"Some secrets were never meant to survive. The Origin is ripped from today’s headlines in a scary and believable plot. Get to know Nathan Gray, you won’t be disappointed."
Fred Burton, former special agent and New York Times best-selling author of Beirut Rules, Chasing Shadows, Under Fire, and Ghost
"The Origin is a whip-smart, globe-trotting thriller that never lets up. Alex Reinshagen draws on real-world tradecraft to send CIA ops officer Nathan Gray from the wet markets of Chengdu to the shadows of Prague, chasing a conspiracy that could rewrite global power. The reader will ask Could COVID-19 have begun like this? Authentic, urgent, and impossible to put down — Reinshagen proves American Diplomat was just the beginning."
James Lawler, retired Senior CIA case officer & author of Living Lies, In the Twinkling of an Eye, The Traitors Tale
"The Origin is espionage fiction with the ring of truth — Reinshagen, a retired U.S. Diplomatic Security Agent, writes tradecraft the way only someone who's lived it can. A twisting, globe-spanning conspiracy that kept me guessing until the last page. Fans of le Carré and Baldacci will find a worthy new series to devour."
Michael T. Evanoff, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security & author of High Value Target
"Some thrillers entertain. Some make you think. The Origin does both while weaving together geopolitics, espionage, virology, intelligence operations, and international power struggles into a story that feels unsettlingly close to reality.
If you enjoy novels by Tom Clancy, Brad Thor, Daniel Silva, Vince Flynn, or Joel C. Rosenberg, there's an excellent chance you'll enjoy The Origin. It combines authentic espionage, political intrigue, scientific mystery, and global stakes into an intelligent thriller that remains engaging from beginning to end. Alex Reinshagen has created an impressive debut (or series opener) with Nathan Gray, a protagonist I would happily follow through many more international investigations.”
Aisha Faisal, author of Healthy Mindset Wealthy Mind, The Evil Nights, and The Abandoned Palace
"The Origin is a globetrotting thriller that takes the reader across continents and into secret meetings at Camp David, as rookie CIA agent Nathan Gray tries to thwart the release of a deadly virus. Written with an authenticity that only a former U.S. Foreign Service agent can deliver, Reinshagen has given us an adventure which is compelling to the end."
Marc S. Perlman, author of The Riddle of the Trees
"Move Over, Bond and Bourne: Hollywood, Meet Your Next Great Spy Franchise.
Author Alex Reinshagen draws on his career with the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service (Special Agent, ret.) to deliver a can’t-put-down, world-saving spy thriller — rich in authentic tradecraft, lived-in locales, and the kind of high-stakes plausibility only a career insider can deliver. Then comes the twist: a final turn that snaps the whole plot into shocking focus. It reads so true you’ll wonder if it needed government clearance. With storytelling like this, clear space on the top shelf—next to le Carré, Ludlum, and Clancy.
Bravo, @Alex Reinshagen — a masterclass in modern espionage storytelling. Start working on the sequel!"
Robb Cruser, Founder and Managing Partner of a National Law Firm & author of Becoming Positively Disruptive, Stop Just Being Yourself, and The Super Dad Myth
"When the tradecraft in The Origin feels real, that's because it is, and that authenticity is what separates this thriller from the crowded field of post-pandemic spy fiction that has emerged in its wake.
For readers who want their espionage fiction grounded in genuine experience rather than Hollywood imagination, The Origin is exactly the kind of thriller that earns its thrills honestly."
The Book Review
"Reinshagen clearly enjoys the mechanics of international diplomacy and intelligence work, and that enthusiasm gives The Origin a distinctive identity. With authentic tradecraft, international sweep, and a conspiracy built to unsettle, The Origin turns one agent’s first assignment into a gripping fight for the balance of global power.
An authentic, globe-spanning espionage thriller with a memorable conspiracy, vivid tradecraft, and … momentum to keep the pages turning."
Literary Titan
"Readers who enjoy the 'insider verisimilitude' of authors like Daniel Silva or Vince Flynn will
find Reinshagen's thriller engrossing, and the settings are rendered with the specificity of someone who has actually been there. What sets this thriller apart is its clarity and authenticity. Nathan Gray is an easy protagonist to root for and the pandemic-adjacent conspiracy at the story's center feels timely without tipping into heavy-handedness. This is a must-read, well-traveled thriller for readers who like their spy fiction with real institutional knowledge behind it, and it closes on a hook that promises even more intrigue for Nathan Gray in the future."
Dr. T.X. Montenegro, Founder and CEO of Silent Night LLC
"For those who appreciate international intrigue and espionage tradecraft with a healthy dose of realism, The Origin delivers. As a wet-behind-the-ears operative uncovers an insidious plot that could be ripped from today's headlines, we also gain insights as to the joys, challenges and risks of life on the diplomatic circuit as only an insider can tell it."
Bryce Miles, Diplomatic Security Special Agent (Ret.)
"An insider’s account of an exciting career spent in the US Foreign Service and diplomatic security, AMERICAN DIPLOMAT reads like fiction because of the adventures, intrigue, and high stakes of author Alex Reinshagen’s work. I read it with the same curiosity and page-turning pace as a spy thriller! Alex writes with detail about the many places and people he encountered during his 26-years of service. I enjoyed every page of it and learned so much about what goes on behind-the-scenes!"
Kristen Ness, author of murder mystery AT LOGGERHEADS
"Since 1916, State Department special agents have protected our nation's secrets and diplomats around-the-globe. AMERICAN DIPLOMAT is a window into the dynamic and complex world of protecting diplomats, defending embassies, combating terror, hunting spies, and investigating complex international crime. Read Alex's story, you won't be disappointed."
Fred Burton, former special agent and New York Times best-selling author of Beirut Rules, Chasing Shadows, Ghost, and Under Fire
"AMERICAN DIPLOMAT, though a biographical novel, it unveils the story of Alex Reinshagen’s service to our country - from a law enforcement officer to landing a position as an honored and decorated Security Officer in the United States Diplomat Corps. Though fictionalized for security reasons, his journey rings true throughout his story. You will discover a world few get to see or experience about the trials and tribulations involved in protecting our country’s diplomats. Well done!"
T.M. "Mike" Brown, Southern Author of The Last Laird of Sapelo, Sanctuary, Testament, and Purgatory. President Emeritus, Hometown Novel Writers Association, Inc. and Newnan Carnegie Library Foundation Board of Trustees.
"In my forty-year newspaper career, I have met several government agents. After reading AMERICAN DIPLOMAT, I’m convinced I finally know one now. Alex Reinshagen has given us a rare look at what goes on behind the scenes that most of us only catch fleeting glimpses of on the news. His story will not disappoint."
Vince Vawter, author of The Paperboy Trilogy (Paperboy won a prestigious Newbery Honor in 2014.)
"We can follow the movements of history both through the press and through books. However, we seldom have access to the daily activities of those who participate in the frontline of vital events. Alex Reinshagen offers us that insight. As a special agent of the Diplomatic Security Service of the Department of State, Reinshagen describes his professional and life trajectory from his beginnings as a police officer in the heart of the country to the most important outposts of American diplomacy. Written in an engaging and straightforward style, with the truthfulness of a protagonist endowed with exceptional powers of observation, this book allows us to glimpse, from Israel to China, the plots that today define the battle against the enemies of the West."
Miguel Cossio, Chief Operating Officer of AMERICA CV NETWORK. Senior Media Executive with over thirty years of industry experience as a director, producer, journalist, and writer. Awards/Accolades include Emmy, Telly, AP, and international Awards.
"With AMERICAN DIPLOMAT, Alex Reinshagen gives an impressive as well as informative 'behind the scenes' look into the fascinating world of foreign service and international diplomacy - it is an intriguing read from start to finish."
Johnathon Scott Barrett, author of the award-winning novel, Ship Watch.
"In a book full of adventurous and sometimes hilarious tales of a life in the foreign service most of us can’t even imagine for ourselves, Alex Reinshagen recounts the personal dream he followed and the physically and psychologically intense journey that ensued for him. The vignettes he relates will inform, surprise, and transport readers. A fascinating work!”
Carol Johnson, bookseller, Commonplace Books, Oklahoma City
"AMERICAN DIPLOMAT is an amazing story. It is very relatable and an informative read. The book shows us how important resilience and adaptability are when undertaking a career of public service. Alex is a brave man for taking on the task of writing his memoir!"
Mark Slater, MBA, Canberra, Australia
"... the most interesting, exciting, and informative memoir that I have ever read."
Gene Robinson, Publisher, Moonshine Cove Publishing, LLC