As readers of this blog know, I love mysteries and thrillers. I consider myself something of a connoisseur of the various subsets in the genre.
As a reader, you’ll often see certain patterns develop. I read many books featuring espionage and international intrigue. In many instances, these thrillers feature male protagonists — often brawny, ex-military types who bulldoze their way through the story.
As such, it is refreshing when a writer creates something different.
That’s exactly what K.J. Howe has done with her debut thriller “The Freedom Broker.”
“The Freedom Broker” follows the exploits of kidnap-and-ransom expert Thea Paris.
Paris works for London-based Quantum International Security — a private firm specializing in hostage negotiation and rescue (K&R).
Her full name is Athena Constanopolous Paris. The former DIA employee has a Master’s Degree in International Relations from Georgetown, and keeps a silver St. Barbara pendant with her for luck.
Whether Thea is brandishing M4 carbines in the field — or teaching potential victims how to survive a hostage situation — she is a savvy operator.
Like the best fictional protagonists, Paris also has her flaws. Namely, she has Type 1 diabetes, and has to keep a wary eye on her blood sugar levels — living a disciplined lifestyle that keeps her health in check.
When “The Freedom Broker” begins, we find Paris on a mission with her cohorts from QIS. They are tasked with rescuing a petroleum engineer.
It is a good establishing moment to see our protagonist stalking through Nigeria — in command of a team — using tools of the trade. Paris is tough as nails, unwilling to let a chronic illness sideline her from a difficult job.
The main storyline in “The Freedom Broker” involves the Christmas Day kidnapping of Thea’s father, Christos, from his yacht off the coast of Santorini. The patriarch of the Paris clan is the head of Paris Industries — one of the world’s largest oil companies.
Thea discovers her father is missing after returning from a run with her dog (a Rhodesian Ridgeback named Aegis). In short order, she is on the case (along with her colleagues at QIS) trying to track down the missing oil tycoon.
What follows is a harrowing adventure through exotic locales like Greece and Zimbabwe. The scant clues available include a series of mysterious text messages written in Latin.
Paris Industries is one of the firms competing for lucrative drilling rights to the Kanzi oil field — a source of crude oil said to rival Saudi Arabia.
The familial aspects of the drama help set Howe’s novel apart from other entries in the genre. As much as the story is an action thriller, it is also an intricate family saga.
Thea’s older brother, Nikos, was kidnapped at age 12 from the family’s home in Kanzi, Africa. As a result, he had a troubled youth, and has had a difficult relationship with their father. That is part of the reason Thea works in K&R — a sense of duty to help others avoid similar situations.
Quantum International Security is owned by Hakan Asker, a man who is a close family friend. Hakan’s son, Rifat, is Christos Paris’s godson — as much a brother to Thea as he is a potential love interest.
Along for the ride is Maximillian Heros, an inspector general with the Hellenic Police and heir to an olive fortune, and Gabrielle Farrah, a feisty operator with the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell in Washington, D.C.
In addition, there is an arms dealer known as “Ares” factoring into the drama — a shadowy figure who supplies Chinese-made arms to dissidents fighting repressive regimes around the globe.
Howe’s novel is well researched. Whether she is writing about the finer points of hostage negotiation, or delving into the geopolitics of Sub-Saharan Africa, the narrative is crafted with care.
I also love little details that authors toss into their stories to add authenticity. Whether Howe is describing muzzle flashes from an AK-47, or telling readers about rebels wearing British DPM fatigues, she creates an immersive tapestry in “The Freedom Broker.”
These attributes bode well for future installments.
The key to any successful thriller series is a compelling protagonist. In Thea Paris, K.J. Howe has created a smart, compassionate, and resilient character — with a unique biography sure to fuel future adventures.
I already have Howe’s second novel “Skyjack” in my possession, and will be reviewing it soon.
In this 2017 interview, Howe sits down with author Lee Child to talk about “The Freedom Broker” at The Mysterious Bookshop in New York City:
If you’d like to learn more about Kimberly Howe and her novels, visit the author's website at www.kjhowe.com.
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