Picture a British storyteller who spins tales of gritty detectives and treasure-hunting rogues—meet Jack Gatland! Known to the world as the pen name of Tony Lee, this #1 New York Times bestselling author has thrilled readers with his knack for crafting suspenseful crime novels and action-packed adventures. With a career spanning comics, TV, and novels, Gatland’s stories pulse with intrigue and heart.
Born in West London in 1970, Tony Lee adopted the Jack Gatland pseudonym in 2020 to dive into the world of procedural crime thrillers. His versatility and passion for storytelling have made him a beloved figure in mystery and adventure fiction, with millions of pages read on Kindle Unlimited.
The Making of Jack Gatland
Tony Lee’s journey to becoming Jack Gatland began in West London, where a love for storytelling took root early. A self-professed comics geek, Lee started writing game reviews at 16 before a health setback at 20—partial paralysis—pushed him to write radio comedy sketches. This pivot launched a 35-year career across comics, TV, and novels, working on franchises like *Doctor Who* and *X-Men*. In 2020, inspired by unproduced TV crime scripts, Lee created Jack Gatland, a pseudonym that let him reimagine those stories as gripping novels.
Jack Gatland’s Unforgettable Stories
As Jack Gatland, Lee has penned over 30 novels, with his *Detective Inspector Declan Walsh* series leading the charge. Kicking off with *Letter from the Dead* (2020), the series follows Walsh, a sharp detective navigating cold cases and political intrigue in London’s Last Chance Saloon unit. Readers rave about its twists and page-turning pace, with titles like *Murder of Angels* and *Whisper for the Reaper* earning thousands of five-star reviews.
Gatland’s *Damian Lucas* series, starting with *The Lionheart Curse* (2021), blends action and history, following a modern Robin Hood on treasure hunts tied to Shakespeare and Richard III. Fans of *National Treasure* love its high-stakes adventure. Lee’s style—tight prose, flawed heroes, and intricate plots—keeps readers hooked, while his ability to weave real-world history into fiction adds depth. His standalone thriller *The Boardroom* (2023) showcases his range, blending corporate drama with claustrophobic suspense.
Writing as Gatland, Lee balances gritty realism with cinematic flair, drawing from his comics and TV background. His characters, like Walsh and Lucas, feel like old friends, their struggles and triumphs resonating long after the final page.
Why Jack Gatland Matters
Jack Gatland’s impact lies in his ability to breathe new life into crime and adventure genres. With over 225 million Kindle Unlimited page views and a global fanbase, Lee has made Gatland a household name for mystery lovers. His work inspires aspiring writers, showing how reinvention—through a pen name—can spark creative freedom. As a member of the Crime Writers’ Association and a speaker at literary events, Lee’s influence extends beyond the page, encouraging reluctant readers through his *Change the Channel* school tours.
- Born: 1970, West London
- Key Works: *Letter from the Dead*, *The Lionheart Curse*, *The Boardroom*
- Awards: Multiple New York Times Bestseller listings
- Fun Fact: Lee was given Freedom of the City of London in 2023!
Ready for a thrilling ride? Snag *Letter from the Dead* and dive into Jack Gatland’s world of mystery and mayhem!