Ransom

In the idyllic town of Cedar Bay, Oregon, a shocking event disrupts the calm: the kidnapping of little Jolie Conner, daughter of Senator Cash Conner. Ransom is a riveting political thriller that weaves a complex tapestry of ambition, betrayal, and corruption, set against the backdrop of a small community shaken by a child's disappearance. Kendra Conner, mother of the missing child, grapples with the nightmare of her daughter's abduction, while her husband, Senator Conner, faces a moral dilemma. The ransom demand is clear: support the controversial desalination plant, and Jolie returns home. The Senator's refusal to bend to the kidnapper's will puts him at the center of a perilous game where political power plays clash with family loyalties. Sheriff Mike Reynolds, Cash's stepfather, finds himself in a race against time, unraveling a web of suspects. From Millie, Jolie's nanny with secrets of her own, to Nick Delgado, a businessman desperate for the Senator's approval of his project, and Ryan McDaniel, a lobbyist caught in a moral dilemma - each character's fate entwines in a plot brimming with suspense. In the shadows, Alejandro, a powerful figure with vested interests in the plant, maneuvers his resources to protect his daughter, Eliana, who is married to Delgado. His actions set off a chain of events that escalate beyond his control, drawing in innocent and guilty alike. Ransom masterfully explores themes of power, family, and the lengths one will go to protect their own. As the search for Jolie intensifies, each character must confront their own ethics and fears. The story reaches its climax in a heart-pounding conclusion that will leave readers questioning where the line is drawn between right and wrong. Dianne Harman, known for her compelling storytelling, delivers a novel that is both a gripping political thriller and a poignant exploration of human nature. Ransom, the 24th book in the Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery Series, is a story of how personal and political worlds can collide with unforeseen consequences, capturing the reader's imagination from the first page to the last.