Review: Book: The Freedom Broker- K. J. Howe

Title: The Freedom Broker

Series: Thea Paris #1

Author’s Name: K. J. Howe

Publisher: Quercus

Genre: Thriller

Page Count: 400 Pages

ISBN: 978-1681443041

Author or Book Website: KJ Howe, Author of Thriller Novels

Link to Amazon purchase page: Amazon.com: The Freedom Broker: a heart-stopping, action-packed thriller (A Thea Paris Novel, 1): Howe, K.J.: Books

Link to Goodreads: The Freedom Broker (Thea Paris #1) by K.J. Howe | Goodreads

Release Date: N/A

How I Got the Book: Review Copy

Summary of the Book:

Kidnap negotiator Thea Paris has spent her entire life with survivor’s guilt, following an unspeakable childhood tragedy. At eight years old, she watched, frozen in fear, as her twelve-year-old brother, Nikos, was abducted from their home in Kanzi, Africa. Although he was recovered nine months later, he was never the same after that; worse, Thea discovers that she was supposed to have been the target.

This defining experience drives Thea to become one of the top operatives in the field of kidnap-and-ransom consultancy. Nicknamed “Liberata” because she once secured the release of a captive from the Sicilian mob without her client paying a cent, she travels the globe trying to bring hostages home–mostly through negotiation, but occasionally through more forceful means. She is very good at her job.

Twenty years after her brother’s abduction, Thea’s worst nightmare is revisited when her father, oil magnate Christos Paris, is taken on his sixtieth birthday. He disappears from his yacht while it is moored at Santorini, the ship’s whole crew slaughtered mercilessly.

Thea immediately calls in her team at Quantum Security International, premier K&R specialists. Following protocol, they break down Christos’ life, looking for leads, but the list of enemies and business competitors is endless. Not surprisingly, Christos Paris has imprinted his designer shoe on innumerable backs during his journey to the top of the oil business. And he was abducted only a few days before the biggest deal of his career.

From there, the case only gets stranger. Unlike most abductions, there are no ransom demands, no political appeals, no prisoner release requests. Instead, the kidnapper sends foreboding quotes in Latin by text from burner phones. What does the kidnapper want? And most importantly for Thea, will she be able to prevent a second kidnapping from destroying her family for good? 

My Personal Review: I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. This book just drops the reader right into it. Thea is dealing with the kidnapping of her brother and though he is recovered nine months later there is still a twist. Thea discovered she was supposed to be the one that was taken. She now works on kidnap and ransom consultancy. She is one of the best in the business. Then her family is targeted again when her father is taken on his birthday from his yacht. The person or people who have taken him have not asked for anything only leaving bread crumbs in the form of text from burner phones in Latin. It up to Thea and the group she works for to find out what the kidnappers want and get her father back. It was all high speed and suspense. I enjoyed it a lot. It is a great debut.

My Rating of the Book: 4 Stars