The Palace

By: Christopher Reich

Narrated by: Paul Michael

In this third installment of a series lauded for its "nonstop action," an international spy must face a ring of ruthless masterminds and foil a plot with global implications as he becomes the world's most wanted man (Booklist).

Life is good for Rafael de Bourbon. The forty-year-old Spaniard recently married to a wealthy English beauty, and is days away from opening a luxury boutique hotel off the southern coast of Thailand. But when the Royal Thai Police storm the hotel and arrest him for blackmail and extortion, "Rafa" is thrown into Bangkok's most notorious jail. In desperation, he reaches out to the one man who can prove his innocence.

Simon Riske, ex-con and now "private spy," owes Rafa his life. Once he and De Bourbon were the closest of friends, until a woman came between them. Riske rushes to Bangkok to secure his friend's release and overnight, finds himself caught up in a web of intrigue larger and more dangerous than he could imagine. In hours, it is Riske who finds himself the wanted man.

On the run in a foreign country, pursued by powerful unseen forces who will stop at nothing until he is killed, Riske must stay alive long enough to uncover the truth behind an international conspiracy that threatens to wreak carnage across the glittering capitals of Europe. From Bangkok to Singapore and ultimately to Cannes, Riske enlists the help of a daring investigative reporter, a rogue Mossad agent, and his own band of home-grown specialists, to thwart the cabal behind the plot, only to learn its very origins are frighteningly close to his past.

Frighteningly timely, diabolically clever, and ever so stylish, The Palace is Christopher Reich's sharpest and most exciting book yet.

Critic reviews

"Simon Riske novels feature nonstop action in vividly rendered international locales, and this third in the series (following Crown Jewel, 2019) delivers on both counts. Stylish escapism."—Booklist

Praise for CROWN JEWEL

"A stylish international thriller . . . Reich's solid tradecraft and nonstop action are humanized by the hint of a relationship of the heart."—Booklist

"[An] entertaining sequel . . . Reich infuses his narrative with numerous plot threads that seem separate but end up satisfyingly intersecting for a suspenseful ending. Readers will want to see a lot more of Riske."—Publishers Weekly

Praise for Christopher Reich

"An out-of-control joyride for those who like their heroes flawed, scarred, and on the edge. Reich has created an irresistible character that will leave readers both wincing and cheering with every page."

—--- Kyle Mills, #1 bestselling author of Fade and Rising Phoenix

"Likable, rascally, and suave, Riske is as distinctive as Reich's other series lead, Jonathan Ransom."

—--- Publishers Weekly

"It's To Catch a Thief meets Jason Bourne: a stylish, jet-propelled thriller full of intriguing characters and surprising twists. Simon Riske is a character I'll want to meet again."

—--- Jeff Abbott, New York Times bestselling author of Blame

Great book

I’ve enjoyed the entire series wish there were more thanks would love to have more episodes

Excellent

I’m a very regular audible listener, cycle between 3 genres, and this is one of my favorites in a while. Great performance, good characters, great mix of action and story advancing, great plot, naturally a few parts that would only be in fiction but those were minimal. I got a little confused how all the puzzles came together at the end but I’m sure that’s just me. Def recommend.

Excellent listen!

Great addition to the Simon Riske series. Hoping the next one comes soon. Paul Michael is rising in my list of favorite readers.

Throughly Enjoyed

Great story. Fantastic performance. Very entertaining with surprising depth. Learned a lot about a wide range of subjects. Five star all the way!!!

A great story

Great story, plenty of twists with a surprise villain at the end. Could have done without the graphic love scene.