The American Mission

by Matthew Palmer

Global headlines come to life as intrigue and international politics collide in the Congo in this electrifying debut thriller from Matthew Palmer.

After a devastating experience in Darfur strips Alex Baines, former rising star of the State Department, of his security clearances, he is faced with two choices: spend the rest of his career in visa-stamping limbo or move to the private sector. On the verge of resigning, he receives a call from his old mentor with an incredible opportunity to start over, restoring both his security clearances and his reputation.

The job isn’t quite what Alex imagined it to be when he finds a shady U.S.-based mining company everywhere he turns.

As violence in the political climate escalates, Alex struggles to balance the best interests of the United States with the fate of the Congo and its people. His loyalties are put to the test as he races to determine the right course of action.

“There's the mission the public knows, and the mission we'll never see.  Matthew Palmer knows both, which is what makes The American Mission crackle with complexity and authenticity.  What a debut.”—Brad Meltzer, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The Fifth Assassin

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Africa, Suspense, Mystery, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller

432 pages, Hardcover

First published June 26, 2014

About the author

Matthew Palmer is a twenty-five-year veteran of the U.S. Foreign Service and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, currently serving as the director for multilateral affairs in the State Department’s Bureau of Asian and Pacific Affairs. Palmer has worked as a diplomat all over the world, but his ties to the Balkans are especially deep. In addition to a serving as the desk officer for rump Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) through the end of the 1999 Kosovo conflict, Palmer was posted twice to the American Embassy in Belgrade, initially as a first-tour officer at the height of the war in Bosnia and, more recently, as political counselor. In that position, he played a leading role in securing the “April 19 Agreement” that started Serbia and Kosovo down the road toward normalization. Palmer speaks fluent Serbo-Croatian, and his many experiences in the region served as inspiration for The Wolf of Sarajevo.

Reviews

[Kathleen Minde · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning chapter of The American Mission begins with a deadly raid on a refugee camp in the Sudan. American Foreign Service Officer (FSO) Alex Baines escapes, but the fallout ruins his career and changes his life. An ambassador in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and lifelong friend, calls Alex asking for his talents as a FSO that promises career redemption. Alex knows and loves the DRC having spent time there in the Peace Corp.

The DRC Alex remembers has changed greatly since his days in the Peace Corp. On his first day back he is sent deep into the jungle to negotiate a hostage release from the terrorist guerrilla leader known as The Hammer of God. A US-based mining company, Consolidated Mining, has lost its engineers and six Americans.

The first part of the book gives the reader a detailed look into what makes the Foreign Service such an important branch of American diplomacy throughout the world. And the author, having worked twenty years in the FS, is able to share his invaluable insight and knowledge in this debut novel. However, I wonder if the author ever lived a life like Alex Baines because the second half of the book reads like something out of a Clive Cussler novel. Surrounded by conspiracy and danger, Alex strikes out to make a change in a country invaded by terrorists and foreign mining companies.

While The American Mission is an exciting and entertaining read, it’s only fair to let you know that nothing in the book will surprise an experienced reader of thrillers. If you read LeCarre or Ludlum, you will know the ending of this book. But that does not detract from the captivating story, it’s likeable characters, or it’s intrigue. And the fact that former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright gives it a thumbs up increases the book’s street cred.

The book comes out in June, just in time for beach weather and poolside reading.
Highly recommended.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matthew Palmer's debut novel felt like two stories in one - the beginning was a slow building political thriller, the final third a fast paced action saga. I disagree with other reviewers who felt the book was "perfect for eighth graders" but I mean, it's a political thriller in paperback - it's perfect for the beach, plane, etc - it's not meant for deep discussions in political salons. While it is true that the "bad guys" are cardboard cutouts of all political espionage bad guys - is that really a bad thing? In this case it wasn't lazy, it didn't detract from the story or the reader's overall experience. On whole this was a very well written novel.
The author's experience in state affairs and Africa in particular are clearly evident and make for a richer more absorbing tale. Once the tale spun into an action story the relationship built by well rounded primary characters helped the reader stay invested in the events. As the political events unfolded toward the end, the short chapter lengths and increased page breaks help give the events a breaking news type feeling which also added to the overall story telling.
I'm already excitedly waiting to read Matthew Palmer's next work and look forward to the possibility of more Alex Baines novels.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This,the authors debut back in 2014 and now republished is a intricate and wonderfully written book that starts with our lead guy Alex ( American working in the U.S.Embassy ) in Sudan where he witnesses a terrible event and then moves to the main part of the book focusing on his time in the Democratic Republic Of The Congo

This is a work of fiction but obviously the authors experience in the diplomatic world shines through with the dedication to detail that would be impossible otherwise

We learn about the Countries past and its present, the resources, the indigenous people, the politics and the high level corruption and lengths mining companies will go to to bag their riches plus an introduction to the culture, food and lifestyle of the DRC’s people

The story ends with a beginning and one I suspect the author would if he could make real

The workings of the U.S. embassy is little short of fascinating and the protocols and securities within, the characters we meet are also portrayed so well and with real honest character

An accessible read about a Country and situation most of us know little about that certainly broadened my knowledge whilst involving me in a full on dramatic story

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have read anything about the history of the Congo (such as the horrific but excellent and unforgettable account by Adam Hochschild, King Leopold’s Ghost), you know that this region’s sad legacy of violence and exploitation is a reflection both of its holdings of a wealth of natural resources desired by the so-called civilized world, and the greed that characterizes many in that world. By setting this thriller in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Palmer manages to educate readers about the history and complexity of politics in the region without being didactic about it. Unfortunately, the story of the Congo has never been a happy one. Although the incentives for exploitation may have changed from rubber and ivory to gold, diamonds, tungsten and coltan, the welfare of the Congolese people still seems to be - like always - the last concern of the big political and commercial players.

In this story, foreign diplomat Alex Baines gets a job as Political Counselor in the American Embassy in Kinshasa, the capital and largest city of the DRC. One of his tasks is to help convince villagers who live over valuable ore sites in the DRC to move out so that the Consolidated Mining, Inc. can begin open-pit strip mining. Such operations would not only destroy the landscape, but would not allow the native villagers to develop and control their own mining operations of what is, after all, their own land.

Alex protests, but his boss and former mentor in the Foreign Service, Ambassador Howard “Spence” Spencer, reminded him that supporting U.S. business interests is part of the embassy’s job. Spence also argued that it wasn’t like there was a different standard for America than for Africa: “… it’s really no different than what a dozen coal companies do every day in West Virginia.” Mining these resources allows the U.S. “to continue to operate as a great nation that accomplishes great things.” Finally, Alex was apprised that if the Americans didn’t take advantage of the DRC’s mineral wealth, the Chinese would jump in, and so it was in their best interests to secure the resources for the U.S.

Alex can’t help but think there is something wrong about all this, but goes anyway to the largest village, Busu-Mouli, to help convince the local chiefs to support the mining project. It doesn’t take much for him to come to sympathize with the point of view of Busu-Mouli’s Chief Tsiolo and his attractive daughter, Marie - a talented engineer and geologist.

Political machinations in Africa, far away from the U.S., can be extremely deadly, with plenty of desperate Africans willing to kill for money, and plenty of greedy business people and political operatives willing to hire them. By opposing the corruption, desecration of the land, and the mistreatment of its people, Alex puts himself in extreme danger.

Discussion: The author is not only the son of bestselling thriller writer Michael Palmer, but also has worked in the U.S. Foreign Service for twenty years, and is a five-time winner of the State Department’s Superior Honor Award. One wonders if he wants to keep his day job: he paints a very unflattering picture of the U.S., its interests, and its operatives.

Evaluation: I was afraid that this book would be preachy or pedantic, but it is neither. And in spite of being set in the very, very complicated world of central African politics, it is easy to follow, has a good plot line, and is quite entertaining. Was the ending too unrealistic? I don’t know; I hope not.

Rating: 3.5/5

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this uncorrected proof as a Firstread a few days ago. The thriller espionage genre was one of my first favourite genres and so I was very much looking forward to sinking my teeth in.

This is Palmer's first book and for a first time author to tackle such a convoluted setting that is incredibly foreign to most westerners (and thus runs the risk of losing a sizable chunk of his potential audience)is admirable. It certainly helps that the subject matter is second nature to Palmer (Palmer even received a blurb from The Honourable Madeleine Albright, former US Secretary of State for this effort). We see corruption, United States Foreign Diplomats, warring factions set in the Congo (and all of the violence that that implies),key (fictional) political figures,the CIA, big business back room dealings, some MacGyverisms, and even a love affair (albeit a tepid one). By all evidence this story should have been a page turner.

Sadly it was not. This interesting concept should have translated into an interesting story and without a doubt it has made me stop and think about the realities of Globalization. I think however it was Palmer's choice of language that made this feel like I was reading a case file (this is especially true early on when Palmer was focusing on Alex and his character development). I found myself continually frustrated as I was truly rooting for this story as I read but was left wanting that "just one more chapter and I will put it down" experience.

I do feel that Palmer shows a great deal of promise as an author. He has certainly proven himself to be fearless for attempting this particularly complex story. It feels authentic as you read (as it should given his history as a foreign diplomat). I found the sequencing seamless. The more far fetched scenes did not seem that far fetched. Palmer managed to toss in a few surprises and little twists. The characters are likeable enough but there was only a moderate amount of character growth throughout(more so for Marie as she was forced by necessity to find a huge reservoir of personal strength).

This was a good first effort and I will look for subsequent novels from Mr. Palmer to see which setting he tackles next, and how he matures as an author.

[Mal Warwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

At times it seems that Africa is at war with itself. The list of border conflicts, civil wars, insurrections, and terrorist attacks in recent decades seems endless. They’re too numerous to mention, but three stand out for their scope and ferocity: the Rwanda genocide, Darfur, and the unending wars in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). And all three figure prominently in Matthew Palmer’s heart-stopping diplomatic thriller, The American Mission. This is a novel that brings to the fore the ugly undercurrents in American foreign policy, and it comes from an author with more than twenty years of experience as an officer in the US Foreign Service.

Alex Gaines is a haunted man. Three years earlier he had attempted in vain to persuade UN peacekeepers to halt a janjaweed massacre in a Darfur refugee camp. There, he witnessed the raw exercise of evil and, in saving a six-year-old girl from the slaughter, gained a daughter he would soon adopt. But the nightmares return again and again. Now, in 2009, he is marking time as a US consul in Conakry, Guinea. He’s on the verge of taking a corporate job that will release him from the ugly compromises of the Foreign Service when he receives an offer he cannot refuse. His friend and mentor, Ambassador Howard “Spence” Spencer, invites him to transfer to Kinshasa as his Political Counselor, the number three position in the American embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

A diplomatic thriller about the violence-ridden minerals trade

Not long after arriving in the Congolese capitol, Alex learns that a US-based conglomerate, Consolidated Mining, exercises unusual influence with both the corrupt Congolese government and the American embassy. And we learn from the novel’s other principal character, Marie Tsiolo, that Consolidated is also deeply enmeshed in the violence-ridden minerals trade in the Eastern Congo. Marie is the daughter of a Principal Chief of the Luba people and a mining engineer with rare talent who trained in South Africa’s leading university.

Soon, Alex and Marie find themselves working together, first to release a group of the company’s hostages from a fearsome group of militiamen, and later to protect her village from attack by the genocidaires (Hutus) who took refuge across the Rwandan border in the DRC’s east. They find an unlikely ally in the CIA’s Station Chief in Kinshasa. The author does an excellent job painting a picture of the unfamiliar surroundings as well as the issues that the contending forces are fighting over. But, in the final analysis, The American Mission is a cracking good story, well told. It’s a diplomatic thriller that thrills.

A novel that poses uncomfortable questions

The American Mission poses uncomfortable questions for Americans. How is our foreign policy made? Of course, we know (or at least can find out) what Presidents and Secretaries of State say about international affairs when they speak in public. And we can follow the debates and hearings in Congress on C-SPAN or (sometimes) CNN. But to what extent do these broad-brush policies actually determine what takes place overseas? It’s naive to think that fifteen thousand diplomats, two hundred thousand soldiers, and an uncounted number of spies for the CIA—much less the innumerable businesspeople who are taken to represent America no matter what anyone says—will simply follow orders and directives laid down as many as thousands of miles away. But confusion, misinterpretation, and the incompetence or ill will of individuals are a relatively small part of the problem.

It’s far more significant to ask who really calls the shots in US foreign policy. Ever since the days of the Robber Barons, when the railroads effectively owned Congress and the White House, perceptive observers of American politics have wondered to what extent America’s stance abroad has been driven by the profit motive.

What IS America’s mission abroad?

As Matthew Palmer implies in this novel, “the American mission” is above all to protect and promote the interests of US-based corporations. Pronouncements about human rights and the promotion of democracy fall by the wayside when US economic interests are at issue. Of course, like most generalizations, this assertion is at best an oversimplification. Harbored within the labyrinthine reaches of the American government is a diversity of opinion that reflects the needs and values of a thousand contending interests—including those of the idealists who flock to public service. And that diversity makes itself felt in the exercise of US foreign policy. Regardless, there is surely a great deal of truth in the generalization.

A few geeky facts for trivia buffs

Few Americans grasp the sheer size of the African continent, the world’s second biggest after Asia with nearly 12 million square miles. It’s almost four times the size of the continental United States. Africa is home to 1.3 billion people (roughly the population of India or China). And the DRC, at 905,000 square miles, is the continent’s third largest country. It houses an estimated 90 million people in an area more than five times the size of the state of California and equal to that of Western Europe.

In A Note from the Author at the conclusion of this diplomatic thriller, Matthew Palmer characterizes the Congo as “a baroque cathedral of violence”—and so it is. At least three million Congolese died under the four-decade stewardship of Belgian King Leopold II (1835-1909). And since the Congo gained its independence in 1960, many millions more have perished in conflicts far too numerous to mention. In just the ten-year period from 1998 to 2008 an estimated 5.4 million died.

About the author

Matthew Palmer is a two-decade veteran of the United States Foreign Service who has worked all around the world. He is the author of four critically acclaimed diplomatic thrillers of which The American Mission was his first. He is the son of the late Dr. Michael Palmer (1942-2013), author of dozens of medical thrillers, the most recent of which were published posthumously in collaboration with Daniel Palmer, Matthew’s brother, who is also a novelist.

[Edward Gregory Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok first effort. The level of detail is exhausting. I learned a lot about the Congo and state department operations in Africa and mining as well. I don't need 4 lines to tell me how a satellite phone call works. But the novel has no suspense. It just travels along at the same pace. Overall disappointing.

[Darcie Morin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is amazing!! There's no other way to describe it. The moment you meet Alex Baines you want to know what is going to happen with him and his daughter. You want to know what is going to happen in his career. This is my first attempt at a politically based novel and going into it knowing nothing about politics or state department type work, I learned a lot and thought the book was engaging and very hard to put down from the very beginning pages!

[Praneet Venigalla · Rating 3 out of 5]

breaking news: it is possible for the united states government to meddle in the affairs of foreign countries and get into shady dealings with corporations in these areas as a means of neocolonialism


it was an interesting read, but seemed kind of predictable in my opinion. the book was pretty daring in some ways, as it covered a lot of content and story arcs in a confined amount of time. i felt that this pacing at times was a bit too rushed, but not bad.

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I enjoy a good thriller, I find most contemporary ones I pick up either completely generic, or wandering too far off the deep end of reality. (For a frame of reference, I think my all time favorite thriller is still The Day of the Jackal). I picked this up because it revolves around a career US Foreign Service officer in Africa -- and I grew up in a Foreign Service family.

The book opens with a prologue set in Darfur, where the hero is the American rep on the ground who can only stand by impotently as a refugee camp is annihilated by raiders. We then meet him three years later as he works the consular desk in Conakry (a city my grandparents served in), suffering from PTSD and with his career in tatters. His mentor, who is the US Ambassador in the Democratic Republic of Congo calls him up with an unexpected job offer and carer resurrection, which he gladly accepts.

What ensues is a competent thriller involving a large international mining company trying to relocate a village sitting on top of rich mineral deposits, a beautiful engineer trying to fight them off, a charismatic rebel warlord, a despotic strongman dictator, a secret society, villains that will surprise no one, two allies who might surprise, and all manner of close escapes, gunfights, and even a nighttime parachute drop. If elements of the plot are somewhat predictable, and aspects of the story somewhat cheesy, these deficiencies are somewhat offset by the authenticity of the material. It's hard to say more without getting into spoiler territory, but for example, the book does a very good job of explaining the background of Rwandan forces in Congo and incorporating them into the story.

I guess while the Foreign Service Officer makes a nice break from your typical CIA/FBI/NSA thriller superhero, and there are some interesting details about embassy life and procedures, and a welcome foray into the DRC's complex history, it doesn't elevate into "must read" thriller territory.

[R J Mckay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book presents the reader with an interwoven combination of political intrigue, African history, and social awareness. Any of these would have held my interest, but the combination is astounding. Matthew Palmer creates a terrifying image of a corrupt State Department and the lengths it will go to control a third world country. His description of the conditions of the villagers is in stark contrast to those people who live in the bigger cities. But despite the lack of amenities, the uplifting spirit and joy for life the small villagers exude made me smile many times.
Alex Baines was devastated by the massacre in Darfur. Because of the psychological scars he receives from his attempts to rescue the refugees in Camp Riad, he loses his security clearance and any long-range future with the US State Department. Stuck in a visa-stamping position, he is prepared to accept a civilian job when he receives a career- saving offer from Ambassador Howard “Spence” Spencer from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. When Alex arrives in Kinshasa, he soon discovers the power of the Consolidated Mining Company and its devastating grip on the riches and future of the Congo’s people. While attempting to balance his State Department tasking to look out for the US interests, he rescues Maria Tsiolo and a small group of scientists from Joseph Manamakimba and the Hammer of God. Slowly he begins to understand that nothing in the Congo is as it appears; who is good and who is bad begins to quickly blur. The thrilling story of how Alex and Maria save not only her town but the entire country is intriguing, exciting, and uplifting. In the end, good prevails and evil is banished.

[Sophia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to read this author again since I know him and because it's about Africa, but I forgot why I really dislike this genre. I found only one chapter at all realistic (on the visa line in Conakry with the burned out, somewhat nefarious consular manager) - the rest was such male fantasy it was downright boring. Really? He jumps out of airplanes, negotiates a hostage release, practically single handedly overthrows the country's corrupt government, is the perfect (though absent) father to a Darfur orphan, AND finds the one educated and beautiful Congolese female chief to fall in love with him? (Almost the only female character in the book - all of whom are described in detail by their looks). Uh huh. High body count - Alex easily overcomes a broken rib or two. Yawn. Well, I clearly wasn't the intended audience. Hopefully none of the readers will think this is remotely like the actual foreign service - machismo or corruption - the visa line description was indeed familiar.

[Vicki Elia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook Review
4 1/2 Stars

Alex Baines is a US State Dept. employee who's career is flagging. After a devastating esperience in Darfur, Alex is stuck in a dead-end clerical job and is considering leaving State for corporate work. He receives a call from a long-time mentor to come to the Congo (DRC). Alex jumps at the chance, not knowing that what he is jumping into is a river infested with political crocodiles. The corporate and US entities are not what they seem.

The American Mission is a superbly crafted story, one of loyalties and betrayals, of African history, cultures and spectacular geography. We who sit at our computers or e-devices in the US forget that there is a far greater world that is vastly different from ours. Enjoy this trip to Africa, to the heart of darkness.

[Dan Leblanc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matthew Palmer's debut release of this fantastic thriller about the smelting operations in the Congo is really a work of art that's going to be hard too outdo. This intriguing novel, is a fast paced story of international corruption involving the U.S. Embassy joining forces with American affiliated mining companies that are trying too disable the Congo smelting operations, so they can take over these smelting mines very cheaply. Great read, had a hard time putting it down, can't wait till Matthew comes out with a new release.

[wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book deals with the struggle to control mineral interests in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It pits the countries' corrupt current leader and a mining company that he is in bed with against a small village that wants to control its destiny and an American diplomat who is going out on a limb to support them. For a book on international intrigue this one is sharply written and easy to understand. Sometimes I get a bit lost in the plots of books of this genre but not this time. A well written debut novel.

[Barry H. Wiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The novel is a diplomatic thriller set in the Congo. Matthew Palmer has been a Foreign Service Officer for 20 years and conveys the inside-the-embassy world with great reality. The first half of the book is a solid read, but then there are plot issues which unfortunately begin to clearly telegraph the ending. I kept waiting for the twist that would prove me wrong, but it never came. The first half is 5-stsr, the last half is 3-star. He has a four book deal, so Palmer, whose father and brother also have done trillers, will have an strong opportunity to sharpen his craft. An excellent debut.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

The novel's core concept is strong and the value of a thriller written from this perspective on this topic is illuminating. That said, several moments fall in line just as seen and read dozens of times before.

The American Mission is worth suspending disbelief for, but when you look back at its trail from cover to cover, disbelief, or something like it, taps you on the shoulder with a smile to say I told you so.

I'm looking forward to the sequel and trusting that Matthew Palmer has new tricks up his sleeve that measure up to the angle and the issues that he's binding in print.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Am half way through this novel and it gets better with each page. The Congo in its beauty and its tragic and conflicted present is depicted through the experiences of a foreign service employee whose personal life gives the story its heart.
I have finished this novel and find it very satisfying. Thank you, Mr. Palmer, for helping me to see the situations we are in more clearly.

[Ss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was gripping and smart from the first page. Great plot and believable characters, not least of which was the Congo herself. A very good novel first or otherwise. I will disclaim that it was written by an old friend but while I might not have picked it up if it wasn't I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. Bravo, Matt!

[Rebecca Engebretson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't read enough spy novels to compare this book to others, but I gave it 5 stars because I found it enjoyable to read. The setting in the Congo was interesting and enlightening. Parts of the action chapters seemed unlikely. Even so, is a great summer read.

[Ray · Rating 2 out of 5]

American Mission is your basic predictable, somewhat hokey, genre blinder; action, mystery, thriller, boy done wrong, but gets the girl, romance, feel good story. (2.5 at best )It does have the redeeming quality of a peek into the plight of much of Africa and it's people.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Likely a 2014 favorite read. Palmer's plot is fast paced and meaty, weaving mining, diplomacy, K&R, the US Foreign Service, and the politics of developing countries like the DRC into an engrossing and entertaining novel. Half way through, I added Palmer's next book to my to-read list.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mining company that wants to develop the resources of Kinshasa for profit. A Political Advisor whose security clearance has just been reinstated. A young engineer and geologist would like to have these resources for her village. Alex Baines becomes the Political Counselor in a highly Kinshasa working in the American Embassy. One of his major jobs is to help free several American hostages from the hands of a man calling himself “The Hammer of God.” But, first he has to decide which side he’s on and where his loyalties lie. A mining company empowered to take what the people of Maria’s village Busu-Mouli rightfully own, a government wanting their share of the profits and Alex caught in the center of lies, deceptions, deceits, betrayals and worst of all a power struggle for the wealth that lies beneath the surface of the ground.

Learning more about the villagers and realizing how much they have accomplished without any assistance, the agreement by the mining company that are retracted, Maria Tsiolo and her father the Chief of the tribe refuse to buckle down to the pressure being exerted by the mining company. Ore sites that yield copper and hoping to start open-pit strip mining, Alex is caught between his loyalty to his job, the Ambassador and his conscience. With a view of the landscape that is so magnificent, possible destruction of several peaks, the native villages want to control their own mining facilities and whit Marie’s expertise and Alex’s help they hope to succeed. But will they before more lives are lost as there are many other factions that have a stake in the final outcome and will resort to nothing short of killing off every member of every village that gets in their way to get what they want. Ambassador Howard Spencer relates and reminds Alex that his loyalties and job is to support U.S. business interests. The U.S. would profit and benefit from mining these resources in order to enhance their treasury, wealth and supposedly “ do great things.” But, what would happen if he went against protocol and their wishes? What would happen if the U.S. did not go after the DRC’s mineral wealth? Would any other country jump on the bandwagon? What about China or Russia?

Alex power of negotiating is quite strong but what happens when he meets with the Chief of the Busu Mouli trip will explain just how far these people will go to keep what they have and how the Chief managed to entrap Alex in a very unique and clever way thereby sending him off to convince the mining company of the tribe’s demands. With a village that contained so much wealth and copper and rubber the prime source of wealth in the Congo, Marie hoped that the “Chalcopyrite deposit she found would liberate her people and allow them to achieve full potential.” But, there were forces out there that would take matters into different hands and author Matthew Palmer takes readers deep inside the corruption, deceit and political manipulations often used to achieve goals that might benefit our country, hinder what another country might want and explain the dangerous political structure in Africa. Africans fearless and willing to kill for money, greed and power as well as a mining company comprised of what some might think are ordinary businessmen but in reality contain hired killers that are paid to kill anyone in their way, desecrate villages and hinder any articulation among the people of Marie’s village, the mining company and a President who has his own private agenda.

A deal with the mining company goes sour as Marie relates to her Uncle Thomas when touring her facility that the mining company would not longer provide the technical support, money or equipment promised. Profiting from the weaknesses of others and knowing that she feels responsible for the find and handing it over to the mining company the author introduces the fat that the Chinese also began taking and grapping tons of copper, steal and manganese that came on the market. The mining company not only sold her out but also intends to make a deal with the Ministry for Mines and Metals in Kinshasa. Graft, buying politicians and bureaucrats are just the tip of the iceberg. But, Marie has a smart staff and wise people working for her and when push comes to shove she won’t back down, some of the profits she made form her own mining operation just might help build her own army.

Alex learns the hidden truth behind a man whose goals he thought he could trust. Her father as the Principal Chief of the tribe, a fight that just might cost her more than she wanted and a startling reality revealed. As Alex and Marie talk about Consolidated Mining and Henri Saillard who accept the original deal and unveiling the truth and the other players involved helps readers understand just how far some will go to profit, gain wealth and destroy others.

When Alex begins to reflect on the mission that started it all in Darfur and the deadly raid on the refugee camp, the disconnection from the American Foreign Service and the fact that someone he called a friend and even more betrayed him allows readers to understand that the DRC has changed and that terrorist guerilla leaders like The Hammer of God exist and that all too often something you think is real is not. As we learn more about President Silwamba the author brilliantly reveals his link to a major player within this complex and multi-plot novel. President Silwamba and the Ambassador seem to be in close alliance with Consolidated Mining and another company whose reputation for raking and raping Africa’s mining resources is just part of what they do. Alex learns some hard truths and a starling revelation as he accompanies the Station Master one night and a conspiracy is revealed. Once again Alex faces a moral dilemma as he has to decide whether to remain in the foreign service, ignore what he has learned or fight for what he believes.


A series of raids and the death of many comes about as Marie is forced to take on a role that would change the dynamics of her tribe, her life and relationship with Alex. So many who are against her and others that are willing stand by her side as she and Alex plan to take down the president, reinstall someone who cares for the people and fight for the lives of so many. Will they find a way to stop Consolidated mining? Will they finally find a way to bring schools, medical care and wealth to her tribe? What happens when she is forced to leave her home and the reason behind it will surprise readers as those that are against her will stop at nothing.


“Kinshasa (kēnˈshäsə) [key], city (1984 pop. 2,664,309), capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, W Congo, a port on Pool Malebo of the Congo River. It is the Congo's largest city and its administrative, communications, and commercial center. Major industries are food and beverage processing, tanning, construction, ship repairing, and the manufacture of chemicals, mineral oils, textiles, and cement, but the city's economic life collapsed in the 1990s as a result of the political turmoil in the country. A transportation hub, Kinshasa is the terminus of the railroad from Matadi and of navigation on the Congo River from Kisangani; the international airport is a major link for African air traffic with Europe and the Americas. There is motorboat service to Brazzaville, capital of the Republic of the Congo, on the opposite bank of Pool Malebo.”

This is just some of the history of this beautiful country that author Matthew Palmer brings to life in this political/thriller filled with intrigue, murder, deceit, lies and will keep readers wondering just what the definition of the words: The American Mission means. Jonah Keeler, Alex Baines, Marie Tsiolo, The Hammer of God, Henri Saillard, the people of Kinshasa and one Ambassador sworn to serve his country: Who lives, who dies, who can be trusted, who will stop at nothing to reach the highest tower of wealth? Who will truly fulfill: The American Mission? Author Matthew Palmer has raised the bar really quite high in his debut novel. Hoping for a sequel that brings back both Alex and Marie. This is a novel about relationships, trust, morals, values, greed, power, betrayal, hope for the future and a people that would never give up. Author Matthew Palmer brings to light what really happens within the walls of an embassy using his real life experience as the Political Counselor at the American Embassy in Belgrade to help set the stage for this outstanding novel.

Fran Lewis: Reviewer

[Kevin Kazokas · Rating 2 out of 5]

"The American Mission" revolves around the choices and consequences of one man, Alex Baines.

Tormented by split-second decisions he's made in the past in service of his country, Baines, formerly of the State Department, wrestles with trying to find a path forward for he and his adopted daughter, an African girl named Anah. While doing so, Baines assesses whether his future role should belong to his country or his own self-established, redefined brand.

Baines' country gives him that second chance.

He finds himself at the heart of a controversial mining operation, that divides the interests of a U.S.-based company and the culture and prosperity of the local Congolese population. As Baines becomes more embroiled, he finds himself enmeshed among a tribal brotherhood while trying not to contravene the U.S. economic and political foreign interests. This struggle puts him to the physical and emotional test, as he re-examines his own identity and how to provide the best path for his daughter, who lives back in America with a relative.

This debut novel seems a compelling if not overdone genre series platform, featuring the jaded and discarded American hero looking to rebuild soul and purpose for himself while reestablishing connection to loved ones. Nevertheless, this plotline fails to capture the golden ring. The reader gets a good sense of Baines and his mental struggles, feels how their weight drags Baines down and occludes him from initially flourishing. The mission in this series primer belongs more to Baines than America.

Unfortunately, the reader is not provided enough of an emotional foothold to really connect with the protagonist's situation. The author does not sufficiently establish the background of Baines' relationship with his young daughter, instead focusing on Baines' inner strife about mission and past failure. Certainly, those factors play a big part, but the lacking emotional component leaves the reader asking, "So what?"

Other installments may advance the backstory better, but any promise of a future hook does not seem apparent by novel's end.

This book features action, combat, heroism, distress and insight to generally a lost part of the world. Summer readers may find their thriller appetites sufficiently sated. Those expecting a higher brow offering with rounded protagonists common to authors like Silva or DeMille, will feel inevitably disappointment.

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

No, "The American Mission" is not a shoot-em-up thriller in the tradition of Tom Clancy. There are some action scenes in the book, but they are spaced out and relatively sparse. It's more espionage and political thriller, with an attempt to fit in some interesting ideas about the tragedy of some African nations that are resource-rich and government-poor (or -corrupt).

But it's nice to see a geopolitical thriller based in Africa, which should be a rich field for those sorts of stories bit remains neglected. And it's impossible not to hear the echoes of old classics about the continent. "The Heart of Darkness," mentioned offhandedly by one of the characters in "The American Mission," is an obvious spiritual ancestor, even if this book doesn't aspire to the same literary heights as Joseph Conrad's classic.

Still, it's an entertaining book with entertaining characters and a plot that is more plausible than most others in the genre. And it raises important questions about what exactly our nation's goals are or should be in Africa. Anyone who's interested in seeing that tackled in a good, old-fashioned yarn should check it out.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Palmer’s first novel offers an insider’s look at the world of American diplomats stationed in foreign countries. He lived the role for 20 years, so Palmer knows the subject cold. His brother, Daniel, and his late father, Michael, are both accomplished thriller writers, so an ability to write crime fiction clearly runs in the family. Alex Baines works in the U.S. State Department, but he is helpless to intervene when a massacre occurs in Darfur in 2006. Years later, his career in shambles, an opportunity lands in his lap to start over and recover his reputation. Unfortunately, a moral quandary quickly develops: what appears to be in the best interest of his job and career may not be good for the people of the Congo. Palmer creates full-bodied characters and an intriguing story that showcases the difficult choices ambassadors face on a daily basis.

A superb insider's view of how a U.S. embassy functions. Fictional or not, this story walks you through a bloodless coup in the Congo and defies you to identify who the good guys and bad guys really are. There’s great detail herein on the life of villages far up the Congo River – near the original “Heart of Darkness” setting. For me, it was a true page-turner.

[Lee Yun · Rating 4 out of 5]

A excellent piece of work and the first I've read that depicts exclusively the work of a Foreign Service Officer. A good thriller that seamlessly transits from defeating a large mining conglomerate to a revolution, Matthew Palmer has done an excellent job that raises one very pertinent geo-political question of today's world - does the advancement of one a developed country's foreign policy and interests necessarily come at a cost of those less developed one's?

[Phil Redman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well paced, interesting story based on real issues happening in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The author uses real-life knowledge of State Department progress and procedures, to build an exciting story that integrates US business abroad, imperialism, diplomacy and leftist-leaning agenda, but isn't bogged down by it. Very well written, an exciting story with believable, and diverse characters and action that will keep you page turning until the end.

[Elsa Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the end of this story, there is a ‘Note from the Author’ that I would have liked to read before I began the book. His experience in the Foreign Service branch of the State Department inspired his creation of the fictional characters; Alex, Anah, and Marie. I was truly pulled into the real struggles of the Congo after reading this novel. In time, I hope to read more of his writing. Thank you, Matthew Palmer.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ridiculous and the author really doesn't like the State Department RSOs (regional security officers). For the record, only some are ex-cops. Many are nice. Also, I don't think a dissent cable has quite the

That being said, I enjoyed reading a bit more about the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It's insane to me that the western world has gone from ivory to rubber to mining with little to no pause in our efforts to exploit this place.