David Young was born near Hull and - after dropping out of a Bristol University science degree - studied Humanities at Bristol Polytechnic. Temporary jobs cleaning ferry toilets and driving a butcher's van were followed by a career in journalism with provincial newspapers, a London news agency, and international radio and TV newsrooms. He now writes in his garden shed and in his spare time supports Hull City AFC.

His first book, Stasi Child, was the winner of the CWA Endeavour Historical Dagger and his second, Stasi Wolf, was longlisted for the Theakston's Crime Novel of the Year Award.