The
Freedom Broker,
K. J. Howe’s debut novel is an intriguing story. Readers
get the feeling from page one that they are on this roller
coaster ride with the characters as they attempt to rescue
kidnapped victims. Thea Paris is a woman with a mission, using
her personal experiences to be the best world-class freedom
broker, an elite kidnap and ransom specialist.
The author uses some of her personal experiences to write
this story. “I grew up in various countries and knew
I wanted to write a book with an international setting. After
reading about kidnapping, I realized a novel or series of
novels about that subject would allow me to do this. When
I was a child, my father worked in telecommunications. When
we were in Saudi Arabia one of my father’s colleagues
was arrested and nobody knew where he was because they moved
him from place to place. What I find fascinating from a psychological
point of view is that someone kidnapped and held hostage,
lives in a kind of purgatory. What I mean is you’re
still alive, but have no quality of life. You’re in
a cage, or a cabin, or in a jungle, being held against your
will You must ask the kidnappers for everything you need.
The rest of the world goes on, but as a hostage, you’re
stuck where you are.”
This
becomes obvious in the book during a hostage rescue. But,
soon after returning home, Thea must face her most challenging
rescue when her oil-magnate father, Carlos, is kidnapped on
a yacht where very few clues are evident. To make matters
worse the kidnappers won't negotiate and only leave cryptic
messages in Latin. In search of her father, she travels to
Africa, Greece, and Turkey and comes into contact with dubious
players such as warlords and the Chinese. As the body count
rises, the clock for rescuing is ticking down for Thea and
company.
Thea
is confident, strong, and independent, but has a vulnerability
both emotionally and physically. She is able to hold her own
in a male-dominated world; yet, gets along well with others
although she remains at arm's length. Driven to make sure
the tragedies that shattered her family never touch anyone
else, she risks her life with a fierce determination to bring
everyone home alive. Having Type 1 Diabetes might limit some
people, but Thea makes sure that this illness will not define
her.
Family
plays a huge role in this story. Thea is still haunted by
her brother’s kidnapping. As a twelve-year old he was
taken as she looked on and remained silent, letting her fear
get the best of her. For nine months he was brutalized and
turned into a child soldier, made to do unthinkable acts of
violence. The dynamics in this rich and powerful family adds
to the fascinating storyline to see how revenge, guilt, and
regret play out. But, Thea has an extended family with those
at Quantum International Security including the former Special
Forces guys, especially her childhood friend Rif Hakan. Her
attitude is that family is what you create, not necessarily
what you are given.
The author wants family to play a role in her stories. “
I want to write how our family members are the ones we love
the most, but also those who can hurt us the most. Sadly children
may judge their parents or vice-versa. Sometimes love is not
unconditional. There are parents who see children as extensions
of themselves in a narcissist way. I wanted to explore how
children feel that they must live up to their parents expectations
and demands. Is family only blood or broader? How will a family
handle a kidnapping? I think the entire family would be held
captive, and they have to make very complicated decisions.
For example, should they get law enforcement or the media
involved?”
Different scenes in the book allow readers to absorb details
about hostages and their rescuers. Throughout the novel, the
author sprinkles strategies about surviving through the character's
eyes. Because Thea's father was an alpha personality she worried
that he would have a hard time as a hostage since he needs
to control his emotions, by being patient, disciplined, and
yielding to the captor's authority. There are many more fascinating
facts about what to do when traveling to be safe.
The
Freedom Broker has nonstop action and suspense. Using
exotic locales, the rich and powerful, manipulation, betrayal,
family relationships, and the geo-political world this storyline
becomes a page-turner.
Reviews
for other titles in this series
The
Freedom Broker #1
SkyJack
#2
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