Book Review: The Wrong Hostage by Elizabeth Lowell

The Wrong Hostage
Author: Elizabeth Lowell
Series: St. Kilda (Book 2)
Publication: Avon; Reprint edition (October 13, 2009)

Description: The latest masterwork from one of the leading writers of suspense . . . New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Lowell returns with a chilling tale of the law gone wrong and a kidnapping that threatens more than one life.

The Wrong Hostage

Orphaned at thirteen, Grace Silva clawed her way out of poverty and violence to become one of the most respected judges on the federal bench. Grace believes in the rule of law -- lives it, breathes it. She has always been buttoned up and buttoned down.

Except once.

Joe Faroe has learned that laws are made by politicians, and politicians are all too human. He believes in the innocents, the ones getting ground up by governments that are too polarized or too corrupt to protect their own citizens. He's been through the political meat grinder himself. It cost him his career, his freedom, and the woman who still haunts him. Since then Faroe has worked outside the rules and politics of government as a kidnap specialist for St. Kilda Consulting, a Manhattan-based global business that concentrates on the shadow world where governments can't go. He is good at his work -- intelligent, confident, ruthless.

Until a friend dies trying to kill him.

Now Faroe is out of the business. Retired. He's through trying to save a world that doesn't want to be saved.

Then Grace comes to him, past and present collide, and Faroe finds himself sucked back into the shadows, tracking a violent killer who holds the life of Grace's son in his bloody hands.

My Thoughts: The second book in the St. Kilda series was another excellent romantic suspense title. Federal Judge Grace Silva has a problem. Her fourteen-year-old son Lane is being held hostage in a Mexican boarding school until his father - Grace's ex-husband - returns the drug money he scammed from some Mexican cartels.

The problem is that the ex has disappeared and doesn't care about Lane anyway since he wasn't Lane's father. With a short timeline, Grace has to find a way to get her son away from those who want him dead. She turns to Joe Faroe who, unknown to himself, is Lane's father and is the one regret in Grace's life. 

Joe has recently left St. Kilda after years spent in the shadows. The final straw came when a friend betrayed him, and he had to kill him. But Grace is the one regret in Joe's life too and he can't turn down her plea for help.

This action-packed thriller had me reading the story in one sitting and finishing at 3:30AM. I loved the tension between Joe and Grace. I also loved that Lane was a well-developed character with mad hacking skills and a strong love for the man who didn't care even a little about him.  

I bought this one July 16. You can buy your copy here.