Michael Derek Allen was educated at Oundle School, Queens' College, Cambridge, and the University of Bath. He has had a career in education, first as a teacher and then as a university administrator at the University of Bath. In 1996, he retired from education and became a full-time writer and publisher. He now owns a small press, Kingsfield Publications. He is the creator of 'Ben Spence', a Detective Superintendent. He also writes under the pseudonyms 'Michael Bradford' and 'Patrick Read'.