JASON MATTHEWS

According to the short bio on Wikipedia: "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.

Prior to becoming a novelist, Matthews spent 33 years working for the CIA. 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.

In 2014, his first novel, Red Sparrow (2013), won an Edgar Award for Best First Novel by an American Author. 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." It was adapted into a movie of the same name starring Jennifer Lawrence.

Jason was married to Suzanne, also a former officer.  He died April 28, 2021 at age 69 from corticobasal degeneration.