she gets pulled into the case. The horrifying methodology—deliberate body positioning, a distinctive red heart scrawled on each victim—indicates to Sophie that a new serial killer has claimed the area. Oddly, though, certain signature elements differ between killings. Fortunately, the FBI database has a record of many of the signatures—but each belongs to a different serial killer. As the bodies continue to appear, Sophie must hone her terrifying skills and suffer the horrors in her head in order to stop this killer.
When Justice Fails (two true-crime shorts)
When Justice Fails is a collection of two Australian true-crime stories from PD Martin, whose first five crime novels have been released in 13 countries to date. Story 1: The justice system gone wrong In 1994, Andrew Mallard was charged with the murder of Perth jeweller Pamela Lawrence. Mallard, a homeless man with mental health issues, was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment, despite bizarre and questionable evidence and problematic police procedures. In 1998, a team of supporters began to investigate his case. What they found was, literally, a mess – questionable forensics, a confession that was never even signed by Mallard, and evidence that was withheld from the defence. After an unsuccessful appeal in 2002 the original verdict was finally overturned in the High Court in late 2005. Mallard was released on 20 February 2006 – a free man after 12 years behind bars. Story 2: Champions of the innocent Imagine being faced with the nightmare of being not only wrongly accused, but then also wrongly convicted. The loneliness and sense of injustice must be overwhelming. It’s times like this you need a champion for your cause. Enter the Innocence Project, a group of people dedicated to freeing the other victims of the criminal justice system – the wrongly convicted.
Fan Mail (FBI crime thriller) (FBI profiler Sophie Anderson #3)
"gripping read..." Herald Sun "best book in the series so far..." The Age "gripping and realistic thriller." Good Reading "...twisted, intriguing and brilliant plot." Sunday Territorian "Martin ratchets up the fear and the tension expertly." Courier Mail "another winner..." New Weekly Getting into a killer's mind is both a blessing and a curse for FBI profiler Sophie Anderson. The agent suffers through brutal premonitions in order to save lives. Now a resident of Los Angeles, Sophie is working on a case where fiction has become fatal. A popular crime writer is sexually mutilated, strangled and marked with an eerie lipstick kiss just like the crime scene in the dead author's last book. As more writers are punished for their dark imaginations, there is a recurring theme a chilling fan letter that arrives before each murder. In order to stop the slaughter, Sophie must delve into the writings of the dead authors. But the sinister mind behind the crimes is determined to create a killer ending. The Sophie Anderson novels are murder mysteries / police procedurals with a thriller focus and lots of forensics and criminal profiling. They have been compared to Criminal Minds, Medium, Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs. Also by PD Martin: Hell's Fury. Ex-CIA agent "RB" has been given a second chance by a shadowy organisation called The Committee. Her assignment: John Hope. Her orders: Kill him.
The Missing - two FBI short stories (Sophie Anderson)
The Missing is two Sophie Anderson short stories - one set before book 1 in the series (Body Count) and one set after Body Count. The first five books in PD Martin's Sophie Anderson series have been released in 13 countries to date, and to international acclaim. Story 1: Sophie Anderson is working in Victoria Police's homicide department when her boss assigns her to a local kidnapping case. Her boss's deal is simple: 'Find my friend's ten-year-old daughter and I'll send you on the FBI course you've been nagging me about.' But Sophie doesn't need incentive to rescue a young girl. She throws herself into the case, racing against the clock to bring the girl home...only too aware of what the perpetrator might be doing to her. Story 2: Sophie Anderson is still a relative newcomer to the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit when her profiling skills are called on for a kidnapping case in DC. Presidential candidate Senator Keen's daughter is missing and Sophie's mission is simple: find her and keep it quiet. But as Sophie investigates the senator and the daughter who's kept out of the public eye, she discovers more than a straight case of kidnapping. The Sophie Anderson novels are murder mysteries / police procedurals that feature forensics and criminal profiling. They have been compared to Criminal Minds, Medium, Patricia Cornwall and Kathy Reichs.
Body Count
Newly relocated from Australia, Sophie Anderson finds success as a profiler for the FBI, until she experiences a series of recurring nightmares of murdered women and believes that she has been experiencing psychic visions linked to those she experienced as a child. Reprint.
The Killing Hands (FBI crime thriller) (FBI profiler Sophie Anderson #4)
ust as Aussie FBI profiler Sophie Anderson is settling into her job in the L.A. bureau, she's pulled into a case that's different from anything she's ever seen; the victim has had his throat ripped out. But what weapon could have caused such devastating injuries? And who is the John Doe? Sophie and her team are dealing with a skilled killer, someone who leaves virtually no forensic evidence. When the team links the body to an Asian criminal organization, things get even more mysterious. The victim has been missing for fifteen years, so where has he been and why has he returned? More important, who wanted him dead? As L.A.'s underworld rears its ugly head, Sophie will have to draw on her experience and her developing psychic skills to find a brilliant killer who's carved a trail of death in organised crime across the US. He leaves only one thing behind him — horrifying murder scenes.
Coming Home (FBI crime thriller) (FBI profiler Sophie Anderson #6)
Coming Home is both a stand-alone novella and book 6 in the Sophie Anderson series. The first five novels have been published to international acclaim in 13 countries. When Aussie FBI profiler Sophie Anderson gets a call at 2am from her parents in Australia, she knows something is up. But nothing can prepare her for the bombshell...a boy has been found murdered in almost the exact circumstances as her brother, his body dumped meters from the original crime scene. With thirty years between the crimes, Sophie flies home to investigate the new murder with the hope of also solving her brother's cold case. However the emotional pressure cranks up a notch when another young boy goes missing. The Sophie Anderson novels are murder mysteries / police procedurals with a thriller focus and lots of forensics and criminal profiling. They have been compared to Criminal Minds, Medium, Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs. OUT NOW: Hell's Fury - book 1 in a new thriller series from PD Martin. Ex-CIA agent "RB" has been given a second chance by a shadowy organisation called The Committee. Her assignment: John Hope. Her orders: Kill him.
Kiss of Death (Sophie Anderson)
A young woman's body is found with puncture marks on her neck, and soon the delicious word vampire is on everyone's lips. All of FBI profiler Sophie Anderson's skills—psychic and psychological—will be needed for her to determine whether this was a thrill kill or something even more sinister. Exploring the blood bars and Goth clubs of L.A., Sophie immerses herself in the seductive culture of self-styled vampires. Posing as the alluring Lady Veronica and infiltrating a notorious clan, Sophie will learn just how deep the fantasy goes for some believers. When life requires death, nothing is sacred.