A thrilling book that left my turning page after page. Late to work, cause I couldn't stop reading. Twists and turns, but not what I expected. A must read thriller.

This follow up to Howe’s The Freedom Broker is proof that she belongs on very bestseller list.
Kidnap and Ransom expert Thea Paris is flying to London, bringing two former boy soldiers to adoptive parents and new lives. When the plane is highjacked and forced to land in a remote Libyan dessert, it will take all of Thea’s skills to save herself and her charges.
Highly recommended. Cannot wait for the next book!

This is a superb follow up to last year's Thea Paris debut novel The Freedom Broker.
A great plot, complicated with both personal issues that guarantee a degree of character growth by the end. Team Paris here!

NetGalley ARC.

I came across the first book in this series, The Freedom Broker, by chance. It was a truly action packed ride.

The second book in the series is no different. The action starts immediately, when a play Thea Paris is on is "Skyjacked". The story alternates between the perspectives of Thea, an Italian Mobster and a teen in Austria. The multiple story lines really moved the book along. Right when I got tired of one character's story, we'd move on to another.

While I enjoyed the excitement of book, I wish the author had taken some more time with some of Thea's relationships, particularly Rif and her father. I honestly felt like Johann had more character development.

One interesting aspect of the book is Thea's diabetes. I like how while it's not used as a plot device, it is show as a real part of her life. Thea takes time out to change her insulin pump and check her blood sugar levels.

Boy was this an addicting read! Now that I've read the second, I plan on reading the first and any others the author puts out. Every time I thought I had things figured it, the plot would twist in a new way that wasn't where I thought it was going. There were a few things that I did predict but I'll let you try to guess what they were for yourself. Just make sure to have the time to read when you pick up the book since it grabs you from the very beginning and doesn't let up. Because of some gore and the swearing in it (really not too bad but it's fairly prevalent), I would reserve this for mid teens and older personally. Overall though, it's definitely one to pick up if you're looking for something you can't put down.

I would like to thank the publisher, author, and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

“Skyjack” by J. K. Howe starts on March 10, 1956 with the loss of two nuclear containers full of material with a 704 million-year half-life, an ominous start to an ominous book. It is the second book featuring freedom broker Thea Paris, but it is not necessary to have read “Freedom Broker," the previous book. This book stands on its own, and is full of treachery, betrayal, and bad guys who are not always bad and vice versa.
Thea Paris is on a business jet for Quantum International Security. In her job as freedom broker, she travels undercover to global hot spots and handles risk management and kidnap negotiations. She hates to fly, yet here she is on a business jet, and things are suddenly not going well. The descriptions might make one hesitant to EVER fly again. “
“The world tilts upward, the plane’s nose pitches skyward sharply. Thea’s right hand reached for the overhead compartment, her fingers connecting with the latch. She clung to it, but as it took her weight, the latch popped open. She lolled backward, then kipped herself forward, grabbing the inside lip with both hands. Like a rock climber hanging from a dangerous precipice, her body swung back and forth, teetering.”
In the midst of the turbulence, a man becomes ill, passes out. What is worse is that the pilot has locked the cabin door, preventing the co-pilot or crew from entering. It is clear that someone has gone to a lot of trouble to hijack this plane. Which passenger do they want, and why? Of course, Thea’s job now becomes re-hijacking the 737 as international forces ramp up for the rescue.
There are two story lines, one involving with the hijacked plane in the middle of the Libyan Desert, and the other in Innsbruck, Austria involving seventeen-year-old Johann Dietrich and his father, a successful weapons manufacturer with clients around the world.
Both scenarios are well developed and compelling. Chapters present multiple points of view and alternate between the storylines. There are clear definitions so readers follow the developments in each scenario.
The tension is thick in the air, and details jump from the page in breath holding action. Minute by minute the trauma increases, and explicit details to paint a dramatic picture.
“Bullets slammed into the steel around her extended arm. A sharp stab of pain. Unable to hold on, she dropped the rifle and pulled her arm back inside. Blood soaked the shirtsleeve just below the elbow.”
There are terrorists, traitors, hostages, political refugees, hidden agendas, sleeper cells, secret walls, keys, dungeons, bystanders both innocent and insidious, and just plain bad guys. Many do not make it out alive, and some deaths are very personal. The political conspiracy and international intrigue are as up to date as if the reports were on tonight’s news.
Even on a hijacked plane, there is always one … “I need my checked bag.” “Hand luggage only. This is a hijacking, not a connecting flight!” “But I have presents for my grandchildren.” “ Move.”
And I love that in the midst of the pursuit, Thea gets a tourist out of the way by sending her to a book signing at a bookstore around the corner.
I received a copy of “Skyjack” from J. K. Howe, Quercus, and NetGalley. This quote sums up the book:
“I woke up this morning thinking it’d be another run-of-the-mill flight, and I actually said to myself, I hope something exciting happens today. Be careful what you wish for.”

Thea Paris is as badass as they come! This second installment shows more diverse characters than the first as well as more action and intrigue. Howe is adept at showing the different dilemmas and internal struggles the characters face without becoming too bogged down with inner monologues. This is a very fun series and a very entertaining novel.

When I picked up this book to read it, I didn't know I was going to be on such a fast paced and no catching my breath thrilling read! It was non stop action and suspense! Theo is a kidnap ransom negotiator who is escorting two former child fighters to their adoptive parents when the plane they're on is skyjacked. The action is just beginning at this point. I had to keep reading and reading to see what was going to happen next. The chapters would end in a cliff hanger and it was impossible to not continue reading to find out where the story was going. The writing is amazing....character personalities are very believable. The details from how the setting is written to the precision and description of weapons is thorough. This book is a fast paced, can't put it down, action packed must read. Thank you, Bookish, for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review. I highly recommend it!

While escorting two former child soldiers from Africa to their adoptive home in England, the skills of kidnap negotiator expert Thea Paris are put to the ultimate test. After the plane on which they are traveling is hijacked, Thea ends up in a race against time to save both the passengers of the jet and the part of the world in her immediate purview. With the help of her team, will the subsequent search for the truth bring about the desired conclusion?

There was a lot to like about Skyjack, with its nonstop action and strong characterization. Although the story does get a little too repetitive and overly complicated where it does not need to be, the overall plot is well paced and exciting. Thea Paris is a determined woman with a great skill set and a good head on her shoulders. I did not think that it was necessary for Thea to be written with a personal medical challenge to face, as it really did not add anything to the book. There were also too many foes in Skyjack, which allows the plot to lose its way over the course of the novel. Readers who like spy novels and thrillers in general will like Skyjack for its suspense and fast paced action.

I was given the opportunity to read Skyjack via NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review. This was my opinion of the book and it was freely given.

Skyjack kept my interest and had a pretty scary premise. The plot, however, was a bit difficult for me to follow at times.

Thea is a hostage rescue expert working for a company called Quantum. An airplane she is on is hijacked, and Thea must work to save the lives of all the passengers.

The reason for the hijack is complicated, and as Thea tries to figure out who on this private jet is worth it, she realizes there are many candidates. She ends up off the airplane, and it takes off with all the hostages. She teams up with her team from Quantum. The hijacker contacts Thea, and they have a history. He wants Quantum to hijack a truck full of Syrian refugees in Budapest, and then he will release the passengers.

Meanwhile, another storyline is about a teen boy and his rich father who wants to release a virus that will attack only people of middle-eastern descent. This boy is trying to figure out a way to stop his father, and in the process, he knows he stands to lose everything.

Skyjack jumps around a bit, and at times it seems a bit disjointed. It does all come together in the end, but, while the thought of a deadly virus being released is scary, it just seemed a bit far-fetched. Howe is brutal when dealing with some of the characters, so be prepared. The climactic ending was a bit difficult to picture -- lots of characters and weapons and vehicles and it moved really fast. I know that ramps up the tension, but I also need a better picture drawn so I can feel what is happening.

I did like the main character, Thea, and really the entire Quantum team. I didn't read the first novel in the series, The Freedom Broker, so I realize I'm missing some backstory. With all my complaints, I would still like to read the first book someday. Skyjack is a quick read and worth your time.

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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Waiting for the call to be patched through, Thea stared at the black and yellow symbol on the canisters. It wasn’t every day she was in the same room with enough nuclear material to start World War Three.


When it comes to imminent threats in this book, believe it or not, that's not the worst.

So Thea is escorting a couple of former child-soldiers from their orphanage in Africa to their new parents when the jet they're on is taken over by the pilot and lands near an out-of-the-way and nearly deserted hanger. Thea is separated from the other passengers -- including the boys -- who are taken to another site. She soon discovers that this was, in part, orchestrated by an Italian mob boss she'd tangled with before in a roundabout way of hiring Quantum International Security and getting them to adhere to a very strict deadline (I'm oversimplifying, obviously, but that's the essence).

Both the hijacking and the task set before them put Thea, Rif and the rest of the company right in the middle of overlapping schemes involving secret armies that have been active since the end of World War II. These were originally set up to be the core of the resistance against Communist invasion, but in the intervening decades may have evolved into something else. Something scary.

Howe nails the interweaving storylines -- there's the hijacking story, and the plight of the passengers who aren't Thea; there's the tasks that the hijackers impose on Thea for their safe return; there's whatever else the Italian mob is up to; there's an Austrian secret army set out to attack a threat they perceive as more dire than the Communists they were set up to fight; and there's one person who is out to stop the Austrians. These are all grounded by some good interpersonal stories and moments. The plotting and pacing are tight and believable. Howe will suck you in and keep you turning the pages.

Howe can write action scenes that stack up with the best. The events on the plane were dynamite -- I knew Thea would make it, but I could've believed just about anything else would happen. Also, it's going to be awhile before I think of those locked cabin doors in the same positive way we're supposed to. There's some great combat scenes, a few action scenes that might as well be on a movie screen.

My complaints are pretty minor, really. I thought a lot of the emotional motivations for behaviors were a tad shallow or rushed, all of them were valid and honest to the characters -- I just think they could've been written better. It's tough to pick out examples without entering spoiler territory. So let me vaguely mention that the level of hate spouted by the head of the Austrian group, and the way he expressed it, sounds more like a guy spouting off on Twitter than a very successful businessman who is charismatic enough to get many to commit to a cause. The growing/evolving relationship between Thea and Rif continues the path begun in The Freedom Broker. and Howe could've been more subtle and less repetitive showing that. I do enjoy watching this -- and figure I will over a few books.

I enjoyed this ride -- it had the requisite twists and turns, exciting, tense, well-paced -- everything you want in a thriller. It ticked off just about every box you want in a thriller. Yes, it was lacking that certain je ne sais quoi that kicks it up into the "I'm excited to read" level, but I'm pleased I did and will keep my eyes peeled for Thea Paris #3.


Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Quercus Books via NetGalley in exchange for this post -- thanks to both for this.
N.B.: As this was an ARC, any quotations above may be changed in the published work -- I will endeavor to verify them as soon as possible.

Superb sequel to The Freedom Broker. Great heroine and action throughout book. Looking forward to more in the series.