Matt Johnson is a highly acclaimed English author, best known for his thriller novels. Prior to his career as a novelist, Johnson served as a soldier from 1975-78 and as a police inspector for Scotland Yard from 1978-1999. His experiences in the military and police force provided him with a wealth of knowledge and insight into the harrowing aftermath of terrorist attacks and other violent crimes.
Johnson's time in the Crime Squad led him to be one of the first responders to a bombing in Regent's Park in 1982, and two years later, he was involved in a high-speed chase to the hospital with an injured officer in the aftermath of a shooting outside the Libyan Embassy near St. James' Square. In 1999, Johnson was nearly killed during the Baltic Exchange Bombing and was diagnosed with PTSD. He was encouraged by his counsellor to write about his experiences as a way to cope with his condition, which ultimately led him to write his debut novel, Wicked Game.
Wicked Game was published by Orenda Books in 2016 and quickly became a bestseller, earning high praise from critics and readers alike. The novel was listed for the Crime Writers Association John Creasey Dagger award and topped the Amazon and WH Smith KOBO charts in several categories. The sequel, Deadly Game, was published in 2017 and tackles the sensitive topic of people trafficking. Johnson's writing has been described as "terse, tense, and vivid" by international best-selling novelist Peter James and "authentic, magnetic, and completely absorbing" by Sir Ranulph Fiennes.
Johnson's journey from the military to policing to publication is unique, and his experience with PTSD has given him a unique perspective that shines through in his writing. He has been an inspiration to fellow sufferers and has been described as "living proof that PTSD is a condition that can be controlled and overcome with the right help and support." In 2018, Johnson was voted at #22 in the WH Smith list of all-time best crime writers, a testament to his talent and the impact of his work.