Ammar Merchant’s debut thriller, The Palace of Sinners and Saints, crashes into the literary landscape like a freight train loaded with C-4 explosives. This isn’t just another action-packed romp through Middle Eastern geopolitics—it’s a sophisticated meditation on family, loyalty, and the price of justice wrapped in the bloodiest of packages. Merchant, drawing from his extensive travels across the Middle East and Southeast Asia, crafts a narrative that feels authentically grounded in the region’s complex political realities while delivering the kind of bone-crushing action that would make Lee Child’s Jack Reacher pause to take notes.
The story follows Irfan Mirza, a freelance mercenary whose moral compass points true north despite swimming in an ocean of violence. When his “sister” Renata Bardales—quotes intentional, as their family bonds were forged in trauma rather than blood—is kidnapped alongside her fiancé Prince Mahmud in Bangkok, Mirza embarks on a rescue mission that transforms from personal vendetta into a full-scale prison break from hell itself. The titular palace, Mahmi Castle, serves as both fortress and metaphor: a 12th-century architectural marvel perverted into a black-site prison where King Nimir bin Daleel disappears his political enemies.
Character Development: Monsters with Moral Centers
Irfan Mirza: The Philosopher Warrior
Mirza emerges as one of the most compelling protagonists in recent thriller fiction. Merchant avoids the typical lone-wolf archetype by giving his mercenary a rich interior life filled with poetry and Islamic philosophy. The character’s habit of reciting Ghalib’s ghazals while planning tactical assaults creates a fascinating dichotomy—here’s a man who can quote Hafez while systematically dismantling a heavily fortified castle. His relationship with violence isn’t glorified; instead, Merchant presents it as a necessary evil that Mirza wields with surgical precision and genuine reluctance.
The author’s decision to ground Mirza’s worldview in his faith adds layers of complexity rarely seen in the genre. His pre-mission prayers aren’t throwaway cultural details but genuine moments of spiritual preparation, making his eventual survival feel less like plot armor and more like divine intervention earned through authentic struggle.
Supporting Cast: A Family Forged in Fire
The ensemble cast—Omen Ferris, Finn Thompson, and Renata herself—functions as more than mere sidekicks. Each character brings distinct skills and perspectives that complement rather than duplicate Mirza’s abilities. Omen’s relationship with Mirza crackles with sexual tension and mutual respect, while Finn provides both tactical support and emotional grounding. Their dynamic feels genuinely fraternal, built on shared trauma and mutual dependence rather than convenient plot mechanics.
Narrative Structure: Pacing That Punches
Four-Part Symphony of Destruction
Merchant structures his novel like a classical symphony, with each section building toward an explosive crescendo. The opening prologue in Malaysia immediately establishes the story’s brutal tone while introducing themes of justice and retribution. Part One methodically sets up the chess pieces, while Parts Two through Four unleash increasingly complex tactical sequences that showcase Merchant’s understanding of military strategy and medieval architecture.
The author’s decision to intersperse action sequences with quieter character moments prevents the narrative from becoming a mindless shooting gallery. Moments like Mirza’s conversation with Imam Zayd or his interactions with the prisoners in Mahmi Castle add emotional weight that makes the subsequent violence feel earned rather than gratuitous.
Geographical Authenticity
Drawing from his extensive travels, Merchant creates a Middle Eastern setting that feels lived-in rather than researched. His descriptions of Gozel’s stark contrasts—gleaming skyscrapers rising from ancient neighborhoods—capture the region’s complex relationship with modernity. The author doesn’t resort to orientalist clichés but presents a nuanced portrait of a society caught between tradition and progress.
Technical Craftsmanship: Where Merchant Excels and Struggles
Strengths: Poetry in Motion
Merchant’s prose style deserves particular praise. His action sequences read like brutal ballets, with each movement precisely choreographed and viscerally described. The infiltration of Mahmi Castle stands as a masterclass in tactical writing—every decision feels logical, every consequence earned. The author’s background clearly includes extensive research into military tactics, medieval architecture, and Islamic culture, creating an authenticity that elevates the material above typical genre fare.
The dialogue crackles with personality, particularly in scenes featuring the core trio. Merchant has a gift for revealing character through speech patterns and cultural references, making each voice distinct and memorable.
Areas for Improvement
However, the novel occasionally buckles under the weight of its own ambitions. The political subplot involving King Nimir’s regime, while thematically relevant, sometimes feels underdeveloped compared to the personal stakes driving the main narrative. Certain secondary characters, particularly among the Aldatani prisoners, exist more as plot devices than fully realized individuals.
The pacing, while generally excellent, occasionally stumbles during exposition-heavy sequences. Merchant’s desire to provide cultural and historical context sometimes interrupts the narrative flow, though these moments rarely derail the story entirely.
Thematic Depth: Beyond the Body Count
Faith and Violence: An Uneasy Alliance
Perhaps the novel’s greatest achievement lies in its exploration of faith-based morality within an inherently violent profession. Mirza’s Islamic beliefs don’t conveniently disappear when circumstances require lethal force; instead, they create internal tension that adds psychological complexity to the character. His prayer before the final assault isn’t perfunctory but genuine spiritual preparation for potential martyrdom.
Family Beyond Blood
The theme of chosen family resonates throughout the narrative. The bonds forged between the “orphanage” survivors feel authentic because they’re built on shared trauma and mutual protection rather than sentiment. Merchant understands that loyalty earned through fire burns brighter than blood ties, making the rescue mission feel personally urgent for both characters and readers.
Cultural Representation: Respectful Complexity
Merchant’s treatment of Middle Eastern culture deserves commendation. Rather than painting with broad strokes, he presents a society containing multitudes—progressive reformers alongside traditional conservatives, brutal dictators alongside principled clerics. The author’s Muslim characters aren’t monolithic; they represent the full spectrum of human experience within an Islamic context.
Comparison to Genre Peers
While marketed to fans of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series, The Palace of Sinners and Saints offers considerably more cultural depth and moral complexity. Mirza shares Reacher’s competence and moral certainty but adds layers of spiritual struggle and poetic sensibility that distinguish him from the typical action hero. The novel’s closest spiritual relative might be Daniel Silva’s Gabriel Allon series, sharing that work’s emphasis on character psychology and cultural authenticity.
Final Verdict: A Promising Beginning
The Palace of Sinners and Saints announces Ammar Merchant as a significant new voice in action thrillers. While the novel occasionally stumbles under the weight of its ambitious scope, it succeeds brilliantly in creating a compelling protagonist and an authentically complex setting. The author’s background clearly informs his writing, creating a level of cultural authenticity rarely seen in Western thriller fiction.
This debut suggests great potential for future installments featuring Irfan Mirza. Merchant has created a character rich enough to sustain a long-running series, provided he continues developing the supporting cast and refining his pacing. For readers seeking action thrillers with genuine cultural depth and moral complexity, The Palace of Sinners and Saints offers a visceral yet thoughtful experience that lingers long after the final page.
- Recommended for: Fans of Lee Child, Daniel Silva, and Vince Flynn who appreciate cultural authenticity alongside their tactical action.
- Content Warning: Contains graphic violence and mature themes throughout.
