Matthew Lynn
Matthew Lynn | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1962 Exeter, England |
| Occupation(s) | Author, financial journalist, publisher, economist |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Known for | Financial journalism; Death Force thriller series (as James Harland) |
Matthew Lynn (born 1962) is a British author, financial journalist, and publisher. He contributes to The Daily Telegraph, The Spectator, and MoneyWeek, and has previously held columnist roles at The Sunday Times and Bloomberg. Writing thrillers under the pseudonym James Harland, he is known for the Death Force series.
Early life
Born in 1962, Lynn grew up in Exeter and Dublin, receiving his education at Emanuel School, London, followed by studies at Balliol College, Oxford.
Journalism
Lynn’s journalism career commenced at Financial Adviser and Asiaweek in Hong Kong before moving on to Business magazine. From 1991 until 2000, he worked as a business reporter and profile columnist for The Sunday Times. Between 1999 and 2011, he was a regular contributor to Bloomberg News and Bloomberg Television, also writing columns for Sunday Business. Since 2009, he has maintained a weekly column in MoneyWeek. Between 2011 and 2015, Lynn penned the London Eye column for MarketWatch. Presently, he produces business and economic commentary for The Daily Telegraph and frequently contributes to The Spectator.
Economist
Specializing in business and economic analysis, Lynn’s work spans outlets such as Bloomberg News, MoneyWeek, and The Spectator. His early publications include two business-focused books: The Billion-Dollar Battle: Merck v. Glaxo and Birds of Prey: Boeing v. Airbus, which received varied critical feedback.
In 2007, Lynn notably forecasted that Apple Inc.’s iPhone would have a minimal impact on the industry. His book Bust: Greece, the Euro and the Sovereign Debt Crisis (2010) examined financial difficulties in Europe, followed by The Long Depression: The Slump of 2008 to 2031. His economic perspectives have been referenced in academic studies and professional works.
By 2012, Lynn was serving as chief executive of Strategy Economics, a consultancy based in London. His "London Eye" column has been featured weekly in MarketWatch since 2011.
Author
Lynn has written numerous works encompassing both fiction and non-fiction.
His 1991 book, The Billion Dollar Battle, provided an insider’s perspective on the pharmaceutical industry. Similarly, Birds of Prey: Boeing vs Airbus delivered an in-depth examination of the aerospace market.
His first novel, Insecurity, was initially published by Random House UK in 1998 and reissued by Joffe Books in 2025. The financial thriller The Watchmen appeared in 2000 and was also republished in 2025. Under the alias James Harland, he released The Month of the Leopard through Simon & Schuster in 2004; this title was later reissued under his real name.
In 2009, Lynn introduced the commercially successful ‘Death Force’ series with Headline, focusing on mercenary exploits. The series includes titles such as Death Force, Fire Force, Shadow Force, and Ice Force. Praised for its compelling action sequences and commercial appeal, the series drew comparisons from News of the World to authors like Andy McNab and Chris Ryan.
Returning to non-fiction work, Lynn published Bust: Greece, the Euro, and the Sovereign Debt Crisis with Bloomberg Books in 2010, offering an analysis of European economic instability.
Critical reviews noted that while some of his fiction faced scrutiny regarding character development and narrative pacing, they were acknowledged as engaging explorations of high-stakes financial themes. The success of the Death Force series established Lynn firmly within the action-adventure thriller genre, attracting readers interested in military and financial storylines.
Publisher
In 2018, Lynn established Endeavour Media, an independent publishing house based in London, which underwent a rebranding to become Lume Books in 2020.
Controversy
Lynn initially released the opening chapter of his book The Watchmen for free on Motley Fool UK as part of a promotional strategy; however, due to negative feedback from users regarding this atypical marketing tactic, he decided to remove the offer.
Personal life
He is a father to three children.