Campbell was born in Glasgow in 1944 and educated at Sussex University where he obtained a BA degree. Three years after his first novel was published in 1968, he moved to the United States, where he taught creative writing. He lived there for twenty years with his wife and children, and produced twenty novels before moving to Ireland in 1991. He has been in the front rank of modern thriller writers for many years, and his bestselling novels include the highly acclaimed Jig series. His recent heartbreaking memoir, 'All That Really Matters', was also a remarkable success, particularly in Scotland and Ireland, where it was a No 1 bestseller. Following the international success of 'Jig' (1987), many of his books, including 'Brainfire' and 'Asterisk', are once again available in the United Kingdom.

His latest offering, published on 21st May 2001, is tipped as Campbell's finest novel since the unforgettable worldwide bestseller 'Jig'. Set in his native Glasgow, 'The Bad Fire' is lyrical, elegiac, thrilling and full of human insight and relentless suspense, populated by a cast of superbly drawn individuals.