James Brabazon is a highly respected author, journalist, and documentary filmmaker from the United Kingdom. He has gained significant recognition for his work in conflict situations, particularly during the 2nd Liberian Civil War. Brabazon was the only reporter to film the fighting of the LURD rebel group as they sought to overthrow President Charles Taylor's rule. This experience led him to encounter a South African arms dealer and mercenary named Nick du Toit, who he hired as his personal bodyguard. Brabazon's memoir, "My Friend the Mercenary," is based on his experiences during the civil war in Liberia, the friendship he formed with Nick du Toit, and du Toit's subsequent failed attempt at the Equatorial Guinea coup.
In addition to his work as a journalist and author, Brabazon is an accomplished documentary filmmaker. In 2013, he produced a documentary for HBO that revolves around the story of Tim Hetherington, a professional photographer and close friend of Brabazon. Hetherington was killed in 2011 while covering the Civil War in Libya. The documentary, which is based on Hetherington's life and work, was nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Documentary. Brabazon's first novel, "The Break Line," is the first book in the Max McClean series.