Finder's Fee [Paperback]

Alton Gansky (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 2007

'I know your secret if you defy me, then the world will know.' A terrifying phone call sweeps rich and powerful businesswoman Judith Find into a desperate search for a kidnapped boy. If she involves the authorities, the child will die ... and Judith's darkest secret to the world. Judith is teamed with a mysterious stranger with a carefully guarded secret of his own. But is Luke Becker an unwilling ally or an agent of the kidnapper? As Judith and Luke's mutual distrust wars against a growing attraction, the life of a small boy hangs in the balance. A boy unlike any other Judith has ever met. Eight-year-old Abel Palek will help Judith discover a faith and a life she has never imagined. But freeing him could cost her everything. Her career. Her reputation. And very possibly her life.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

'I know your secret if you defy me, then the world will know.' A terrifying phone call sweeps rich and powerful businesswoman Judith Find into a desperate search for a kidnapped boy. If she involves the authorities, the child will die ... and Judith's darkest secret to the world. Judith is teamed with a mysterious stranger with a carefully guarded secret of his own. But is Luke Becker an unwilling ally or an agent of the kidnapper? As Judith and Luke's mutual distrust wars against a growing attraction, the life of a small boy hangs in the balance. A boy unlike any other Judith has ever met. Eight-year-old Abel Palek will help Judith discover a faith and a life she has never imagined. But freeing him could cost her everything. Her career. Her reputation. And very possibly her life. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Alton Gansky (www.altongansky.com) has written a number of other novels, including Zero-G, Finder's Fee, Director's Cut, Before Another Dies, The Prodigy, and the J. D. Stanton mystery series. He also writes nonfiction books that explore the mysteries of faith, the Bible, and God. He and his wife, Becky, have three adult children and live in Southern California.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (May 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310272106
• ISBN-13: 978-0310272106
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,604,603 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Alton Gansky (www.altongansky.com) has written a number of other novels, including Zero-G, Finder's Fee, Director's Cut, Before Another Dies, The Prodigy, and the J. D. Stanton mystery series. He also writes nonfiction books that explore the mysteries of faith, the Bible, and God. He and his wife, Becky, have three adult children and live in Southern California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Brilliantly written..., July 9, 2007

By 

J. Nusz "Author, reviewer & graphic designer" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Finder's Fee (Paperback)

The day had started off normally for Judith Find. She'd grabbed her customary cup of coffee, conferred with her loyal assistant, and started in on the stack of work that was on her desk. As CEO of Find Inc. she always had a lot to do and this day was no different - until she realized that one of the envelopes on her desk was ringing. When she opens the envelope and answers the phone inside, her world changes forever.

Luke Becker had started his day off normally too. He might never have seen the envelope on his doorstep if he hadn't gone out for his customary cup of coffee. Inside was a strange phone he'd never seen before, and it was ringing. If he'd never answered it, his life would have been a whole lot easier.

Both Luke and Judith have a secret. They'd both thought the secrets were long buried, but they were wrong. Someone is threatening to reveal those secrets if they don't cooperate. And worse yet, a life is in danger. A boy that neither of them knows has been kidnapped, and if they don't do exactly as the voice on the other end of the phone instructs, he will die.

FINDER'S FEE is suspenseful, cleverly written and full of twists and turns. Author Alton Gansky's well-developed characters draw the reader into a fast-paced plot that will keep them on the edge of their seats. Layers of deception are peeled away, one by one, on their journey to enlightenment, much like a person's real-life journey to faith and truth. Hidden between the cleverly crafted sentences, complex plot and ingenious characters is a message of spiritual growth. Gansky's style of presenting the spiritual is almost shy, though his writing is certainly anything but inhibited. Brilliantly written, FINDER'S FEE covers a lot of territory from corporate corruption and sinister motives to bioengineering and fertility methods, yet it also manages to include a surprising spiritual message as well.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars another hit, May 21, 2007

By 

Karri Compton - See all my reviews

This review is from: Finder's Fee (Paperback)

Gansky is a master of suspense--this novel confirms it.

Judith Find, a famous interior design company president, receives an unmarked package in her mail one morning. She is blackmailed by a mysterious caller into going on a manhunt--or rather, boyhunt for a child in trouble. She is joined by a complete stranger, Luke Becker. They are thrown into a dangerous operation with more questions than answers on their side. Will they discover why they've been thrown together and save Abel before it's too late?

At first glance, kidnapping and blackmail seem to dominate the story. But finding the link between Judith and Luke opens a whole new aspect to the novel. Their pasts eventually are brought to light, revealing how they are interconnected. The journey to that revelation is frought with peril and meaning.

And ever since reading the Maddy Glenn series, I'm amazed at how Gansky can get into the head of the female protagonist. Excellent.

I'm a big fan of Gansky and would recommend all of his works, especially the Perry Sachs and Maddy Glen books and Crime Scene Jerusalem. This book slogged a bit--not the quick action like some of his, but still enjoyable.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Another story of suspense from Alton Gansky, April 12, 2007

By 

Rel Mollet "RelzReviewz" (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Finder's Fee (Paperback)

Judith Find and Luke Becker are an unlikely couple. Strangers thrown together by a master manipulator, threatening to reveal their ugly secrets they have managed to keep hidden for twenty years. To prevent such revelations, Judith, the high profile interior designer and Luke, a introverted yet successful stockbroker, begin their search for a unique [...], Abel Palek, whose very life is in the balance should Judith and Luke fail.

Alton Gansky, a prolific writer, creates a thought-provoking suspenseful novel addressing the topical issues of infertility and genetic engineering. Judith and Luke are interesting, multi-dimensional characters and Gansky uses them to illustrate that greed and desperation when one is young and ambitious can result in unwise decisions with longstanding consequences. The story is well told and the tension is maintained throughout the story. I was somewhat distracted by some believability issues however fans of Gansky's work will, no doubt, be happy to overlook. Finder's Fee is the first book I have read from Alton Gansky and I would be happy to seek out his back list for more of his offerings!