Emily Smith has a background in law and journalism, though she "wasn't very successful at either". She started writing for children when her youngest was one. Gradually she got a few poems and short stories published.

In 1996, her first book, THE GOOD MANNERS PRIZE, was published in a reading series. It is about a mother who gets fed up with her children's bad manners (where does she get her ideas from?). Then ASTRID THE AU PAIR FROM OUTER SPACE was published as a Young Corgi in 1999 and won Silver in the Nestle Smarties Book Prize. It is under option for film adaptation. Two years later THE SHRIMP, also a Young Corgi, won the Nestle Smarties Book Prize Gold Award in the 6-8 category.

Her other books for children include ANNIE AND THE ALIENS, PATRICK THE PARTY-HATER, ROBOMUM and JOE VERSUS THE FAIRIES (Young Corgi) and WHAT HOWLS AT THE MOON IN FRILLY KNICKERS? and WHEN MUM THREW OUT THE TELLY (Orchard Books) for older children.

Emily lives in Oxfordshire with her husband and three children.

Bicycles are being stolen all over Oxford and when Jack Young's brand new bike is stolen, he is determined to catch the thief.

But then, another mystery develops - who is writing sinister messages on the walls of the college? Now Jack has two mysteries to solve...