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Matt Johnson - Editorial Expert

Matt Johnson served as a soldier and Metropolitan Police officer for nearly twenty-five years from 1975 until 1999. He is the author of three crime/spy fiction novels Wicked Game (2016), Deadly Game (2017) and End Game (2018) published by Orenda Books. His debut novel was short-listed for the CWA John Creasey Dagger in 2016 and, in 2019, he was listed at No. 22 in the W H Smith reader's list of best-ever crime writers. He is co-chair of Crime Cymru, the welsh crime writers collective and co-chair of Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival, Wales' first international crime writing festival.

Blown off his feet at the London Baltic Exchange bombing in 1992, one of the first police officers on the scene of the 1982 Regent's Park bombing, Matt was also at the Libyan People's Bureau shooting in 1984 where he escorted his mortally wounded friend and colleague, Yvonne Fletcher, to hospital.

Hidden wounds took their toll. In 1999, Matt was discharged from the police with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Whilst undergoing treatment, he was encouraged by his counsellor to write about his career and his experience of murders, shootings and terrorism. One evening, Matt sat at his computer and started to weave these notes into a work of fiction that he described as having a tremendously cathartic effect on his own condition. He has used his detailed knowledge and memory to create what has been described by many readers as a fast-paced, exciting and authentic tale of modern-day policing. Matt is living proof that PTSD is a condition that can be controlled and overcome with the right help and support. He has been described by many fans as an inspiration to fellow sufferers.

A keen biker, Matt rides a '99 Harley Davidson Fatboy and is patron to the UK based ‘Forces On line' charity. In his spare time, Matt keeps honey bees and produces his own honey. He scuba dives, plays guitar, collects unusual hats and enjoys hill-walking with his dogs at his home in Wales near the Brecon Beacons.

More information, including book tour dates and festival appearances at www.mattjohnsonauthor.com

Matt is represented by James Wills at Watson-Little Literary Agents in London. Twitter @Matt_Johnson_UK.

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Latest Features By Matt Johnson

From the Front Line to the Officer's Mess -20 of the Best Military Memoirs

Tales from the Thin Blue Line - 20 of the Best Policing Memoirs

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Latest Reviews By Matt Johnson

With one caveat (in the case of Red Verdict) the greatest strength in Comey’s novels is their authenticity. The author writes convincingly about prosecutors, investigators, intelligence agencies and the complex interplay between law, politics and national security. The procedural details feel grounded in real-world experience without becoming overly technical. Readers who enjoy legal thrillers will appreciate the insight into how major investigations in the United States unfold and how evidence is gathered, challenged and presented. The plot revolves around a high-stakes case with geopolitical implications, giving the story a broader scope than a conventional courtroom drama. Comey effectively ... View Full Review

The Nazi Ghost Train by Greg Lewis is a gripping work of narrative history that reads with the pace and tension of a thriller while remaining firmly grounded in research and personal accounts. Greg Lewis really does excel when it comes to weaving multiple personal stories into a coherent and compelling narrative. Characters that include resistance fighters, stranded airmen and others are vividly brought to life, while the sinister presence of a double agent adds a chilling counterpoint. The result is a story that balances heroism and betrayal, illustrating both the bravery and the moral complexity of wartime Europe. The ... View Full Review

Drawing on interviews with key decision-makers and participants, many speaking publicly for the first time, Tim Martin weaves together a tapestry of narratives from a range of sources including diplomats, aid workers, police officers, corrections experts and interpreters. These voices highlight not only the logistical and strategic challenges of the mission, but also the profound emotional toll it took on individuals committed to fostering peace and rebuilding shattered communities. One of the book’s greatest strengths is the author’s honesty about the contradictions inherent in the effort. While Canada sought to plant seeds of democracy, build schools, ... View Full Review

Further by Billy Billingham is an unflinching, absorbing continuation of the former SAS sergeant-major’s life story, offering readers a deeper look into the mindset, discipline, and resilience that shaped one of the UK’s best known special forces operatives. Clarity and directness make the book both gripping and accessible, balancing high-stakes action with thoughtful reflection. Further does not romanticise hardship or heroism; instead, the authors presents Billingham’s experience around the world leading elite teams or navigating personal challenges, with honesty and humility. His stories carry weight, not because they are dramatic, but because they are ... View Full Review

What could easily have become a dry technical manual instead soars as a vivid, human story, one that balances the precision of engineering with the warmth of personal reflection. The author writes with a wonderfully self-deprecating humour that makes the book both accessible and endearing. Whether he’s describing conversations about the ‘object in the garden’ with a visitor or his family, if he’s musing over the moment a carefully machined part doesn’t quite fit or recalling his own mechanical missteps, he never takes himself too seriously. This humility is refreshing, especially in ... View Full Review

The Pilgrim opens with Colin Maclachlan describing his deeply troubled childhood marked by abuse – physical, mental, and sexual – and how, at just fifteen years old, he appeared headed for institutional care. But with thanks to professional interventions, he escapes that apparent inevitability and is granted special permission to join the British Army. The Pilgrim delivers a raw, emotionally charged memoir that stands apart from the usual genre of military autobiography. While many special forces memoirs focus on operations, tactics, and derring-do, Maclachlan’s book digs deeper, into trauma, survival, and the fragile humanity behind the elite soldier&... View Full Review

For the Love of Trains is an easy read that Routledge weaves together memoir, history and reflection. As the son of a railwayman, Routledge brings enthusiasm and warmth to a book that doesn’t stop at reminiscence. The author traces the evolution of our railways from the Victorian mania, through the golden age of steam, wartime disruption, and onto the more modern, controversial developments like HS1 and HS2. The book is styled as an 'ode' to trains: loving, celebratory, and unashamedly so. The tone is affectionate rather than clinical; the author shares his wonder and his regrets, and is ... View Full Review

Back from the Dead opens with an engaging and traumatic first-person account of the moment one of the London underground railway bombers triggered a device from a seat adjacent to that occupied by a man who, by a miracle of chance and determination, would live to tell the tale. Dan Biddle, a former project manager, describes in vivid detail the chaos, pain, and confusion of the aftermath. The writing is raw and direct, allowing readers to feel the weight of the experience without sensationalism. His injuries were catastrophic, losing both legs, an eye, and enduring psychological trauma, but his story ... View Full Review

FDR (Franklin D Roosevelt) Drive is a highway that runs along the east side of Manhattan in New York City. It serves as a major transportation artery for New York City, offering motorists excellent views of the East River. It’s also an excellent title and a perfect location for James Comey’s latest thriller. FDR Drive draws, once again, on Comey’s extensive legal and law enforcement background, enabling his to craft a compelling narrative that blends sharp procedural detail with human vulnerability and a moral complexity that is as relevant to the UK as it ... View Full Review

Hubris: The Tragedy of War in the Twentieth Century is a deeply analytical and thought-provoking exploration of how naive self-belief, coupled at times with sheer arrogance, has shaped military and political decision-making in the last century. The author is a renowned historian with a keen eye for ideological and strategic nuance who traces a consistent thread of hubris - excessive pride or self-confidence - from the First World War through to the Cold War, highlighting how leaders on all sides succumbed to self-deception, misjudged their adversaries, and overestimated their personal capabilities. What makes Hubris stand out is the author’... View Full Review

In Eagle Days, aviation historian Dr. Victoria Taylor offers a compelling re-examination of the Luftwaffe’s role during the Battle of Britain, shifting the narrative from the traditional British perspective to a nuanced exploration of the German airmen's experiences. Drawing from an array of primary sources – including personal letters, diaries, combat reports, and contemporary German newspapers – Taylor reconstructs and reveals the mindset, morale, and operational challenges faced by the Luftwaffe in the summer of 1940. From the moment I turned the first page of this lovely book, I realised I was in for a treat. Taylor's meticulous research ... View Full Review

In this fascinating read, former bank-robber Lee Wenham recounts his upbringing a part of a notorious Gypsy family, where crime was a way of life. The narrative is candid and often darkly humorous, detailing his early forays into crime, the disasters and cost, and eventually how this led to the meticulous planning of the Dome raid. The heist itself, involving a JCB digger, nail guns, and a speedboat getaway, reads like a Hollywood script, yet it's all, mostly, true. The book doesn't shy away from the consequences, chronicling the police sting operation that led to Wenham's arrest and subsequent imprisonment. ... View Full Review

Matt Johnson - Editorial Expert

Latest Features By Matt Johnson

Latest Reviews By Matt Johnson

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