Ridley Pearson is one of my favorite authors. This latest book, however, is a little frenetic, with a confusing plot. The book is set in China, and immerses itself in the Chinese culture. It's a fascinating ride, but at times difficult to follow. It gets even more complicated as a ton of characters are added to the mix, with lots of sub-groups, motives and allegiances. This one needs a re-read to pull all of the pieces together. Enjoyable, but not easy. I was expecting a summer-read-type; this one needs your full attention. This is the first in the series and I can’t believe I had never read it until now. It is an awesomely and cleverly plotted novel. The Risk Agent begins when a Chinese national working for an American-owned construction company is grabbed off the streets of Shanghai in broad daylight. His one-man security detail goes missing as well.Rutherford Risk, the company’s international security contractor, specializes in negotiation for and recovery of kidnapped hostages. Private investigation is illegal in today’s China. This makes working within the political situation and dealing with corrupt individuals very difficult. The security company recruits two unique outsiders to do its bidding. Grace Chu is a forensic accountant hired to find the money; while John Knox is a civilian with a unique skill set, brought into to support her. Following the money leads to more complex and dangerous consequences and ups the danger for Chu and Knox.This is a terrific atmospheric mystery complete with compelling characters. Chu and Knox counter-balance each other and I am looking forward to getting to know them in future novels. (Debbie)
What do You think about Risk Agent, The (2012)?
Fast pace, good character development but extremely violent and uneven plot development.
—kiarra
Not his best, but very good. Hard to beat this author.
—GabyXB
