Once a Spy. (Paperback or Softback)

Just two days after his birth, Matthew Jewel's life takes a tragic turn when he becomes an orphan, following the assassination of his mother by a Russian agent. In a twist of fate, he is swiftly rescued and adopted by an aristocratic military family, who embrace him as a long-lost son.

Matthew's journey leads him from public school to Persham House, Britain's exclusive and top-secret spy academy. His training there paves the way for his induction into British Military Intelligence, where he becomes a formidable secret agent, earning his licence to kill. Over the years, he embarks on numerous undercover missions, adeptly adopting various guises to conceal his true identity.

As his time as a government agent draws to a close, Matthew, together with an old friend, ventures into the world of finance by acquiring an established firm in Dubai in the tumultuous year of 2008. However, as global financial markets collapse, Dubai's ruling family, in a desperate move to deflect blame for their financial blunders, targets westerners in the country. Matthew, along with many other innocent westerners, finds himself wrongfully imprisoned in a third-world Dubai police cell, enduring treatment reminiscent of the detainees in Guantanamo Bay.

Despite his thrilling adventures and professional accomplishments, Matthew continues to grapple with a multitude of personal conflicts and unresolved issues from his past, adding a layer of complexity to his already intriguing life.

The colourful journey of Michael John Wilde mirrors many of the stories within this book. Having experienced a host of adventures and occupations throughout the world, Michael John has now settled in London, where he spends his time writing stories, many of them recounted from and influenced by his own life experiences. His stories resonate and entertain.