Earlier this year, at Flashback Weekend, run by our friends Mike and Mia Kerz, my friend Chuck and I ran into his old friend Martin Palmer, in from Colorado just for the convention. It was complete coincidence as we crossed paths right at Hyatt Regency O’Hare’s entrance.

While catching up, Martin told us about his recently published debut novel, Heads I Win. Retired from the military, Martin wanted to write a James Bond-like thriller. The result is a suspenseful novel set in the world of cyber security.

Martin Palmer, Chuck Gekas and Mike Kerz.

Avid readers, Chuck and I each got a copy of Heads I Win. Comparing notes after reading it, Chuck and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Chuck summarized Heads I Win. “Lance Becker is a cyber security expert on the trail of a deadly computer virus that could potentially cause irreparable harm to mankind. Becker travels across the globe, starting from his home in Colorado, venturing to Hong Kong, Europe, Africa and finally an island in the Aegean Sea to determine the origins of the virus and prevent such a catastrophe. While the subject matter centers on cyber security, there is plenty of action and adventure as Becker encounters hired assassins, shadowy government operatives, and numerous other obstacles before confronting the evil genius behind the dastardly plan.”

I loved the amount of travel in the book. When we talked to Martin about the book. I was pleasantly surprised to hear how much effort he put into choosing and describing the many locations in the book. Simple details he sprinkled in made me feel like I was actually at each location. He did more research than most vacation planners. I really appreciated that attention to detail and respect for accuracy in his settings. I know this was a thriller, but maybe because of my connection to travel, I was fascinated by the various settings.

Martin Palmer

Heads I Win was an excellent book, especially as a debut novel. It packed a lot more into it than the average thriller. Chuck and I look forward to future adventures of Becker!

Heads I Win is available on Martin’s site, as well as Amazon. Check my Great Reads 2024 in December on GT to see where Heads I Win ranked on books I read this year.

—John Wroblewski, special projects manager