Held for Ransom

Cliff Knowles #1

by Russell Atkinson

The President of Claritiva Software is kidnapped at gunpoint. FBI Special Agent Cliff Knowles is the first to respond when the crime is reported. But the report is suspicious in many ways and the front office is skeptical the kidnapping is real. Knowles must fight his own bureaucracy while trying to rescue the victim and catch the kidnappers. This gripping novel will have you on the edge of your chair from the first chapter.

The author, a retired 25-year FBI veteran Special Agent, draws heavily on his experiences working high-technology and violent crimes cases in Silicon Valley to provide an unprecedentedly candid look at what it is like to work a high-profile kidnap case and what a kidnapping victim experiences. If you have considered becoming an FBI agent, or you have wondered what you would face as a kidnap victim and the decisions you would have to make, this book is a must-read. This is the real story, not the TV version you've seen a thousand times. It isn't always pretty, but it is what happens when lives are at stake.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

357 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 15, 2011

Reviews

[Mystereity Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first in the Cliff Knowles series, Held For Ransom is a nail-biting thriller following the FBI's investigation into the kidnapping of a wealthy tech executive. Written by a retired FBI Special Agent, what really sets this series apart from the usual police-thrillers is the ultra-realism and attention to detail that puts the reader right in the middle of an FBI investigation, watching the events unfold like you're right there in the middle of the action. Told from the perspective of Special Agent Cliff Knowles and the victim, Carl Fischer, it's a gripping story that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

I really enjoy this series, so I picked this one up to "see how it all started" after reading several of the later books, and I and wasn't disappointed. Cliff is a likable, unflappable investigator (I loved the patience he had while trying to keep the victim's wife on track to get information. I'd have lost my marbles!) The story unwinds bit by bit, drawing me into the heart of the investigation and it reads like one of those docu-crime shows on cable, where each clue teases just a bit more of the story. I loved all the FBI terminology and procedures, it really enhanced my understanding of the actions and reactions of the characters and the story feels like it plays out in real time, moving at just the right pace and the exciting ending kept me frantically turning pages. This is the perfect series for any fans of gritty police procedurals or docu-crime shows on cable and one I definitely recommend.

[PJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as part of my geocaching book club because the rest of the series has geocaching as a theme. Reading this in 2020 is a stark contrast to the lack of technological advancement in the 1990s! I’m interested to see what the rest of the series is like.

[Valerie Downs · Rating 2 out of 5]

Drat! But wait...

I really enjoy this author and have loved his books. That being said, if this would have been the first time I had read him, I probably would have not read anything else by him. This book had way too many acronyms, and so much about the office politics in the FBI, that if the author had left out that boring and unimportant "information" the book would have been only half as long. Don't get me wrong the story had potential, it just fell apart with way too many initials. One paragraph alone had four new ones introduced and explained. Really? Don't let this book turn you away from this author. I have loved his other novels, and his books are a great read.

[Daniel Klingensmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across the Cliff Knowles mysteries through my local geocaching community, which the author is a part of. This book is a prequel, of a sort, featuring Cliff Knowles in his career as an FBI special agent, Before Caching (BC).

As the stories are based on the author's own career in the San Francisco Bay area FBI, and subsequent experience as a geocacher, there were many interesting points to me. As with any reading, it's always fun to read about places you know and many of the locations referenced were familiar to me.

The story itself is a procedural description of a kidnapping case, much of which is understandably dated, especially in reference to technical aspects. While FBI procedures are not my area of experience, I live through life before ubiquitous cell phones and information on demand through the internet.

The personal and professional interactions of the characters keep the story moving and entertaining. The glimpse into the history of Cliff in his younger years was also of interest.

Altogether, an enjoyable read, and one I'd recommend.

[Rhonda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was bored with this book and it took me forever to read it.
I have read others by Russell Atkinson and that I've enjoyed, but this one felt like he was trying to fill a word count quota and the book felt like sections of it kept repeating itself.

I'm happy I have liked other of his books, because if I had started with this one I probably would not of read another one.

[Russell Fletcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is good but weighed down with to many acronyms. It's hard to keep track of them all even with a list in front of the book. The book details are too drawn out for my liking. The next book in the series starts out without all the acronyms and reads much faster.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

August 18, 2012

A Review of "Held for Ransom"
by Anthony T. Riggio

I ordered "Held for Ransom" by Russsell Atkinson, Kindle edition, from Amazon couple of days ago and could not wait to get started on it, having heard it promoted by some friends.

The story is about the kidnapping of a Silicon Valley executive and a demand for ransom before his being released.

The book was written by a retired FBI agent who quite obviously worked kidnappings and was probably assigned, at one time, to an FBI satellite office of the San Francisco office of the FBI.

I thought the plot and the story were well developed and presented but believed that if I were among the uninitiated in matters of law enforcement, I would have been lost on all the careful explanations of how the FBI operated, almost down to the smallest detail.

I have to believe this work was to a degree somewhat autobiographical and the author went to great trouble in describing the characters in the story. He did a pretty good job and one could not help seeing the competence of some and the character and careerist flaws in others.

The head of the FBI office in San Francisco was a very poor leader and that if there were any positive resolves, they were not due to either his level of experience or leadership. He was the boss, everyone of any ability, loved to hate. His incompetence was manifest even to include the character of his secretary.

The story was very interesting and presented real life issues FBI agents face in their daily work activities. It also gave a glimpse of the fraternity shared by those working the "street" work and the ideals of those with promotion ambitions. It seems, however, that only the non ambitious were filled with the integrity and work ethic the public holds deep in the recesses of their thoughts of the FBI, at least, based on the movies and TV which seem to portray them as "saints" and "heroes". There was definitely a conflict between the hero of this story and upper management in the FBI. It also touched upon the age old complaint local police departments have about the FBI and their hesitancy to share information.

When life and death are in the balance, it seems the author believes only the FBI can effectively handle the situation and while there may be good reasons to adhere to this belief, it sometimes slows down or hampers an investigation.

I have to say, I liked the book and it held my interest for the two days I devoted to reading it and I would recommend it to my friends and associates. J

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 3 out of 5]

I accepted Held For Ransom for review largely based on the author's twenty five year career as a FBI Special Agent. Atkinson claims to have specialized in high-technology crimes in Silicon Valley, and Held for Ransom is based on a real life kidnapping case he worked on.

FBI Special Agent Cliff Knowles is the first to respond when the kidnapping of a wealthy software company president is reported. His wife claims to have received a ransom call demanding $650,000 for his safe return but her odd behaviour means that initially the Bureau fails to take the case seriously. Despite his superiors concerns, Knowles is almost certain that the woman is telling the truth, no one has seen or heard from the victim for more than six hours and his car has been discovered abandoned in the company parking lot. As Knowles tries to kick start an investigation the victim waits, bound and blindfolded, praying for rescue.

Held For Ransom is a detailed police procedural that follows the kidnapping case from first report through to its resolution. The reader is witness to the grind of bureaucracy as the FBI consider and disregard theories, gather information, follow clues, interview witnesses and tries to make sense of the crime. Atkinson reveals the achievements and the challenges of the investigation as they hunt for the perpetrators in a time before the ubiquity of cell phones and personal computers. Slowly suspects are identified and rescue plans are made, but not everything goes to plan.

I think Held For Ransom is well written, there are a few minor issues but overall the tone and style is consistent. I did find the way in which real life investigation deviates from the simplified version presented in film and blockbuster fiction interesting but it does tend to slow the pace and I found my attention drifting more than once.

The characters are sketches highlighting the varied personalities of the FBI team and how they impact on the investigation. There is the the ego driven boss and his sycophantic assistant, uncooperative secretaries and agents of mixed ability and motivation. Knowles integrity and dedication makes him a stand out in a workplace beset by his colleagues ego's, career ambitions and petty politics. I have to admit I am a little disheartened by the cynical portrayal of the FBI, I don't doubt it's accuracy but it is a little worrying.

Overall I enjoyed Held For Ransom, it is an interesting, insiders perspective of of the FBI and their investigative methods in the mid - late 1980's. I think this book would particularly appeal to fans of the police procedural and true crime genres.

[Randy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the third book I read from this author. Considering this was the first book in the series, I found it to be quite well done. The details of the inside-the-office FBI was well balanced with the action. A lot of characters to keep track of but not too many to get lost. The victim was an interesting character, bugged by the running water in the bathroom, observing and listening with the hopes of being moved or released. You could feel the stress of the situation and the puzzle unraveles. Knowles does a lot of the work yet gets little of the credit. I read the Kindle version and ready to read the next book, Death Row. I heard this one has more geocaching in it. Geocaching was how I heard about these books in the first place and anticpating another good one. TFTB.

[Ace · Rating 2 out of 5]

Working with a bunch of A-holes is very frustrating as is reading about someone who is working with a bunch of A-holes. Russell Atkinson paints what he knows to be a realistic portrait of how things really work in the FBI. Not too flattering. It seems everyone is more interested in advancing their own careers than actually serving the people. Such is life. I won't be reading the sequel.

[QuesterMark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good.

Maybe too much FBI procedure. Still a fun read! A little suspenseful, not sure until the end who will get killed.

[Mark Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some rough spots, but a good first novel.

[Renata SG · Rating 2 out of 5]

TOO MUCH FBI/CSI JARGON ... AT TIMES IT WOULD JUST GO ON & ON. STORYLINE WAS OK BUT UNFORTUNATELY FOUND MYSELF SKIMMING A LOT OFMTHE PAGES.