David Downing was born in London. He and his wife live in Guildford, Surrey. He also writes military novels under the pseudonym 'David Monnery'. He is the creator of:
1. 'Jack McColl', a globe-trotting salesman for a luxury car firm and part-time spy around the time of World War I.
2. 'John Russell', a British journalist working as an amateur spy during World War II.