Killing Time in Saudi Arabia: An American Experience

Book Three of the American Experiences in Arabia During the War On Terror Series

Where Lawrence of Arabia feared to tread, Matthew Heines stepped in

In the tense aftermath of the 2003 Iraq invasion, Saudi Arabia simmered with hidden unrest.

Matthew Heines, an American adventurer and military contractor, takes a high-paying English teaching contract in Riyadh — training officers of the Saudi Arabian National Guard.

This is not your grandfather’s Saudi Arabia

What he doesn’t know is that he’s stepping into the shoes of teachers killed in the 2003 terrorist bombing of the Vinnell compound.

Thrown into a world of desert heat, cultural clashes, and constant danger, Matthew navigates life as a terrorist target.

He rides in beat-up jalopies through risky neighborhoods, teaches ambitious Saudi officers, and witnesses the ripple effects of the Abu Ghraib scandal that ignite local revolts in 2004.

Ria

Amid the chaos, Heines finds an unexpected escape: Ria, a stunning South African nurse from the nearby National Guard hospital.

Together they turn the Arabian Peninsula into their personal playground — camping under star-filled skies, road-tripping from the Persian Gulf to Jeddah, exploring Taif and Yanbu, and creating memories that defy the restrictions of Saudi society.

It’s a raw, honest, and often humorous memoir of expat life during one of the most volatile periods in modern Middle East history.

Living the Terror

Experience the adrenaline of contractor life, the complexities of Arab culture and Muslim society, the thrill of forbidden romance, and the bonds formed with expatriates from around the world.

When you read Killing Time in Saudi Arabia, you’re reading about something that happened once in the Kingdom — but will most likely never, ever happen again.Perfect for fans of military memoirs, expat adventures, and real-life stories from the War on Terror era.

Join Matthew Heines on this unforgettable journey through danger, desire, and discovery in the heart of Arabia.

Experience a brief flash of romance and history that has never happened before and will never happen again.