James Barrington is a renowned author, known for his captivating thriller novels. Barrington is actually a pen name used by the author, whose real name is Peter Stuart Smith. He is a prolific writer, having authored the Agent Paul Richter series and the Eddie Dawson series, among others.
Beyond his work as James Barrington, Smith has also written using various pseudonyms such as James Becker, Max Adams, Jack Steel, and Tom Kasey. This versatile author has a diverse range of interests and expertise, which is reflected in his writing. His extensive background in military aviation and espionage has significantly contributed to the authenticity and intrigue of his thriller novels.
James Barrington was born in Cambridge and had a varied career path before becoming an author. He worked in a series of unusual jobs, including in a supermarket, a petrol station, a hospital porter, and even in a mortuary. His life took a significant turn when he joined the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm as a helicopter pilot. However, his flying career was cut short due to a detached retina, which led him to transfer to Air Traffic Control. After leaving the service, he moved to Andorra, where he began his writing career in earnest.
Barrington’s journey to becoming a successful author was not without its challenges. He faced numerous rejections before one literary agent agreed to represent him in 2003. The following year, Macmillan published his first ‘Paul Richter’ thriller. Since then, he has published almost 40 books under various names and in multiple languages. Despite his success, he continues to use pseudonyms, attributing it to his real name being “dull and boring.” Today, he lives in Andorra, where he continues to write and draw on his rich life experiences to create engaging and thrilling stories.