The Freedom Broker: A Thea Paris Novel

Kidnap and rescue expert Thea Paris, the heroine of Howe’s promising debut, has suffered from survivor’s guilt ever since her brother, Nikos, was kidnapped 20 years earlier at age 12—despite Niko’s safe return. In the present day, the stakes get personal again when Thea’s wealthy father, Christos, is kidnapped on his 60th birthday from his yacht, which was moored at the Greek island of Santorini. A powerful oil baron about to make the deal of a lifetime, Christos has certainly made his share of enemies. Thea expects a ransom demand, but instead a series of foreboding messages in Latin come to her father’s phone. With no way to know whether her father is still alive, or who’s behind the kidnapping, Thea must fight the clock, her own secrets, and those of her closest family members in order to find the truth. Howe, the executive director of ITW’s annual Thrillerfest, provides nonstop action, believable characters, and a well-researched look at the world of international kidnapping. Agent: Victoria Sanders, Victoria Sanders & Associates. (Feb.)