Justin Richards (14 September 1961 – 28 June 2026) was a British writer of science fiction, fantasy, and adventure fiction. He wrote science fiction and fantasy novels, including series set in Victorian and early 20th-century London, as well as contemporary adventure stories. He was best known for writing numerous spin-off novels, reference books, and audio plays based on the long-running BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who. Richards served as Creative Consultant for the BBC Books range of Doctor Who novels until 2017.
Background
Richards was born in Epping, Essex, on 14 September 1961. After attending Dean Close School in Cheltenham, he obtained a BA (Hons) in English and Theatre at the University of Warwick.
As well as his literary career, Richards worked as a technical writer, editor, programmer, and user interface designer at IBM, and as an errand boy in a hotel.
Richards was married and had two sons, Julian and Chris. He lived in Warwickshire until his death on 28 June 2026, at the age of 64. He had been suffering from early-onset dementia in the years prior to his death.
Work
Richards' first published novels were based on Doctor Who, appearing in the Virgin New Adventures, Virgin Missing Adventures, and Virgin Decalog series. He continued to write for BBC Books after it resumed publishing Doctor Who fiction. As well as producing numerous novels, audiobooks, activity books, and reference books, he served as Creative Consultant for the BBC Books range of Doctor Who novels.
In 2003, Richards began writing a series of crime novels for children (The Invisible Detective), whose parallel plots, set in the 1930s and the present day, reflected a fascination with time and temporal paradox that was also evident in the Time Runners series, published in 2007–08. His more action-oriented books included the Agent Alfie series for younger readers and a series of action-adventure novels for young teenagers co-written with Jack Higgins. Other works incorporated supernatural elements, including the Department of Unclassified Artefacts novels and the School of Night series.
His novel The Chaos Code won the Hull Children's Book Award in 2008. Demon Storm (from the School of Night series) was shortlisted for the Southampton's Favourite Book Award in 2011.
Richards also wrote audio plays for Big Finish Productions, original audiobooks, and television scripts, including for Five's soap opera Family Affairs. In 2011, he ventured into electronic publishing through his own publishing company, Braxiatek. His novel The Skeleton Clock was released digitally later that year.
Set in London in the 1930s, the series recounts the adventures of Arthur (Art) Drake, Jonny Levin, Meg Wallace and Flinch, who invented the "Invisible Detective" Brandon Lake and who investigate all his cases themselves. Each story has a parallel subplot set in the 2000s, where Art's grandson, also named Art, and his friend Sarah have related mysteries to solve.
A series of books set in Victorian London (1886) describing the adventures of Eddie Hopkins, Liz Oldfield, Sir William Protheroe of the British Museum's secret 'Department of Unclassified Artefacts' and his assistant George Archer.
The Death Collector (2006) – the characters meet (after Eddie steals George Archer's wallet) and together uncover an ancient secret.
The Parliament of Blood (2008) – the characters discover the legends of the Book of the Undead and take on the vampire parliament.
The Chamber of Shadows (2010) – the characters investigate the deadly Tick-Tock Killer and discover a link with a thousand-year-old tyrant king deep in a chamber beneath London.
The Suicide Exhibition (2015) – Elizabeth and Eddie appear as secondary characters as the Nazis stir up long-vanished aliens in 1940.
The Blood Red City (2016) – continuing the World War II storyline.
Time Runners series
A series of books which chronicle the adventures of schoolboy Jamie Grant who falls through a time break and becomes a Runner along with the mysterious Anna, with power to control time and a duty to protect it from malign interference by the sinister Darkling Midnight.
A supernatural horror series, described by the publisher as "perfect for readers not yet old enough for Darren Shan".
Demon Storm (2010)
Creeping Terror (2011)
Other novels
The Chaos Code (2007) – Matt Stribling discovers that his father has been searching for an ancient code, rumoured to have brought down the fabled civilisation of Atlantis, which has now fallen into the hands of a madman using high-tech computers to decipher it. Matt and Robin must traverse the globe in their efforts to stop the Chaos Code from being reactivated.
Monster Island (2011) – part of the Heroes series of novels for young boys together with teaching aids published by Heinemann.
The Skeleton Clock (2011) – in an imagined future flooded London, the long-buried head of an immortal is uncovered and attempts to reunite some special chess men, a chess board, and a crucial piece of mechanism (the Skeleton Clock) to return himself to a body.
The Trial of George Litefoot (series 6, episode 4: 2013)
The Wax Princess (series 7, episode 4: 2014)
Higson & Quick (series 8, episode 4: 2014)
The Devil's Dicemen (series 9, episode 2: 2015)
Return of the Nightmare (series 9, episode 4: 2015)
The Museum of Curiosities (series 10, episode 4: 2015)
Jago & Litefoot & Strax: The Haunting (special: 2015)
Masterpiece (series 11, episode 4: 2016)
Picture This (series 12, episode 1: 2016)
Warm Blood (series 12, episode 4: 2016)
Too Much Reality (series 13, episode 4: 2017)
A Command Performance (series 14, episode 4: 2021) (co-written with Julian Richards)
Bernice Summerfield series
Many Happy Returns (anniversary special; with Xanna Eve Chown, Stephen Cole, Paul Cornell, Stephen Fewell, Simon Guerrier, Scott Handcock, Rebecca Levene, Jacqueline Rayner, Miles Richardson, Eddie Robson and Dave Stone)
Counter-Measures series
State of Emergency (series 1, episode 4: 2012)
The Concrete Cage (series 3, episode 2: 2014)
The Diary of River Song series
I Went to a Marvellous Party (series 1, episode 2: 2015)
The Churchill Years series
Living History (series 1, episode 3: 2016)
References
↑James Whittington (11 June 2011). "Justin Richards". Interviews. Kasterborous: Doctor Who News, Opinions, Reviews & PodKast. Archived from the original on 17 June 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
↑"Welcome". The Invisible Detective by Justin Richards. Simon & Schuster (invisible-detective.com). Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2011. [pageneeded]
↑"Welcome". The Parliament of Blood [Justin Richards Parliament of Blood site]. justinrichards.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2007. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
