Lived with his family including his first wife, Fay Jacobs, in Israel in the 1960s and 1970s.
Was awarded the Cartier Diamond Dagger award for Lifetime Achievement by the British Crime Writers Association.
Was awarded the Gold Dagger Award three times by the British Crime Writers' Association.
During World War II he served in the Far East as a submariner in the British Royal Navy.
He is survived by his wife, Frances Ullman; two sons from his first marriage, Philip and Nick Davidson; brother Cyril Davidson and sister Minnie Robbins.