The American Mission

One of NPR's Best Books of 2014! After witnessing a devastating incident in Darfur, Alex Baines is stripped of his security clearance and relegated to a desk job. He's about to resign when his former mentor-now the current Ambassador to the Congo-offers him an opportunity to start over. But the post isn't what Alex imagined. The US company Consolidated Mining seems to be everywhere. When a hostage situation involving a survey team arises, Alex is sent in, finding himself in the middle of the conflict with a guerilla leader and Marie Tsiolo, a native geologist on the team. As violence escalates in the region, Alex struggles to balance the interests of the U.S. with the greater good of the people of the Congo-and somehow stay alive.

About the Author :
Matthew Palmer is a twenty-year veteran of the U.S. Foreign Service, currently serving as the director of Multilateral Affairs in the State Department's Bureau of Asian and Pacific Affairs. A life member of the Council of Foreign Relations, Palmer has worked as a diplomat all over the world. While on the secretary of state's policy planning staff, Palmer helped design and implement the Kimberly Process for certifying African diamonds as "conflict-free." It was this experience in Africa that served as that foundation for The American Mission.

Review :
“There’s the mission the public knows, and the mission we’ll never see. Matthew Palmer knows both, which is what makes this novel crackle with complexity and authority. What a debut.”—Brad Meltzer, #1 New York Times bestselling author “A thriller of great integrity and intelligence…I highly recommend it.”—Douglas Preston, #1 New York Times bestselling author “The American Mission is one of those wonderful novels, where great storytelling is woven through with the intricate detail only a knowledgeable insider can supply. I loved it!”—Iris Johansen, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Live to See Tomorrow “Superb!...With The American Mission, Palmer joins the exalted ranks of Follett, Forsythe, and Clancy.”—Tess Gerritsen, International Bestselling Author “Reminiscent of Graham Greene, Mr. Palmer is far better than John le Carre. This is the sort of book you don’t want to end.”—Gayle Lynds, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Spies