Michael Ridpath is a renowned author of financial and crime thriller novels, born in Devon, England, in 1961. He grew up in Yorkshire and attended Millfield School in Somerset before pursuing his higher education at Merton College, Oxford. Ridpath graduated with a First-class honors degree in modern history, which laid the foundation for his successful writing career.
Before becoming a writer, Ridpath spent eight years working for an international bank in London, starting as a credit analyst and later advancing to become a bond trader. He managed one of the junk bond portfolios in Europe at the bank. In 1991, he joined Apax Partners, a venture capital firm. Currently, Ridpath is the Treasurer of the Royal Literary Fund and was formerly the Vice Chair of the Crime Writers Association. He is married to Barbara, an American, and has three children. The family resides in Hampstead, London.
Ridpath's writing career took off after he left the banking industry. He wrote several financial thrillers, which were published in over 30 languages, establishing his reputation as a skilled writer. Later, he began the Magnus Iceland Mystery series, featuring the Icelandic detective Magnus Jonson. The series has been well-received by readers and critics alike.
In addition to the Magnus Iceland Mystery series, Ridpath has written two spy novels set at the beginning of World War II and three stand-alone thrillers, including "Amnesia," "Launch Code," and "The Diplomat's Wife." His latest thriller was published in February 2021. Ridpath currently lives in London and Massachusetts, where he continues to write and publish captivating novels that keep readers on the edge of their seats.