The second novel in the Marko della Torre series, Killing Pilgrim is a propulsive political thriller following a complex plot hatched by members of the CIA and set against the backdrop of war-torn Yugoslavia.

Early autumn, 1991. Croatia and Slovenia officially declared independence from Yugoslavia, and war is imminent between the Croats and the Serbs. Department VI of the UDBA has been dismantled, while the Yugoslav government scrambles to protect the State. In the midst of the political maelstrom, secret policeman Marko della Torre gets caught in an intricate web woven by the CIA and members of the Croat nationalist movement. They enlist della Torre to make contact with a man living in the shadows: the ex-UDBA agent who assassinated Olof Palme, the former prime minister of Sweden…

Alen Mattich is the author of Zagreb Cowboy and Killing Pilgrim, the first two novels in the Marko della Torre series. Born in Zagreb, Croatia, he grew up in Libya, Canada, and the United States. A financial journalist and columnist, he’s now based in London, U.K., and writes for Dow Jones and the Wall Street Journal.

Alen Mattich's profile page

It's political intrigue of the deliciously murky sort…with a blend of hapless resolve and quirky, fatalistic humour. Highly recommended.

Winnipeg Free Press

... excellent ... Mattich has beautifully hit his stride.

Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

Euro noir with a touch of humour.

Owen Sound Sun Times

One of the year's most enjoyable thrillers

Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW

Killing Pilgrim boasts a high suspense quotient, but it's also strong in character

Calgary Herald