Saving Sophie

Liam Taggart & Catherine Lockhart #2

by Ronald H. Balson

Jack Sommers was just an ordinary accountant from Chicago. That is, until his wife passed away, his young daughter was kidnapped, and he became the main suspect in an $88 million dollar embezzlement case. Now, Jack is on the run, hoping to avoid the feds long enough to rescue his daughter, Sophie, from her maternal grandfather, a suspected terrorist in Palestine.

With the help of the investigative team who first appeared in Once We Were Brothers, Liam and Catherine, and a new CIA operative, a secret mission is launched to not only rescue Sophie, but also to thwart a major terrorist attack in Hebron. But will being caught in the crossfire of the Palestine-Israeli conflict keep their team from accomplishing the task at hand, or can they overcome the odds and save countless lives, including their own?

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Audiobook, Book Club, Suspense

444 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 15, 2015

About the author

When he’s not writing books, Ron is a practicing attorney with the firm of Stone, Pogrund & Korey in Chicago. He has been a civil litigation attorney for forty-three years. He was an adjunct professor of business law at the University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business for twenty-five years and was a frequent lecturer in the federal bar certification course and in trial advocacy seminars.
The demands of his legal practice have taken Ron into courts all across the United States and Canada, and for deposition testimony all across Europe and Asia. A few years ago, Ron became involved in a commercial dispute concerning telephone service in Poland. Numerous trips to Warsaw and southern Poland provided the inspiration for his first novel, Once We Were Brothers. Ron’s love of history and his travels to the Middle East provided the motivation for his second novel, Saving Sophie.
During the Once We Were Brothers book tour, Ron was introduced to several survivors of the World War II concentration camps. Of all the stories of courage and determination, one woman’s story was so moving that it formed the basis for Karolina’s Twins, Ron’s third book due out in 2016.
Ron was a finalist for the Harper Lee Award for Legal Fiction in 2014 and a finalist for the Premio Bancarella Italian Literature Award in 2014. He was an honoree at the Chicago Public Library Foundation’s Carl Sandburg Literary Award dinner.

Reviews

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 A child kidnapped by her grandparents and taken the Middle East, millions of dollars missing, two dead in Chicago, possibly planned terrorist attack and a few other background stories make up, this novel. Entertaining at times, distracting at others, feel that almost too much was going on. It was a good read, interesting and I did like the explanation of what is going on between the Jews and the Arabs that I really had not understood. Also liked the descriptive writing describing these locations.

All the action and different threads occurring did keep the pages turning, but would have been less confusing if the book was more centered.

ARC from NetGalley.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack Sommers seems to have it all—a good job as an attorney at a prestigious Chicago law firm, a happy marriage to a beautiful wife, and a sweet little daughter named Sophie. But after visiting her parents in Palestine, Jack’s wife becomes ill and dies. Jack’s secure world begins to fall apart after her death. Sophie is kidnapped by her grandparents and taken to Palestine after a bitter custody battle. Desperate to bring his daughter home, Jack takes part in a scheme to embezzle money from a client and then use the money to ransom his child. The plot thickens when a private investigator informs Jack about a terrorist plot which involves his in-laws.

This complex, fast paced thriller is hard to put down. In addition to writing a suspenseful story, author Ronald Balson incorporates a wealth of information about the history of Palestine and Israel, and the fragile peace that exists in the region.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read the advanced copy of this novel. It is due to be published in September 2015.

[Meredith (Trying to catch up!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing premise with the embezzlement and kidnapping storylines. At times, I thought that there was too much material that the author could have cut out. There were also moments in the book where I felt like I was being preached at or taught a lesson about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Overall, I would recommend Saving Sophie. There's a lot of action and plot twists, and a big payoff in the end.

[Taury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book by Ronald Balson. I’ve yet to read a bad one

[Jeanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the Chicago placements and context as rarely is that in any way accurate. This was.

The plot itself reminded me more of a Grisham, rather than a Patterson. There is depth to the story line and in most ways to the principals' emotive motivations surrounding the criminal acts. But that was a bit of the "trouble" to me and its believability. Because nearly everyone in the book, except maybe for the bad guy father-in-law, WAS that over-riding motivation and nearly nothing else. I find this can be the case in numerous plotted action moderns. And for me that makes the characters flat as a result. You know the emotions and desires of their pasts, but still in present they become cartoon like.

It's still a good entertainment read. Yet overlong with placement changes and orientations to every geographic return becoming situationally redundant.

[Judy Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following Once We Were Brothers, Ronald H. Balson returns with another riveting page-turner, SAVING SOPHIE — A child kidnapping, terrorist activity, ransom, and an embezzlement.

Chicago PI Liam Taggart and his fiancée, lawyer, Catherine investigate an act of embezzlement, plus more. A Jewish accountant Jack Somers has been hiding in Hawaii after misdirecting $88 million—a business transaction, while trying to save his six-year-old daughter, Sophie. She has been kidnapped by his late wife’s Palestinian father—a suspected terrorist.

Jack is a partner with the prestigious Chicago law firm Jenkins & Fairchild, he marries, concert pianist Alina-- against the wishes of her father, Arif al-Zahani, a prominent Palestinian physician. After they marry and have a daughter, his wife suffers a sudden illness and dies.

The grandparents have not been active in Sophie’s life; however, after the death of their daughter, they fight for sole custody of her. They lose out; however, granted visitation rights. Then Sophie disappears.

Sommers, happens to be involved in a deal with one of his clients and diverts $88 million of funds while escaping under the radar to Hawaii. Now, he is on the run—from the feds, while in a race against time to rescue his daughter.

A man questions his faith, how God would take his wife, and destroy his family? What is His grand plan? His daughter has been stolen, and he has been reduced to a common thief. He has lost his self-respect and everything which is dear to his heart.

A complex story of a desperate father seeking to save his daughter. He will do anything to protect her. A compelling read; full of suspense, mystery, and intrigue. Legal fans will also enjoy - From Chicago, Hawaii, to the Middle East. A well-researched and fast-paced novel and a courageous little girl caught in the crossfire. Where love proves to be stronger than hate.

With the author's own background as an attorney with a Chicago firm, and trial practice taking him into courts across the US, and internationally---his expertise, legal insights, and passion are reflective throughout the pages of his two extraordinary books.

A special thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Love the Cover!

JDCMustReadBooks

Coming Sept 6, 2016, Karolina's Twins (Liam and Catherine #3). On my List!

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t know why this is called series. This book has nothing in common with Book I and Book III except for a lawyer and a detective. The other two books are filled with history, both set during WWII in Poland, and this one hardly has history in it except the Palestine-Israel conflict and it’s more of a suspense work than a good historical fiction/novel. Loved his other two books, but this one is a misunderstanding. The plots are all over, some not even realistic, not holding well together, not well-developed; some dialogue is trivial.

@FB: Best Historical Fiction

[Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC received courtesy of Goodreads.com giveaway

I loved this book! It had it all: international intrigue, a father's love, kidnapping, a terror plot and much more! I couldn't put this book down and had to finish it quickly. I think some of these characters may have been introduced in an earlier book but it made no difference to my enjoyment of the novel. This is an author I'll be on the look-out for!

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the first book in this series (which can be read as a standalone) but this sequel was just nonsensical and overloaded with info dumping. The plot involves embezzlement, kidnapping, bribery, and a terrorist plot that alternately involves Americans, Russians, Isrealis, and Palestinians. These things are not particularly interconnected, resulting in a mish mash of events that never resolves itself into one big picture. The parts of the book dealing with the extended background on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict along with Alina's family history spanning back three generations was, quite frankly, boring and unnecessary. The only major connection between this book and the previous book are the characters of Liam and Catherine, but their relationship doesn't get that much page time. This book was just disappointing for me. But with consideration for my love of the first book, I'll still give the third book a try.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put down until I finished the book.
So very contemporary. Everything a good book should have: great characters, a little history & geography, intrigue, mystery, family, sadness & joy, love, respect and just a great story.
Guess I have to read Once We Were Brothers next.

[ReadAlongWithSue recovering from a stroke★⋆. ࿐࿔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

** My thanks go to the author and to St. Martin's Press via Net Galley for my copy**



Once We Were Brothers is the first in the crime series, however, they can be read as stand alone.

Liam and Catherine are the Investigation team that were on the "job" in the previous book, its just different cases, so its fine to read as a stand alone.

We have here a Father whose child is kidnapped. Not only that, he is being accused of the crime. He is also being accused of embezzlement among other things.

What happened to the Mom of his child? She died early on in the book and we get to see how he has custody of his child and how the Grandparent also get visiting rights.

The thing is, the Grandparents didn't used to be interested before his wife died.

It moves along quite nicely and the plot is tight and interesting. You feel for the guy and also for the kidnapped daughter. However, I did feel the Mom took a back seat too early, but it had to be the case I guess so that the author could move the story at a faster pace and into the next area of this story.

I guessed where the daughter was. Its not hard. You don't really need a degree to gather who kidnapped her. That being said, it still doesn't minus anything from the story. Its still a good read.

What lengths would you go to for your child if she was kidnapped. What lengths would you go to so that you could keep them safe. No different from this chap.

Oh yes, did I mention a murder.........
Yep that is in it too which made it intriguing.


I liked this story, a lot. Just some things that lacked a bit of backbone, but all in all, I would recommend this to those that like a bit of murder, mystery, on the run, kidnap, religious beliefs and a bit of political anarchy thrown in.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucky enough to read an earlier pre-release copy of this book. It's another winner. Great character development, fast paced and exciting read. Mark it down on your list for September 15.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another exciting book in a series I’m enjoying. I had some difficulty getting into this one. There were so many different characters introduced at the beginning that I did something I’ve never done before—I made a list of characters with their descriptions. Then there were the Arabic character’s names going me trouble. Both of these things may be hazards of listening to the audio versions . . . or maybe it’s that I’m getting old since I celebrated my 82nd birthday last week! Thankfully I was able to get fully involved in the plot and invested in the new characters. Most of the action was through Liam’s investigation, and caused some friction with his fiancée, lawyer, Catherine. I like both these characters as they collaborate on a case. I look forward to their next endeavor.

[Bon Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book in this series. Apart from very complex and (at least to me) unpredictable plot that makes this a real mystery book, there's also an informational value. You'll find more about workings of the Middle East than you ever wanted to know, or more thank you even thought there was to know.

And, just as in the first book, there is very satisfactory conclusion where all the assholes get plugs they deserve. It seems to be the highlight of the series and this author. I like that.

Also, I'm getting very, very attached to this detective duo.

[Dorie - Cats&Books :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

All that Jack Sommers wants is to get his daughter back. He’s tried all of the legal ways, including through the State Department but has gotten nowhere.

Jack, a Chicago accountant working with a large law group specializes in mergers. Until a year ago his life was good. He and his wife Alina were happy together, they had a little daughter Sophie, whom they adored. When Alina’s mother is said to be very ill she returns to Hebron to visit. Immediately upon returning home Alina falls ill with what at first was thought to be a type of flu. She rapidly deteriorates and dies.

Jack is distraught and lost without Alina but he has Sophie and they cling to each other. Alina’s parents Dr. Arif al-Zahani and his wife sue for custody of Sophie. They lose the case but then beg to visit. Finally Jack agrees and during one of those visits, Sophie is kidnapped.

Jack is approached by some men who say that they can get Sophie back to him but for a very high price. A father will do anything to get his daughter back . . . . . .the only way is to embezzle $86 million dollars from the firm. That done, Jack flees and waits to hear from the conspirators.

From here the story takes off. There is so much here besides the hunt for Sophie. Al-Zahani is the head of an organized group of terrorists who are planning a major attack in the City of Jerusalem.

It doesn’t take long before Jack is involved in a complicated quest to return Sophie and abort the terrorist attack. He is helped by Catherine, a lawyer representing Jack’s law firm and her boyfriend, Liam who is a private investigator. When the large scale of the operation is discovered a CIA operative, Kayla, fluent in the language and all things Middle Eastern joins the team.

The story is a good one, although I felt it got a little bogged down at the beginning when Liam (and the reader) is given quite an extensive lesson in not only what is going on in the Middle East at this time but also the background of how and when the countries were divided, etc etc. I found myself flipping pages during that part.

The characters are well defined and their personalities and emotions become well known to the reader. When reading the amount of research that the author has done I’m assuming the history lesson is accurate and therefore useful for the story.

I enjoyed the book and would recommend it especially to people who like novels about counter-terrorism.

I reviewed this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Skip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack Sommers helps misdirect $88 million in a corporate acquisition to try to recover his daughter, who was kidnapped by her deceased mother's Palestinian parents. The story has many plotlines, from the young girl's unhappiness in Hebron, the rage of the megalomaniac seller whose money was stolen, to Middle Eastern politics. Liam is hired by the insurance company to find the money, which mission conveniently dovetails into finding Jack and the kidnapped daughter, while Catherine is asked to defend Jack's law firm. I enjoyed the book, especially Babson's attempt to explain the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but thought many of the characters were a bit flat, contrasted by too many complications for the female femme fatale spy/undercover agent. Nonetheless, I am looking forward to reading the next one. 3.5-3.75 stars.

[Schuyler Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long time attorney and author Ronald H. Balson follows up on his successful first novel, “Once We Were Brothers,” with another look at family ties and conflict in “Saving Sophie.” Here we have a troubled accountant, Jack Sommers, who has been given the task of putting together a business sale and gets involved with embezzling the proceeds. He intends the ill-gained money to be used to rescue his daughter, Sophie, who has been kidnapped by her maternal grandfather, a Palestinian terrorist. Others, including the grandfather, intend the money to be used to finance a violent terrorist attack. Sommers tries to evade Federal officials as he attempts to regain Sophie but gets trapped in a secret plan to stop the terrorist attack with daughter becoming a secondary concern of the pursuers.

Balson does many things right in this book. His research is extensive and highly accurate. He has extensive knowledge about the conflict of Jewish, Muslim, and Christian ideals that are the backbone of his story. He explains them in a secular manner that shines a comprehensible light on the conflict, something most difficult to accomplish. Centuries of discord have not resolved these differences, and Balson is not foolish enough to believe that he can settle them in his story. Instead he lets them speak for themselves and evolve into a plot that is believable and highly intriguing.

Personalities are well defined and motives are clear. The reader is able to develop likes and dislikes for each character. The conflicts are realistically portrayed, even including a jealousy between two main characters over a comely Federal agent. A weak-willed Sommers is painstakingly developed into the foolhardy father who stops at nothing to get his daughter. The fierce grandfather, who I initially thought too brutal and religiously strict to have any interest in Sophie’s well being, eventually reveals his own conflicts although his reign of terror never falters.

Perhaps the most endearing character is Sophie, who shows strength of will and fierce stubbornness that surpass even those of her maniacal grandfather, although she still retains her vulnerability and dependence on her beloved teddy bear. She is both brave and lovable in her captive situation, and perhaps the brightest star.

This is a great book destined, I believe, to future best-selling status. All of the elements that cause a book to be well received are here and should not be missed.

[Bonnye Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

XXX I received a free copy of this novel from Ronald Balson and Courtney with St Martin's Griffin on January 12, 2016. I look forward to a great read - thank you for sharing your hard work, and for participating in the Goodreads Giveaway program.

This is a complex story, but told in a way that is very easy to follow. The characters are completely human and even the protagonist is very empathetic. I loved the detailed descriptions and history lessons of Palestine, especially Hebron and Jerusalem, and their place in the world over time. Though a modern day thriller, I would also recommend to those, like I, who enjoy historical fiction. I will be following this author, and looking for his first novel, Once We Were Brothers.

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Catherine and Liam team up again, this time to help a law firm discover how one of its employees, Jack Sommers, made away with $86 million, costing them a lucrative deal. Of course, Liam and Catherine also become obsessed with why, when they discover that Jack’s wife died tragically, and his eight year old daughter has disappeared, presumably abducted by her estranged grandparents.

The story moves at a great pace, and holds your attention, with details on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, financial wheeling and dealing, and even gambling on basketball outcomes.

Read my full review here

[Cathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short chapters and historical background the only pluses. Cannot believe the rave reviews, implausible stories, flat characters, couldn't wait to finish it. Book club selection, or I would have left it long ago.

[The Jewish Book Council]

Review by Renita Last for the Jewish Book Council.

[Ronald Keeler · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book will be interesting for those who hear repeated “keywords” on the morning news as background noise while going to work and don’t really know what is going on. Perhaps they cannot find the West Bank or Gaza on any map; they would like to but haven’t discovered a painless or entertaining way to do so. This book fills the bill as historical fiction with a heavy influence on the historical. The fiction is clearly identified by the author in endnotes. As with any emotional, currently controversial, in-the-news issue, hardcore ideologues will disagree with some points calling them “alleged facts”, but that is what reader-response criticism is all about.

I gave the book only three stars because while I liked the history part a lot (more than four stars) I found the narrative setting, the way the story was told, boring to unrealistic. Financial crime combined with basketball score fixing, combined with criminal mafia activity seemed to struggle in stretching to encompass (by the way) a kidnapping. The kidnapping was to be the central driver for the book. Along with historical animosities. There are many conflicts throughout the book; to describe their resolutions would be to write spoilers.

Jack lost a wife due to terrible disease. He promised her he would take care of daughter Sophie, but Sophie was kidnapped by extremist/potential terrorist Father-in-law. Even Dr. Father-in-law could not explain the invisible hand help he had in accomplishing the kidnapping. Jack, up to the time of the kidnapping, was a morally perfect person. The financial crime was understandable to support rescue efforts and return Sophie to Jack. The story proceeds in a fairly predictable way, but the writing is good except for the points where Jack retreats (repeatedly) into his mind to reflect on why bad things happen to innocent people (himself). He also spends a great amount of time rationalizing immoral, or at least unethical, methods to achieve moral, justifiable ends. These internal musings and flashbacks are a bit annoying and can happen under any circumstance, such as when he is receiving background (historical) information from a beautiful, rogue spy he has met. This is the unrealistic part.

Spies are human too. They exhibit human behavior both bad and good but perhaps at more clearly defined extremes. Kayla, the possible rogue spy, is quite willing to sacrifice Sophie to achieve her own ends. OK, that is realistic. Close to the end of the book (not a spoiler) Liam makes a statement (paraphrase) [there are more people like Kayla…] to which Jack replies “Racism will never win out. It’s flawed in every sense because love is much stronger than hate.” Meanwhile Kayla, rogue agent who was willing to kill Sophie but at the same time was thinking about sleeping with Jack, “smiles proudly” as she hears Jack’s affirmation of his moral base. I found these to be syrupy sweet conclusive statements that did not fit with the potential outcomes that made up an otherwise interesting story.

Despite my negative impression of several parts of the book, the historical part was so good I would read the book again and recommend it to those with minimal knowledge of this ongoing conflict.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another 5 stars, for Saving Sophie - Book Two of 5 in my series for the year, that begins with Once We Were Brothers, starring super-couple Catherine Lockhart and Liam Taggert, who are just great together.

In this one, and you know I don't try hard not to give spoilers, we see an international embezzlement, a kidnapping, with a child who is embroiled in the heart of the Arab Israeli Conflict. We see viral terrorism (no kidding - right? Who would have picked this early 2000 book to read right now). We see sports fraud. We see a super spy covert operation rescue. And at the heart of it is little Sophie.

Anyone who appreciates the historical part, and the Jewish political themes will not be disappointed. But one thing to note that Ron Balsam does very well, is to distinguish between the terrorists, and the Palestinians that are schooled in hate, from Arabs who are decent thoughtful beautiful people. Balsam well illustrates that communities of Arabs and Jews have lived well together as brothers and sisters, building a life and world together as one country and community, for centuries. This distinction is well delineated in the book. And looks towards the future as a time where our generation and the ones moving forward continue to build these bridges, rather than cause divide and hatred. I loved how that was the message of the book.

So it was a thriller in ways, and of course the backdrop is our passionate heroes, Catherine and Liam, who are really interesting characters and make a super great match! Loved it! Next up - Karolina's Twins.

[Maureen DeLuca · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very difficult for me to rate this book for there is WAYYY too much going on here. At times I wanted to give this book 2.5 stars, other times 5 . The kidnapped part of the book was excellent- and the Jews vs Palestine part of the book was amazing!! If you decide to read this book, have an open mind and most of all a clear mind. It was the 2nd in this series and the only link are the two main characters: Kathryn the lawyer and Liam the PI . All in all I'm glad I read it but whew!! Like I said - way too much going on!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I won this book on Goodreads.

I liked this book. It had thrills and suspense with a little humor and romance. There were far-flung locations, interesting good people, and very bad villains. I even learned something about the history and the current political status of the Middle East. What happened to the bride was just mean, but otherwise, I enjoyed reading this story.

Note: I did notice one typo, but I was reading an uncorrected proof.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as the author's first book, Once We Were Brothers. Not nearly as much heart. But still an entertaining read, and thrilling in parts.

[Good Book Fairy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 http://www.goodbookfairy.com/saving-s...

[Magdelanye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peaceful solutions leading to two states is the Palestinian cause. Israel is already a state. Palestine wants to be one. And it won't get there if terrorists run the government. Secured borders, negotiated between responsible parties, is the only way the conflict can be resolved. p212

Whether or not you agree with the above statements, they do elevate the mostly narrative driven plot and lifted my rating up a notch for the GR 5 point system. In my 7 point system, this would be a 5.

A child has been abducted across international borders. We are fairly certain who done it and even why, but if you can get past the contrived plot and like a good mystery, RHB is good at stringing the reader along. He also has done his homework and some of his observations contain ideas worth pondering beyond the framework of this book.

The sad fact is this-both sides are victims to the terrorists. And the consequence is further polarization of the two peoples, which, of course serves the terrorist's goal. p386

[Charlotte Guzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great thriller that is filled with history.
A story with many characters and stories of them.
A kidnapping leads to embezzlement that leads to a terrorist act.
I loved all of the characters and even though there was a lot going on in the story I was able to keep up because they all affected each other.
I have read one other book by this author and will continue to read others. A great writer.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another wonderful book from this brilliant author a solid 4 stars and well recommended...