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The Curious Case of Mike Lynch: The Improbable Life & Death of a Tech Billionaire
'Totally gripping . . . A real-life story that reads like a novel' – Sathnam Sanghera, bestselling author of Empireland
A maverick outsider. An improbable life. An even more improbable death.
Discover the real story of Mike Lynch, Britain’s enigmatic billionaire.
On the morning of 19th August 2024, the Bayesian yacht tragically sank off the coast of Sicily, taking with it the lives of Mike Lynch, his daughter and five others. Hours earlier, Lynch’s associate and co-defendant in one of the biggest fraud cases in Silicon Valley history, Stephen Chamberlain, was hit by a car in Cambridge and killed.
The odds of these two deaths occurring together were estimated at four in one billion.
Drawing on extensive research and exclusive access to key sources, award-winning Times journalist Katie Prescott forensically explores the life and death of this elusive maverick. Prescott guides us from Lynch’s humble beginnings, through his meteoric rise to CEO of Autonomy, and beyond to a vicious legal battle lasting more than a decade following the 2011 sale of Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard for more than £11bn. A truly brilliant feat of investigative reporting, this is a tale where nothing is quite as it appears.
'There is an old saying that most journalists have a bad book in them . . . Katie Prescott isn’t one of them. If this was a film script no one would believe it' – Kamal Ahmed, journalist and author of Life and Times of a Very British Man
'A meticulously researched glimpse into the dark side of tech business in the UK . . . Riveting' – Parmy Olson, bestselling author of Supremacy
A maverick outsider. An improbable life. An even more improbable death.
Discover the real story of Mike Lynch, Britain’s enigmatic billionaire.
On the morning of 19th August 2024, the Bayesian yacht tragically sank off the coast of Sicily, taking with it the lives of Mike Lynch, his daughter and five others. Hours earlier, Lynch’s associate and co-defendant in one of the biggest fraud cases in Silicon Valley history, Stephen Chamberlain, was hit by a car in Cambridge and killed.
The odds of these two deaths occurring together were estimated at four in one billion.
Drawing on extensive research and exclusive access to key sources, award-winning Times journalist Katie Prescott forensically explores the life and death of this elusive maverick. Prescott guides us from Lynch’s humble beginnings, through his meteoric rise to CEO of Autonomy, and beyond to a vicious legal battle lasting more than a decade following the 2011 sale of Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard for more than £11bn. A truly brilliant feat of investigative reporting, this is a tale where nothing is quite as it appears.
'There is an old saying that most journalists have a bad book in them . . . Katie Prescott isn’t one of them. If this was a film script no one would believe it' – Kamal Ahmed, journalist and author of Life and Times of a Very British Man
'A meticulously researched glimpse into the dark side of tech business in the UK . . . Riveting' – Parmy Olson, bestselling author of Supremacy
439 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 13, 2025
251 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 19, 2025
Thank you to LibroFM for the advanced listening copy.
I remember the news story of the billionaire who tragically died on his yacht in the Mediterranean in 2024 in a freak storm and it was really interesting to read about his background.
I hadn't heard of Mike Lynch before reading this which is surprising as he's billed as the British Bill Gates. A highly intelligent and driven man, Lynch launched a number of tech companies in the UK and became very rich on the back of his investments. Autonomy was an early precursor to AI which finally caught the attention of Hewlett Packard in the US who bought it in 2011. However the value was highly inflated and the acquisition was a disaster. HP then brought charges against Lynch and he faced almost certain imprisonment in the US. Incredibly and against the odds he, and his co-defendant in the trial Steve Chamberlain, were found not guilty.
In a cruel twist of shocking coincidence, just three months after their new found freedom in September 2024, Steve Chamberlain was involved in a road accident while out running that led to his death the very same weekend when Mike Lynch, his daughter and five others drowned when Lynch's super yacht Bayesian sank.
I remember the news story of the billionaire who tragically died on his yacht in the Mediterranean in 2024 in a freak storm and it was really interesting to read about his background.
I hadn't heard of Mike Lynch before reading this which is surprising as he's billed as the British Bill Gates. A highly intelligent and driven man, Lynch launched a number of tech companies in the UK and became very rich on the back of his investments. Autonomy was an early precursor to AI which finally caught the attention of Hewlett Packard in the US who bought it in 2011. However the value was highly inflated and the acquisition was a disaster. HP then brought charges against Lynch and he faced almost certain imprisonment in the US. Incredibly and against the odds he, and his co-defendant in the trial Steve Chamberlain, were found not guilty.
In a cruel twist of shocking coincidence, just three months after their new found freedom in September 2024, Steve Chamberlain was involved in a road accident while out running that led to his death the very same weekend when Mike Lynch, his daughter and five others drowned when Lynch's super yacht Bayesian sank.
Review of advance copy
Almost comforting to read about a toxic work culture far worse than you have experienced. Piranhas on display in reception and meeting rooms named after Bond villains is a great start. //
An interesting read for anyone who couldn’t believe that two men involved in the controversy could die within a day of each other. //
An interesting read for anyone who couldn’t believe that two men involved in the controversy could die within a day of each other. //
January 11, 2026
Superb.
Well researched and written in an easily digestible format, this engrossing book clearly explains and examines the life and drivers of an extraordinary character.
Innovator, leader, family man, joker, alleged criminal and far more besides, he had it all.
A cracking and absorbing read. Great stuff.
Well researched and written in an easily digestible format, this engrossing book clearly explains and examines the life and drivers of an extraordinary character.
Innovator, leader, family man, joker, alleged criminal and far more besides, he had it all.
A cracking and absorbing read. Great stuff.
January 9, 2026
I enjoy a factual documentary style especially about business related stories and this book is no exception. It’s well written with a great level of detail and research but it dosent detract from the unbelievable story that unfolds. A great read.
December 22, 2025
Fantastic. Brilliant read hard to put down. Increased my admiration for a brilliant man.
Review of advance copy
An improbable tale that reads like a novel.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews