Martin Stanley was born in Middlesbrough in 1972. He was educated in Teesside and later in Bristol, where he studied graphic design.

He is the author of The Gamblers, a violent crime thriller set in Bristol, and The Hunters, the first in the Stanton brothers series of crime thrillers. The brothers also appear in Martin's short story collection The Greatest Show in Town and the soon-to-be released Bone Breakers. The sequel to The Hunters, The Glasgow Grin, is due to appear later in 2013.

He lives, works and socialises in London.