Jason Matthews (novelist)
Jason Matthews (1951 – April 28, 2021) was an American author of espionage novels and former CIA officer, best known for the Red Sparrow spy novel trilogy.
Personal life[edit]
Jason was married to Suzanne, also a former officer. [1] He died April 28, 2021 at the age of 69 from corticobasal degeneration.[2]
Career[edit]
Prior to becoming a novelist, Matthews spent 33 years working for the CIA.[3] While in the CIA he was officially a diplomat, in Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean, but his real job was recruiting and then managing foreign agents.[4]
In 2014, his first novel, Red Sparrow (2013), won an Edgar Award for Best First Novel by an American author.[5] Writer and critic Art Taylor praised it in The Washington Post, writing that it "isn't just a fast-paced thriller—it's a first-rate novel as noteworthy for its superior style as for its gripping depiction of a secretive world."[6] It was adapted into a movie of the same name starring Jennifer Lawrence.[7]
In 2015 and 2018, he published Palace of Treason and The Kremlin’s Candidate, which are the sequels to Red Sparrow.
Works[edit]
Red Sparrow trilogy[edit]
- Red Sparrow (2013)
- Palace of Treason (2015)
- The Kremlin's Candidate (2018)
Adaptations[edit]
- Red Sparrow (2018), directed by Francis Lawrence, based on the novel Red Sparrow (2013)
Awards[edit]
- 2014 ITW Thriller Award for Best First Novel, for Red Sparrow[8]
- 2014 Edgar Award for Best First Novel, for Red Sparrow[9]
References[edit]
- ^ My Mom Was A Spy For The CIA, And This Is What She Wore To Work
- ^ "Author of 'Red Sparrow' thrillers, Jason Matthews, dies at 69". USA Today. Associated Press. April 29, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ McGrath, Charles (May 27, 2015). "Shadowing Jason Matthews, an Ex-Spy Whose Cover Identity Is Author". The New York Times. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
- ^ Shadowing Jason Matthews, New York Times.
- ^ "Category List – Best First Novel | Edgars Database". The Edgars. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
- ^ Art Taylor (October 15, 2013). "'Red Sparrow,' a fantastic new spy thriller by former CIA operative Jason Matthews". The Washington Post.
- ^ Kelly, Mary Lousie (March 5, 2018). "'Red Sparrow' Author And Ex-CIA Agent Says New Movie Gets Spy Life Right". NPR. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ "International Thriller Writers – Past Nominees and Winners". thrillerwriters.org. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
- ^ "Category List – Best First Novel | Edgars Database". theedgars.com. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
External links[edit]
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