Howard Halstead is a British writer of crime fiction. His crime writing career began with the publication of "Limelight" in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine's renowned "Department of First Stories". He has had further success with crime short stories, the latest of which appears in The Mammoth Book of the Adventures of Moriarty.

Under the name Howard Watson he is also a successful writer of nonfiction.

Nine of his books have been published internationally, and he has contributed articles

to a wide variety of newspapers and magazines.