Land Sharks – A Swindle in Sumatra by Nancy Raven Smith
A bank fraud investigator goes undercover in Sumatra to find a young woman who may or may not be kidnapped. Her job might be easier if she didn’t have to deal with her boss’s untrained son and the unexpected appearance of an ex-boyfriend who has his own secret agenda.
Description
Find more from this author on:
About the author:
NANCY RAVEN SMITH grew up in Virginia where she ran horse sport events. On her farm, she rescued horses, dogs and cats and is an advocate for animal rescue. Later in California, she traded her event experience for film work. Her screenplays have won numerous major awards. Raven Smith decided to write one idea as a novel and discovered a passion for writing mysteries. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Women in Film, and Romance Writers of America.
What inspired you to write your book?
A few years ago, I researched identity theft for a screenplay. It was a time when few people were aware of it. Since then I’ve been sensitive to the problems it can cause and the personal ramifications it can have on its victims. That led to a general interest in fraud. As the target of fraud is to acquire money or goods that can be cashed in, I thought who is more likely to be involved with it than a bank fraud investigator? That’s how my protagonist, Lexi Winslow, acquired her career. From there, I thought where do the wealthiest people who are likely to be targeted live. New York, Miami, and Beverly Hills came to mind. I knew Beverly Hills the best and chose it as Lexi’s workplace location. The fraud I used as the basis for this story is a more personal one that’s harder to diagnose than identity theft.
Here is a short sample from the book:
It must be around one in the morning. The bedroom is dark except for the pools of moonlight through the veranda doors.
The door lock clicks open and Andre steps in. He pulls the curtains closed. I’d forgotten how well he moves, light on his feet and balanced like an athlete. I guess constant running from the authorities will do that for you.
I flip on the light beside the bed. I’m fully dressed and waiting. Andre isn’t surprised. “Finally, Monsieur Van der Meer. I expected you earlier.”
“Ms. Winslow. Is that any way to greet an old friend?” He seats himself on the side of the bed.
“Is that what we are? Friends?”
“That’s not by my choice. I see you’re still wearing the necklace.”
My hand flies to my silver cross. I’d totally forgotten I had it on. I tuck it inside my blouse.
I twist out of his reach as he moves closer. “A call over the past two years would have been nice,” I say.
He tries to put his arms around me, but I push him away.
“You’re angry with me?”
I struggle to get my emotions under control. “That surprises you?”
“But you know business has to come before pleasure.”
My chest tightens. “Of course it does.”
He takes my hand. His touch makes my skin tingle. I snatch it back. I could lose control of this situation in a heartbeat.
“Are you armed?” I ask in an effort to distract him.
He nods.
“Do you have a spare?”
He reaches behind his back and hands me a Glock 17. “Take this one. It’s just like yours.”
How does he know that? I wonder. But I resist asking. I notice he’s wearing a shoulder holster with a second gun. Two guns? Andre rarely carries one. Something must have him worried.
“Are you expecting trouble?”
“This isn’t a safe place.”
“Then why are you here?” I ask.
“Van der Meer happens to be my favorite name, but it’s become known to several people I’d rather it hadn’t. I need a new one.” He looks at me warmly. “It conjures up many fond memories, but personal safety must come first.”
“If it’s fake documents you want, there’s a French woman and a beggar at the airport I can introduce you to.”
“Too late. I’ve already made my arrangements.”
Here? It would be nice if Andre could tell the truth for a few minutes, or is he telling the truth? I never know with him.
He leans toward me. “I’ve missed you.”
I lift the Glock before he can embrace me.
“You would shoot me with my own gun?”
I nod.
“Why? Because of that wet behind the ears pup next door? And don’t insult me by saying he’s your nephew. You don’t have a nephew.”
“What do you care?”
“I don’t like the way he follows your every move.”
“You stay away from him. He’s a nice boy.”
“This is what you’ve come to? Picking up an adolescent like that?”
“You’re jealous,” I say in surprise.
Related products
-
Murder Has Consequences by Giacomo Giammatteo
For a select few people, friendship lasts forever. Nicky Fusco and Frankie Donovan were friends like that, but that was years ago. Now Frankie’s a detective in Brooklyn’s Homicide department, and Nicky is a reformed hit man. But when Frankie gets in trouble—and the law can’t help him—he turns to Nicky.
The problem is that Nicky promised his family, and God, that he’d go straight.
Welcome to Miami by Robert McCullough, C. M. Bratton, Taymika G. Byrd
This brand new feature from Write On Press is sure to stimulate and excite! Experience three tales of adult fantasy from three of the best new authors of the literary scene today. Robert McCullough brings you a tale of seduction in the temple with Church Music. Ms. Taymika G. Byrd is back with lust in the Big Easy. In the Vieux Carre’ you’ll experience the spiritual plane in a whole new way (bring a wet-nap!). C. M. Bratton brings it all together with a tale of passion and lust in the desert sands. You won’t need three wishes after this one (but you might need a cigarette!).
Normal for Norfolk (The Thelonious T. Bear Chronicles) by Mitzi Szereto (co-authored with Teddy Tedaloo)
Pub landlords are being murdered in Norfolk!
Thelonious T. Bear, ursine photojournalist, leaves behind the big city life of London to take an assignment in the Norfolk countryside, where he hopes to find the real England. Instead he stumbles upon gastro-pubs, crazed Audi drivers and murder. As the hapless Thelonious keeps ending up in the wrong place at the wrong time, he attracts the attention of Detective Chief Inspector Horatio Sidebottom of Norfolk Constabulary CID, who’s determined to tie Thelonious to the crimes. Add in a pair of hoods from London’s East End, celebrity TV chef Paolo Louis Black, and plenty of oddball local characters and it all adds up to a madcap journey through England’s most quirky county, where everything is normal (for Norfolk)!
Disappearance by Niv Kaplan
Karen Glass, an American high school graduate, is visiting a Kibbutz in Northern Israel. She meets Mikki who lives in the Kibbutz and they become passionately involved. On her birthday, while they are on a tour of the Golan Heights, she suddenly disappears from Mikki’s car.
The police official investigation is abandoned under questionable circumstances; the motive for the presumed kidnapping is unknown and Karen’s fate remains a mystery.
Three years later, during an Israeli military raid into Southern Lebanon, a special-forces unit stumbles upon a photo of Karen at the time of her kidnapping. Mikki alerts Karen’s sister Lisa, and together they begin a perilous journey across three continents searching for clues that will shed light on the mystery.
They uncover a dark family secret that undermines a plot to prevent a global enterprise from developing illegal weapons….
Lethal Believers: The Innocents by G Mitchell Baker
Someone has been hurting children and Danta vows to find them. As the sinister Mantid Tranquil rises to protect its criminal maneuvering, Danta is empowered by those from other dimensions to honor his commitment and defend The Innocents.
My Gift To You by Faye Hall
Rush Mullens saw her parents, Joseph and Carmen, being murdered before her eyes as an 8 year old child– ten cloaked figures destroying her once peaceful life. She did not know the men responsible, but she would find them. She wanted revenge…she needed it.
When Lord Justin Maston came to take her in to his care, she vowed she would use this opportunity to find the murderer’s she chased. She did not think she would also find a boy she could love more than her own life.
Bailey Maston had never supposed to mean any more to her than a friend, one who could protect her from the new lifestyle she had been forced into. What he had become though was a young man who could take her breath away, and steal her heart.
Rush knew Bailey knew nothing of her family, or the life she was raised to live. She doubted should he learn the truth that he would understand. She could not let him endanger the revenge she so craved to seek. Nor could she ignore that she was willing to risk all – her past, her life, her reputation – just to sample an ounce of passion from this man.
Bailey Maston wanted to find a woman – the perfect woman – to give his heart to. He wanted to trust that such a person could exist that would never betray him. Everything he had seen in his young life, both at home and in society, told him what a foolish dream this was. Such a woman could never exist. Even if she did, he doubted she would ever willingly give her heart to a love-starved boy like him.
Foolish though his dream was, Bailey could not help being drawn to the young orphaned girl his parents had taken in.
He wanted her friendship and the attention she so willingly offered to him.
He craved to feel the passion he knew was hidden deep inside her.
What he did not want was to fall in love with her.
When Bailey finally discovers the truth of Rush’s life, and the revenge she was enacting, he feels betrayed. Foolish though it was, he hopes that beyond this betrayal may yet lay the woman he has always yearned to find…a woman he craved to give his well-guarded heart to.
Paradise Flawed by Jacob Morris
All Mike Hanson wants is a relaxing family vacation in the mountains of New Mexico; time away from his stressful Midland, Texas career and a chance to refocus on family. But the explosion of a gasoline tanker truck and subsequent forest fire not only change vacation plans but his entire life, sending Mike and other survivors on a dash for their lives. Its no accident. He is targeted to be eliminated.
Crucifix Jigsaw Trilogy – Book One by D.N. Leo
Despite her dark past, Madeline finally had her life under control. She was a successful New York journalist. That was until her best friend was kidnapped for ransom.
She thought she could outmaneuver the kidnapper. After all, she was an investigative journalist, top of her field. She could find out almost any information that she wanted. Madeline considered searching for the true identity of a kidnapping computer avatar a task she was more than capable of. She thought she could set her friend free.
That was until she discovered that she was dealing with one of the most mysterious and powerful families on Earth.Ciaran LeBlanc was considered a revolutionary in the pharmaceuticals field. He was powerful, viciously ambitious, and he trusted no one. Unfortunately, for Madeline, Ciaran held the key to information she so desperately needed.Earning Ciaran’s trust was one challenge but the greater challenge lay ahead.It was not a computer avatar she that she had to contend with. It was a hologame war. It was not a identity she had to expose, it was a five-century-old-secret. A secret that was the key to the past, and the future of humankind.
Within the secrets, greed, and hatred, Madeline also discovered love; that she was capable of loving. But this came at a cost – one Madeline never had imagined.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.