Owen Matthews was raised on rap music and violent video games. He is a graduate of the University of British Columbia's creative writing program, has worked on fishing boats and in casinos all over the world, and currently writes critically acclaimed crime thrillers under a secret identity. A fan of fast cars and sugary breakfast cereals, Matthews lives in Vancouver, Canada.
Praise for Overreach 'Not merely the first full account of the war in Ukraine, but may set the standard for some time to come ... a remarkable achievement, with Matthews's expert eye like an all-seeing drone, buzzing from one side of the conflict to the other' 5* Telegraph 'A wave of hurriedly written books about the Russo-Ukrainian war is about to crash over our bookshops and overburdened shelves, but it is hard not to feel sorry for most of their authors. Owen Matthews has already come out with what is not only one of the fastest, but also likely to be the best, setting a painfully high benchmark for those who follow.' Times 'The best new book on Russia ... a classic as enduring as Orwell's Homage to Catalonia' Literary Review 'Superb ... a true page-turner' Andrew Roberts, BBC History Praise for Owen Matthews 'Matthews himself seems to contain an essence of a Russia that preceded the turmoils and savage inflictions that he so richly describes in his book.' The Guardian 'This is Robert Harris storytelling territory and is told with equal panache and authenticity. There could be no higher praise.' Daily Mail 'Not only does Owen Matthews write with extraordinary vividness... but his technique is more that of a novelist than a journalist - and a master craftsman at that.' Spectator 'Owen Matthews tells the story with tremendous verve and expertise and a real talent for mise en scene ... Vividly alive ... richly authentic.' William Boyd, New Statesman 'Ben Macintyre and John le Carre fans alike will find themselves very much at home.' The Observer 'There are some authors who have gone out into the world to observe the good, the bad and the ugly. Owen Matthews is such ... fascinating and has fearsome authenticity.' Frederick Forsyth