Matthew Palmer Books In Order

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

About Matthew Palmer
The American author of thriller and suspense novels Matthew Palmer is a notable household name, largely due to his high degree of authenticity. With a background serving on behalf of the United States government, he definitely knows what he’s talking about when it comes to his subject matter. Dealing with foreign affairs, his books take place on an international scale, as he deals with stories that take place across multiple borders. Balancing numerous narratives well, he knows how to manage both story and character, whilst also bring the reader directly into the action.

Operating as a diplomat all over the world, Palmer really does have a wide scope when it comes to his subject matter. Drawing from a vast wealth of knowledge, his work has a genuine authentic approach that really does speak to the reader in a way that resonates. Using his experiences to directly influence his work, no expense has been spared when it comes to realism within his stories. A key player during many notable conflicts, he ensured diplomacy on more than one occasion, from Kosovo to Sarajevo, something which can also be seen reflected in his work.

Speaking the language, not just figuratively, but literally as well, he’s fluent in Serbo-Croatian, getting an insight quite unlike any other. Often working on behalf of the American Embassy in a number of different countries, he was privy to some sensitive information from behind-the-scenes. This all makes for extremely compelling writing that really gets to the heart of some of the fundamental questions on power. With a lot more to come too, he’s got plenty more novels planned for release on the horizon, as he isn’t stopping anytime soon.

Early and Personal Life:
Born in America, Matthew Palmer was always involved in US diplomacy abroad from early on, something which would heavily come to define his career. Working as a twenty-five year veteran for the US Foreign Service, he was posted overseas in numerous different countries and posts. This included Kosovo during the end of the 1999 conflict there, along with the American Embassy in Belgrade, with the Bosnian war taking place.

All of this would see him taking his experiences down, and later putting it back into his work as a novelist and writer. Documenting what he saw, he’d fictionalize it, whilst giving readers a clear idea of what actually happened when he was there. Helping to secure the ‘April 19 Agreement’ in Bosnia, he was also a key player in many cases, something which he continues to write about to this day.

Writing Career:
Bringing out his first book back in 2014, Matthew Palmer would release ‘The American Mission’, which would be his debut political thriller. Using a lot of his own experiences, Palmer would take inspiration from his life, putting it into his work, creating a high-level of authenticity. Following up his first novel just one year later in 2015, he’d release another stand-alone, this time titled ‘Secrets of the State’.

It was in 2016 though, that he would release ‘The Wolf of Sarajevo’, and this would take heavily from his own time spent serving in the country. Later he would also release ‘Enemy of the Good’ in 2017, which would look at the career of a Foreign Service officer. Knowing how to craft suspense and tension with expert precision, he’s become one of the leading figures in his field, and will write for a long time yet.

The Wolf of Sarajevo
Published through the ‘G.P. Putnam’s Sons’ publishing label, this would initially come out on the 24th of May in 2016. Working entirely as a stand-alone, it’s a political thriller filled with suspense, with its own complete self-contained story. Using real-world events, it’s an authentic portrayal of a period in time and the political situation happening there.

Providing a level of insight that few others have had, Palmer is able to bring his own experience to writing the novel, and it shows. Really drawing the reality of the situation in Sarajevo out, it also offers a high amount of suspense and intrigue throughout. This really does deliver when it comes to action and intrigue, as it manages to create a well crafted world and set of characters.

Back in Sarajevo following the Srebrenica massacre that claimed both his friends life, and his colleagues, Eric Petrosian has returned to the American Embassy there. Now the shadow of war is looming once more, as it hangs above the Balkans, with the Bosnian Serb leader turning back to his nationalist roots, pushing peace aside in favor of conflict. Behind-the-scenes there’s a mafia figure pulling all the strings, and Eric must navigate the political landscape here, amidst a plot of blackmail and kidnapping. Will he be able to find his way out of this? Where will his journey lead? What will become of the wolf of Sarajevo?

Secrets of the State
Once again released through the ‘G.P. Putnam’s Sons’ imprint, this was the second novel from Matthew Palmer. Published on the 26th of May in 2015, this was also a political thriller with plenty of suspense and intrigue throughout. Featuring a taut narrative, it’s a labyrinthine plot that all comes together at the end, with strong characters featured too. The world is also well established, with an evocative atmosphere lingering over it, giving it an extremely immersive ambiance that’s highly effective and realistic.

Previously working for the Bureau of Intelligence State Department, Sam Trainor soon finds himself working for the private firm Argus Systems. Coping with the more profit driven world of corporate intelligence, he discovers the transcript of a phone conversation detailing how to upset the peace between India and Pakistan. The only problem is that he knows the conversation never took place as he’s having an affair with one of the people said to be conversing, leading him to believe that someone faked the transcript in order to stoke conflict. Will he be able to prove this though? How far is his employer involved? What is the truth behind the secrets of the state?