“It’s always a pleasure to discover a talented new author in a crowded field. . .Martin, a former senior US national security official, deftly captures both the foreign correspondent’s hunger for publication and the ennui of living alone in an alien, sometimes perilous land. . .Martin’s strong characterisation and notably vivid scene-setting in the bars and back-streets of Accra make for an impressive debut.”

— Financial Times

"What an impressive debut. Set in the teeming streets of Ghana, Martin's intricate tale plumbs the depths of personal discovery, betrayal, and justice. Colorful characters, a gritty setting, high international stakes, and a healthy dose of deception—what more could one ask for in a spy novel? From the first page to the shocking ending, Martin's twists and turns through today's complex geopolitical landscape deliver in spades."

– I.S. Berry, Edgar Award-winning author of The Peacock and the Sparrow

"A young American journalist’s curiosity about millions missing from an offshore Ghanaian oil transaction leads her down a dangerous path uncovering official corruption and a series of murders at the hands of Chinese and American spies. The Silver Fish, Connor Martin’s debut novel, has a twisting and turning plot that plunges the reader into high stakes international intrigue played out in tropical West Africa."

– Paul Vidich, author of The Poet’s Game

“Martin’s national security expertise lends clarity to the national security and espionage elements. . . . A deftly plotted and paced debut, highly recommended.”

– Booklist

“Connor Martin drops readers into a high-stakes world. . . . a tense, shifting narrative where alliances are provisional, motives are rarely pure, no one is fully in control, and every decision carries consequences that ripple outward. What makes The Silver Fish particularly compelling is not just its intricate plot, but the questions it raises. . . .A taut, thought-provoking thriller, The Silver Fish ultimately suggests that in a world governed by information and influence, the most dangerous thing isn’t being forced to choose a side — it’s no longer being sure that you ever had a choice at all.”

– BookTrib

“Lively . . . cliff-hangers and a hard-charging finale keep the pages turning. . . . Martin shows promise.”

– Publishers Weekly