James Swallow

JAMES SWALLOW is a New York Times, Sunday Times and Amazon #1 bestselling author of over fifty books, including the bestselling Marc Dane thrillers. He lives and works in London, UK.

Interviews and Articles

“Not only does James expertly weave Splinter Cell lore into the heart of the novel, he also makes numerous nods to other Tom Clancy properties that a canny reader will delight in discovering. All the while, this story provides a wonderful entry for new readers interested in the Splinter Cell universe and wondering where to start. And that bit with Andriy Kobin? You’ll absolutely love, I guarantee.”
– Ubisoft News

“Near-future, day-after-tomorrow science fiction like this can ring the warning bell for the real world alongside telling a pacy adventure story.”
– Track of Words, Interview with the authors of Day Zero, James Swallow and Josh Reynolds

Author News

Spring 23 Titles Announced! August 23, 2022 - The summer yet come to an end yet we’re already looking forward into Spring 2023. We’ve a sneak peek at the titles coming to bookshops, game stores, and online retailers at the beginning of 2023. These titles are already online and with your favorite FLG or bookshop to pre-order. Head… Read more.

Aconyte Books are coming to audio thanks to RBMedia September 8, 2021 - You’ve been asking for it for a long time now but finally, the wait is over… Aconyte Books are coming to your ears thanks to a new partnership with RBMedia. RBMedia is the largest audiobook producer in the world and their imprint, Recorded Books, has over 40,000 titles narrated by… Read more.

Spring 2022 Title Announcement! August 17, 2021 - We’re back again with a 2022 sneak peek of the titles coming to bookshops, FLGs, and ebooks in the Spring. Over the coming months, we’ll be releasing the amazing covers that you have come to expect from us. So, whether you’re waiting for another story from Viking raided England, an… Read more.

Shut The Front Door… We Won! July 5, 2021 - For those of you not in the know, The International Association of Media Tie-In Writers is the specific organisation for our little corner of the publishing world. Every year they host the Scribe Awards which recognises the accomplishments of the unsung authors in this particular field. On Friday (1 pm PST)… Read more.

The International Association of Media Tie-In Writers Scribe Awards June 8, 2021 - WHOOP WHOOP!!! For those of you not in the know, The International Association of Media Tie-In Writers is the specific organisation for our little corner of the publishing world. Every year they host the Scribe Awards which recognises the accomplishments of the unsung authors in this particular field. Although we’re… Read more.

Ubisoft - Day Zero, the Watch Dogs Legion Prequel Novel

Watch Dog: Legion DAY ZERO. An Interview with Josh Reynolds December 4, 2020 - Today we are taking a look at Watch Dogs: Legion DAY ZERO by James Swallow and Josh Reynolds. We got to sit down with Josh and chat a little with him about writing our very first Ubisoft title. A secretive resistance movement is the last line of defense in this… Read more.

Aconyte Books and UBISOFT® collaborate to publish new game-based novels October 8, 2020 - Aconyte Books has secured a multi-year agreement with Ubisoft® to create brand new novels set in the worlds of some of their most beloved video games. With this agreement, Aconyte will become Ubisoft’s primary publishing partner of novels for adults. In addition to a wide range… Read more.

Watch Dogs: Legion Day Zero Advance Review Copies now available on Netgalley September 25, 2020 - Set in a darkly dystopian London just a few years from now, the game and the novel reveal how the sinister forces vying to control the nation are opposed by a secretive band of hackers and activists known as DedSec. The novel follows one would-be hacker as he witnesses a… Read more.

Reviews

“Well, damn! It was like watching a high-octane, fast-paced action movie. Seriously, wow! I didn’t know what to expect, but it wasn’t that.”

–Instagram Book Tour

“ A fast-paced, action-packed thriller where the characters had dynamic relationships making them relatable and fleshed out made it a novel that was hard to put down at times!”

– Instagram Book Tour

“The book is thrilling and exciting and everything you want out of a special operations book. If these books are the kind you like to read I would definitely read this one. Looking forward to the next one that James Swallow writes.”

– Instagram Book Tour

“Action-packed from start to finish, with great characters developed in true Dane style, I couldn’t finish this book fast enough, and I’m looking forward to a second given the ending.”

– Instagram Book Tour

“Splinter Cell: Firewall was not the book that I was expecting. Instead of playing out like the slow, methodical games, it read more like a big screen adventure, more in line with movies like the Mission Impossible series.”

– Instagram Book Tour

“ This was a fast-paced, action-packed, thrilling ride!! I feel like anyone could pick this book up be fully immersed and hopefully, like myself, want to read all the books in the Splinter Cell universe.”

– Instagram Book Tour

“This was a fast-paced thriller that keeps you on your toes, and I really liked the moral aspect. Should you just follow orders or take time to think about what you believe is right?”

– Instagram Book Tour

“The author’s writing encapsulated the genre, the characters, and Fourth Echelon. I recommend this book to Tom Clancy fans, Splinter Cell fans, and any readers looking for a quality action thriller. I gave Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Firewall five stars.”

–Instagram Book Tour

“Overall I really liked the book. I felt the story was entertaining and continued on from the previous Splinter Cell books. I felt this writing was some of the best in the series.”

– Goodreads

“The story itself was very well written, action packed, and fast paced, which alongside great characters, made it an absolute joy to read.”
– John’s Bookshelf

“This being my first forray into the Splinter Cell books, it was a really enjoyable read, one that brought back some fond memories of the game and made me want to go back and play some of them again. But even if you’ve not got any experience in this franchise, or even gaming in general, there’s a lot to like here.”
– Trans-Scribe

“No spoilers, but the ending was also fantastic, it leaves a wonderful opening for more in this fantastic line as well as potential repercussions from the actions and choices of the characters in the story.”
– What You Tolkien About

“James Swallow knocked it out of the park with another great tie in novel to a fantastic series. As his previous work has shown writing Star Trek, Deus Ex, 24, and other various media tie in’s he has taken the source material very seriously and crafted a story that is a great addition to the Splinter Cell canon. If you are a fan of spy thrillers, action, or a fan of the source material this is a must read. I wouldn’t mind the Splinter Cell universe continuing in this format if it means we get more amazing stories like this one going forward.”
– Inside the Bunker Podcast

“Splinter Cell: Firewall was one of my most awaited books for the upcoming year and even with such high expectations I was mesmerized by the stellar quality of storytelling. It’s everything a top-notch action-packed novel should be.”
– Best Thriller Books

“Watch Dogs Legion: Day Zero is a book for all fans of the game series… the story takes you on a journey between two entangled murder cases, raises endless questions, shows characters of different layers, and drops a huge bombshell at the end.”
– Seven Gamer

“The authors have totally nailed it when it comes to the book’s narrative tone. Explosions, gun battles, chases unfolding at breakneck pace; it’s all good clean fun… a cheeky, cheery Cockney near-future tech thriller that acts as an ideal gateway to the game that is set to follow.”
– The Eloquent Page

“A smart, gripping thriller… but it’s also just a lot of fun, and ultimately proves to be an effective combination of Swallow’s sense for tight plotting and Reynolds’ enviable touch with dialogue and character.”
– Track of Words

“Everything I was hoping it was going to be, and got me very excited to play the game. A brilliant introduction to the new game.”
– Trans-Scribe

“Structurally, it’s masterfully written, explaining the world and painting enough of a picture to let our minds do the rest. The characters feel real, and the plot is relentless with its twists and turns, leaving us satisfied and wanting more. If you’re a Watch Dogs fan, I can’t recommend this book enough.”
– The Media Raptor

“This book is brilliant, let me tell you why… If you’re looking for something that expands the lore of Watch Dogs whilst directly connecting with the start of Watch Dogs Legion then you won’t get better than this.”
– Nutronic Gaming