Brighton writer Domenica de Rosa describes leaving romance novels behind, turning to crime and becoming Elly Griffiths. Domenica has now written 32 books under her pseudonym and has become one of the country's best-selling authors. She talks about the road to publication, the inspiration behind her books and the reason why crime writers have more fun. 

Domenica de Rosa was born in London, studied English at King’s College London and worked in publishing before writing her first novel, The Italian Quarter. Three books followed before she turned to crime with The Crossing Places and was advised to get a ‘crime name’. As Elly Griffiths (her grandmother’s name) she is the author of the bestselling Dr Ruth Galloway series, the Brighton Mysteries and four stand-alone crime novels. She won the 2020 Edgar Award for The Stranger Diaries and, in 2016, was awarded the CWA Dagger in The Library. Elly also writes the Justice Jones mystery series for children. In February 2025, Elly launched The Frozen People, the first in a new series about a time-travelling detective. TV and film rights have been sold. Elly lives near Brighton with her archaeologist husband, Andy, and has two grown-up children and a cat.