Eric Wright

Eric Wright (1929–2015) was a Canadian writer of mystery fiction whose work helped establish a distinctly Toronto-centred strain of crime writing. Born in South London, England, he immigrated to Canada in 1951 and later made Toronto both his home and a recurring setting for his fiction.

Before and alongside his novel-writing, Wright taught English literature and wrote for television and magazines. He created four crime-fiction series, most notably the Inspector Charlie Salter novels, and also wrote the Lucy Trimble mysteries. Death on the Rocks follows private investigator Lucy Trimble; the University of Toronto’s archival finding aid records the novel among Wright’s papers, while the Canadian edition was published by Dundurn.

Wright’s debut, The Night the Gods Smiled, received the 1983 John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger from the Crime Writers’ Association and the 1984 Toronto Book Award. Crime Writers of Canada also recognized his sustained contribution to the genre with the Derrick Murdoch Award in 1998 and named him its 2016 Grand Master posthumously. His papers, including drafts, correspondence, and material relating to his fiction and memoir Always Give a Penny to a Blind Man, are held by the University of Toronto.