Mark Butterworth - About the Author

I was born in West London, but have lived in Essex since 1978. I built a career in the City of London working in financial services for over 30 years, including as a Lloyd’s underwriter and risk management consultant. Travelling widely on holidays and business, often the two combined, I developed an appreciation of the Far East, Australasia, North America, the Caribbean and Europe. I held a Private Pilot’s Licence for 15 years; as well as buzzing about South East England I had some very memorable flights including from Kai Tak in Hong Kong, over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and around Niagara Falls. I have flown a two-seater Spitfire and made more than 50 parachute jumps. I enjoy running, country walking, gardening, golf and salsa dancing and I have two grown up daughters and a Springer Spaniel called Arthur. All these activities distract from writing but give me creative ideas and story lines.

The Pearl River is my debut novel. I have had two non-fiction (business) books published, both commissioned by the Chartered Insurance Institute as well as numerous business articles and opinion pieces published in journals. Something a touch different, I have had sports match reports published in our local newspapers.

The sequel to The Pearl River –  titled The Berlin Assignment, a Cold War intrigue and thriller set in the early 1950s, was published 28 February 2024.

Next year my modern romance, The Ffryes Affair (a love and intrigue based in Antigua, West Indies) to be published 28 February 2025.