The Ransom

LOCAL AUTHOR

Tragically, a string of kidnappings has been happening in the LA area. Nicole Graves has been assigned as a private investigator to look into the mysterious background of a client’s daughter-in-law. Unfortunately, the daughter-in-law, Ashley, is the victim of the most recent kidnapping case, with her husband being the first fatality. Although she has always been reclusive, her father-in- law wants to know everything about her, and if she might have plotted her own kidnapping for the sake of a nice ransom payment to herself. It’s up to Nicole to check into the small amount of past that is available to her to develop a lead while not stepping on the toes of the local police investigating the case. Parts of Nicole’s past reappear in different ways in her current life, such as in her bank account and how she views different relationships. While she’s conducting her own investigation, someone dear to Nicole becomes the most recent kidnapping victim. She must now deal with her pain over this situation as well as keep up with her work as an investigator.

The Ransom is the fourth installment in the Nicole Graves Mysteries series by Nancy Boyarsky. This is the first book in this series that I have read. Despite it being in a series, The Ransom could can be read as a standalone book. There were references to past events that were explained. However, the references would probably make more sense and mean more to the reader if they had knowledge of the previous novels. Based on the plots of the previous novels, The Swap, The Bequest, and Liar, Liar, it is safe to say that Boyarsky does an excellent job of getting Nicole mixed up in some exciting adventures, but in the same manner, Nicole does an excellent job of saving the day and being the ultimate heroine for girls of all ages. Brains, beauty, and being family-oriented are all desirable qualities, and all describe Nicole perfectly. It is interesting that the subject was about adult kidnappings, as these are much less likely to happen compared to child abductions, yet the whole idea is something that must be taken seriously no matter the age. Boyarsky shows the dangerousness of the lure of power and wealth—how easy it can be for some people to be conned into participating in a dangerous activity, especially when they already have trouble seeing any other way out of their current situation. The entire story is well-written and keeps you reading to the end, regardless of whether you are familiar with Nicole or not, if only to find out how she is going to deal with the extreme issue at hand in The Ransom.