Edward John Wood was born in Shoreham-by-Sea, England. In 1954, he emigrated to Canada. He worked for the Toronto police force and as a copy writer and creative director for a Toronto advertising company. From 1987 to 1988, he was president of the Crime Writers of Canada. He died in Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico. He is the creator of:
1. 'Reid Bennett', a policeman in Northern Ontario.
2. 'John Locke', a bodyguard and former SAS expert (under the pseudonym 'Jack Barnao').