Ammar Merchant bursts onto the thriller scene with The Palace of Sinners and Saints, a relentless action-packed debut that introduces readers to Irfan Mirza—a character who could give Jack Reacher a run for his money in the brutality department. This isn’t just another mercenary tale; it’s a visceral exploration of loyalty, family, and the price of freedom wrapped in an adrenaline-fueled package that rarely lets up.
The Warrior Born from Darkness
Irfan Mirza is no ordinary protagonist. Kidnapped as a child and molded into a killing machine at a Turkish “orphanage” run by a retired military officer known only as “the General,” Mirza carries the scars of a childhood stolen and weaponized. What makes him compelling isn’t just his lethal skillset—it’s the unexpected moral compass that guides his violence. When his “sister” Renata Bardales is kidnapped alongside her fiancé, Prince Mahmud ibn Habib, Mirza’s personal code transforms a rescue mission into something far more significant.
The relationship between these “siblings”—children who survived trauma together and forged bonds stronger than blood—forms the emotional core of the story. Merchant skillfully weaves their shared past into the present narrative without bogging down the pacing with excessive backstory. The result is a found family dynamic that feels authentic despite the extraordinary circumstances.
A Kingdom Built on Fear
The fictional Middle Eastern kingdom of Aldatan serves as more than just a backdrop; it’s a character in its own right. King Nimir bin Daleel’s regime, with its brutal suppression of dissent and strategic use of terror, feels uncomfortably plausible in today’s political climate. Merchant’s decision to set the action in a medieval castle—Mahmi Castle—repurposed as a black-site prison is particularly inspired. The juxtaposition of ancient architecture with modern torture creates an atmosphere that’s both timeless and immediate.
The castle itself becomes a puzzle to solve, with its secret passages and acoustic quirks playing crucial roles in the story’s climax. Merchant demonstrates impressive research in describing the fortress’s architecture and history, grounding the fantastical elements in believable detail.
The Ensemble Cast: More Than Hired Guns
While Mirza anchors the story, the supporting cast brings depth and variety to the proceedings. Omen Ferris, the professional thief with copper-red hair and a talent for breaking into impossible places, provides both romantic tension and comic relief. Her banter with the stoic Mirza creates some of the book’s lighter moments without undermining the serious stakes.
Finn Thompson, the Irish security consultant whose capture sets much of the plot in motion, represents the consequences of choosing the wrong employer. His struggle with injury and helplessness adds vulnerability to a cast that might otherwise seem invincible.
The villains, particularly Atlas Boss—the hairless leader of the Dandarabilla private military company—are suitably menacing without falling into cartoon territory. Atlas’s philosophical musings on art and beauty while orchestrating torture create a chilling portrait of educated evil.
Action Choreography That Hits Hard
Merchant’s background shows in his detailed, visceral action sequences. The fight scenes are brutal and consequential, with injuries that matter and deaths that carry weight. The author doesn’t shy away from the physical and psychological cost of violence, particularly in Mirza’s deteriorating condition throughout the final assault on the castle.
The pacing occasionally suffers from the sheer volume of action. Some sequences, particularly in the middle section, feel slightly repetitive as the team systematically eliminates guards and navigates the castle’s defenses. However, the variety in tactics and the escalating stakes generally maintain momentum.
Moral Complexity in a Violent World
What elevates The Palace of Sinners and Saints beyond simple action fare is its engagement with moral questions. Mirza’s Islamic faith provides an interesting counterpoint to his violent profession, creating internal tension that Merchant explores with surprising nuance. The protagonist’s struggle to reconcile his beliefs with his actions adds philosophical depth to what could have been straightforward revenge fantasy.
The treatment of the prison’s other captives—journalists, activists, and political dissidents—serves as a reminder of the real-world inspiration behind the fiction. Merchant handles these characters with respect, giving them agency and dignity even in their darkest moments.
Writing Style: Lean and Mean
Merchant’s prose is efficient and muscular, favoring clarity over literary flourishes. The dialogue crackles with authenticity, particularly in the banter between team members. The author demonstrates a good ear for different voices, from Mirza’s terse communications to Omen’s more playful verbal style.
The narrative structure, while straightforward, benefits from multiple perspectives that provide insight into different characters’ motivations and fears. The shifting viewpoints help maintain tension even when readers might anticipate certain outcomes.
Areas for Improvement
Despite its strengths, the novel isn’t without flaws. The supporting cast, while colorful, sometimes feels underdeveloped beyond their specialized skills. Some plot conveniences—particularly regarding the castle’s layout and the timing of various revelations—strain credibility slightly.
The book’s length occasionally works against it, with certain action sequences feeling extended beyond their narrative necessity. A tighter edit might have sharpened the focus and eliminated some repetitive elements.
A Promising Beginning
As debut novels go, The Palace of Sinners and Saints announces Merchant as a writer to watch in the action-thriller genre. While it may not reinvent the wheel, it spins that wheel with impressive force and direction. The combination of visceral action, moral complexity, and genuine character development creates a foundation for what could become a compelling series.
Final Verdict: Brutal Beauty
The Palace of Sinners and Saints delivers exactly what its premise promises: high-octane action, morally complex characters, and enough violence to satisfy genre fans while maintaining enough heart to appeal to broader audiences.
For readers seeking their next action-thriller fix, particularly those who appreciate protagonists with strict moral codes operating in morally ambiguous worlds, Merchant’s debut offers substantial rewards. While it may not achieve the literary heights of some genre classics, it succeeds admirably as an entertaining, well-crafted thriller that respects both its characters and its readers.
The palace may be built for sinners and saints, but the story ultimately belongs to those caught between the two extremes—making it a fitting introduction to what promises to be an engaging series.
For readers who enjoyed this book, similar high-octane action thrillers include Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series, Brad Thor’s Scot Harvath novels, and Mark Greaney’s Gray Man series. While this is Ammar Merchant’s debut novel, his background and writing style suggest future installments in the Irfan Mirza series will be worth watching for.