Tributes pour in for ‘sublime’ author Christopher Fowler after death aged 69

Christopher Fowler, author of the Bryant & May detective series, has died at the age of 69 after being diagnosed with cancer three years ago.

His death was announced by his husband Pete, who posted on Fowler’s Twitter account: “Christopher Robert Fowler, 3 score & 10, 1953-2023. His sparkle, joy and humour are gone, but remain in my heart and his work. What a remarkable person we all shared. Goodbye to a beautiful man, a beautiful mind, my partner in crime and soulmate”.

In a statement, Fowler’s publisher Transworld said: “Transworld is heartbroken at the death of the wonderful Christopher Fowler, author of the celebrated Bryant & May detective series plus classic novels such as Roofworld and Spanky, as well as a raft of short stories, who was diagnosed with a rare cancer just as the UK went into lockdown in 2020.

“The flood of tributes, condolences and reminiscences from fellow writers, reviewers and readers across social media is an indicator of just how popular, admired and treasured Chris was. That he died on World Book Day somehow feels appropriate for someone for whom books and reading and writing were his life blood.”

Managing director Larry Finlay remembered him as “a genuinely lovely man” and publisher Bill Scott-Kerr recalled “a lovely man and a wonderful novelist”. Fowler’s long-time editor Simon Taylor said: “I worked with Chris for over 20 years on nearly 25 books and I cannot remember a moment when it wasn’t anything other than an undiluted pleasure.

“And as for his writing—just sublime. I know in his final post on his personal blog, Chris wrote ‘all fun things have to come to an end’. Well, yes and no, because what an extraordinary, rich and fun literary legacy he has left for us all.”

His agent, James Wills of Watson, Little, added: “I am devastated. Chris was brilliant, ingenious and full of joy and so was his writing.” A number of fellow authors also shared tributes on social media. Crime writer Val McDermid wrote on Twitter: “So sorry to hear this. He gave me enormous pleasure over the years, as he did to so many. What a cornucopia of imaginative writing he’s left us.” Author Joanne Harris said: “My dear friend. Gone too soon. Never forgotten.”