The Abduction: A Thriller

by T.O. Paine

She should never have gotten into his car.

Marcus Crawford doesn't want to go back to jail. They shouldn't have sent him there in the first place because it wasn't his fault. It was an accident. Everyone—except the jury—agreed. The only good thing that came from his incarceration was meeting Crystal. She sent him letters. She supported him. After his release, Marcus, Crystal, and her precious nine-year-old daughter from a previous marriage, Hannah, became a family.

But, before they could marry, Marcus discovered a needle in Crystal's gym bag. Crystal lied about where she'd been. Her makeup failed to cover the blossoming red spots on her cheeks. He attempted to support her the way she'd supported him in prison, but her addiction to drugs won.

She ended their relationship.

Now, months later, a man in a stolen car waits outside an elementary school in Elko, Nevada. He's waiting in the hot sun for the bell to ring. He's waiting for a little girl named Hannah to come out.
He's waiting to abduct her.

Crystal's substance abuse has only gotten worse since the break-up. She's not capable of saving Hannah now. Hannah needs someone like Marcus to save her, but thanks to Crystal's meth addiction, he's no longer in Hannah's life.

The school bell rings. Hannah comes out. The man opens the door to his car, and she gets inside.

Find out what happens to Hannah . . .   Get Your Copy Today!

Genres: Ebooks, Thriller

135 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 21, 2023

About the author

T.O. Paine is an award-winning author of fast-paced thriller suspense novels. He is a member of International Thriller Writers and holds a master’s degree in computer information systems. When he is not writing, you can find him running and cycling through the mountains of Colorado, USA. T.O. has run fifty marathons in fifty states, ridden his road bike over 10,000 miles up 10,000-foot mountains, and completed an IRONMAN.

He resides with his wife, two children, and two Boston terriers: Fiona the Ogre and Rudy the Trickster.

T.O loves to hear from thriller readers. Visit his website for information on upcoming releases, free stories, giveaways, and other thrilling content.

➜ GIVEAWAYS: topaine.com/giveaway
➜ FACEBOOK: facebook.com/topaineauthor
➜ INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/t.o.paine
➜ TWITTER: twitter.com/topaine
➜ EMAIL: topaine@topaine.com
➜ WEBSITE: topaine.com/

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a goodreads drawing.

A guy in Elko, Nevada kidnaps his meth addicted girlfriend's daughter, to rescue her. There's also a faltering cult. The two storylines come together in a not wholly satisfactory way.

Not bad, but didn't quite gel.

[Wpayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story!

Kinda strange but really interesting. At first I thought Marcus was some kind of nut but at the last well that's for your readers to find out.

[Deb Oman · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this story

Your writing had me from the beginning. I was on the edge of my seat all the way through this wonderful book.
This is my favorite genre and I seriously could not put it down.

[Daniel Nobles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

Well this was my first look into the prequel novel to ,”The Teaching”, and all I have to say is how amazing the story was laid out, and just kept you hooked and coming back for more. A very well written story that definitely won’t let you down.

[Laura Hundley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Abduction from T. O. Paine is a well written thriller that keeps you wondering all the way to the end. The only thing I wish was that it were longer. I loved The Teaching and how it was based on true events from the authors own life in a cult. There are few authors that can captivate readers from all genres and I think Paine certainly has what it takes to do so. While I love Novella’s, I just wanted more of Marcus Crawford, Crystal and Hannah. Maybe she should not have gotten in his car for real.

5 stars all day long

Thank you to Goodreads, the author, and publisher for giving me a copy to read in order to give an unbiased and honest review.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this short novel. The abduction is a well written weekend read with a suspenseful narrative. Marcus is not Hannah’s father, but he feels the need to save her from his drug addicted ex. Marcus is not perfect and has even been to prison himself, but he doesn’t use drugs. He picks Hannah up from school just to spend time with the little girl he loves and misses so much. His unplanned visit turns into a kidnapping. As Marcus drives with no plan in mind; he runs out of gas. Marcus finds himself in a remote location inhabited by a financially struggling cult. Hannah takes off and he finds himself again trying to rescue her. He is being held captive to perform duties for the cult while continuing to search for Hannah by any means necessary. A cult member tries to blackmail Marcus after finding out about the kidnapping. Will he escape and find Hannah or submit to the cult?
#Goodreads Giveaways

[Annette Pena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick but Good Read!

I really liked this book but I wish it was longer. It is a great introduction to his other book The Teaching which I will be reading next.
The Haven is a cult group that Marcus stumbles upon and if you ask me, they aren't nice people.
I liked how it ends as it ties everything up. If you are looking for a quick read that gives you anxiety and happiness, I recommend you read The Abduction!

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Abduction by T.O. Paine is a tense, thought-provoking read that lingers long after the final page. Paine’s personal experience with cult life adds an extra layer of authenticity, making this novella not just a thrilling ride, but a deeply unsettling glimpse into lives shaped by fear and control.

[Anna J · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author had personal experience with a cult that adds to the creepiness of this book. Marcus doesn't want to go back to jail. He wants to save a little girl named Hannah who's mom is a meth addict. He wants to give her a better life.

This was a short quick read that gave you a glimpse at cult life.

[Jenny Coyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this novella is a prequel to The Teaching it can easily be read as a standalone. This takes place about 20 years before The Teaching and only briefly touches on the cult. The Abduction is exactly that. It is about the abduction of a young girl and what a man will do to get her back. This book ends cleanly with no cliffhanger so it stands well on its own.

[ciera compton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad read but Definitely not one id suggest to any friends. It was an okay short in between figuring out what I wanted to dive into next.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt that I didn't really understand the point of this prequel novella. Perhaps it would make more sense if you read the sequel.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

What started out as an act of love quickly turned sour.

The story's fast pace takes you to places you wouldn't expect.

If you like a thrill, this is a great story to read.

[C.W. Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a little bit to get into this book, but once it got going I really enjoyed it.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best or worst book I've ever read. The first half of the book was great, but the second half kind of dragged. I do love stories about criminals out of their league, though.