Author Bio
Martin Caldwell
Martin Caldwell is a psychological thriller writer whose work explores the dark intersections of technology, morality, and identity. Born and raised in North London, he grew up fascinated by the ripple effects of modern life — how a single decision, message, or action can spiral far beyond control.
Writing wasn’t a straight path. With dyslexia and autism, Martin found traditional routes into writing closed off, but storytelling became a way to focus and make sense of a restless mind. In his teens and early twenties, he wrote short stories and film scripts, experimenting with character-driven narratives that always leaned into the darker side of human nature. His career led him into education, where he spent years working with learners across different industries. Teaching online security and digital safety became a turning point — the questions his students asked about staying safe online eventually planted the seeds for his first full-length novel.
My Writing Process
Martin approaches writing like building a case file. Every story begins with research: real crime techniques, psychological profiles, news reports, and first-hand location visits. Characters are developed with forensic attention to detail, built to feel complex, flawed, and painfully human. Settings aren’t just invented, they’re walked, photographed, and studied, ensuring each scene feels as vivid and real as the city streets readers already know.
Plotting is extensive, but the process leaves room for characters to take the lead. Each novel is layered with hidden connections and foreshadowing, giving readers the satisfaction of piecing the puzzle together for themselves. The aim is always the same: stories that disturb, intrigue, and feel like they could happen tomorrow.
Debut Novel
The Watching Glass
Martin’s debut novel, The Watching Glass, is a dark exploration of online cruelty, voyeurism, and digital manipulation. A story written to unsettle, it asks readers to confront how easily our own words and clicks can wound and how quickly the line between observer and participant can blur.
It is the first in what Martin intends to be a body of work exploring surveillance, AI, digital identity, and moral distortion, all anchored in grounded, character-driven suspense.
Looking Ahead
While The Watching Glass marks his debut, Martin is already at work on future stories that continue to blur the line between psychological thriller and contemporary realism.
Each book will take readers deeper into the questions that haunt modern life: what happens when we can’t trust our own reflections, our digital identities, or the people watching us from the shadows?
