CHRISTOPHER J. YATES was born and raised in Kent and studied law at Oxford University before working as a puzzle editor in London. He now lives in New York City. He is the author of mystery/psychological thrillers Black Chalk and Grist Mill Road. He represented the United Kingdom at the World Puzzle Championships in Utrecht, 1996, and has compiled and edited puzzles for many publications, including Take a Break and Closer magazines, and the Daily Express and New York Post newspapers.