The Risk Agent
By Ridley Pearson
G. P. Putnam’s Sons
$25.95 hard cover, 428 pages, 978-0-399-15883-4 (2012)
I hadn't read a Ridley Pearson novel in years but saw a good review of The Risk Agent and decided to give it a chance. I'm glad that I did. The book takes place in Shanghai where a Chinese national and his security guard who work for an American construction company are kidnapped. Private investigation is illegal in China and the company’s security contractor that specialized in negotiation for and recovery of kidnapped hostages must turn to outsiders for help.
This is where things get interesting. Grace Chu is a forensic accountant trained by the Chinese military with an exceptional American education. She is partnered with John Knox, a U.S. citizen with military training and plenty of street smarts. The cultural differences between the two appear at times to be overwhelming, but somehow they mesh and make their investigation work.
The Chinese background and differences in culture make for an interesting read. This book reminds me somewhat of Michael Crichton’s novel Rising Sun. This novel is more espionage than suspense or thriller. However, I enjoyed the interplay between the characters and believe this is wonderful first installment in a series. I hope so because I’ll be sure to look for the next title.
Buy in on Amazon here.
