R. P. O'Donnell grew up on the South Shore of Boston. He was short and wore a back brace for two years, so he really had no choice but to love reading and writing from a young age. He graduated from Bucknell University with a degree in English. He's had a wide range of job experiences -- garbage collector, A&E admissions, apprentice to a roving yard-sale salesman, barista, camp counsellor, caterer and a call centre employee. He moved to a tiny fishing village in West Cork seven years ago, where he lives with his two children. His debut mystery, also set in a village in West Cork, will be published in 2025.