עקבות

by Niv Kaplan, ניב קפלן

סאם בייקר מתחיל ליהנות מחייו כאיש משפחה עם אישה אוהבת ובן תינוק כשאירוע אלים אחד מותיר אותו ללא כל – אשתו נרצחת ובנו נחטף.
חייו משתנים לבלי הכר והוא מתחיל לעקוב – מקדיש את זמנו לחיפוש רמזים שיובילו אל בנו ומקים ארגון בינלאומי לחיפוש ילדים נעדרים המנוצלים לעבדות, לסחר מין, ומהווים כלי משחק לנקמה בין הורים גרושים.
העקבות מובילים למקומות עלומים. חברי ארגונו מנהלים מאבקים חובקי עולם, אך עמוק במדבר סיני בינות לרכסי גרניט אלמותיים וים בעל גוונים עוצרי נשימה, נאלץ סאם להתעמת עם הפחדים הגדולים ביותר שלו. שנאה, שחיתות, ותאוות בצע מאיימים על פעילות ארגונו והוא פונה ליחידה חשאית שמתגייסת לעזרתו.
שיתוף הפעולה מביא תוצאות אך כשנחשפות ראיות מחרידות על שימוש בילדים לזרוע הרס, מובילות העקבות לעימות קטלני.
זהו סיפור על טרור מודרני, מזימות בינלאומיות, דיפלומטיה והקרבה – עם מטרה למצוא ילד אחד קטן. האם סאם ימצא את בנו?
ניב קפלן, שספרו הראשון "היעלמות" ראה אור ב-2012 ומכר אלפי עותקים. הוא בן קיבוץ איילת השחר, בעל חברת ייעוץ לתעשיית המטוסים, מתגורר בתל-אביב עם אשתו טלי וילדיהם.

Genres: Fiction, Amazon, Thriller, Mystery

500 pages, Paperback

First published June 18, 2013

About the author

Grew up in the Kibbutz and in NYC.
Studied Audio Engineering in NYC.
Studied Physics & Eng in CAL POLY Pomona.
BSc from CSUN (Northridge) in Marketing.
Started Writing "Disappearance" in 1992.
Published "Disappearance" in 2012.
Started Writing "Tracks" in 1997.
"Tracks" was published this year (2014).
Married with Tali + 7 kids.
Lives in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Reviews

[Ruth Tel-tsur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, my, where do I begin?

This is not lite reading. The subject matter deals with difficult and often violent situations and troubling issues that are hard to read through; but only because they're so d...mn believable! The opening alone is in your face sexual violence that ends tragically - I almost had to stop reading; but if you can get through the initial shock - you're in for one heck of a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat; most likely all night because you can't put it down!

Reading this book was for me like - `hating you love fudge'. Bad analogy I know, but I'm going somewhere with this, I promise. Have you ever seen something that was so horrific you couldn't turn away? You didn't want to look but you couldn't stop yourself? Well, that's how I felt reading this book; because I knew that as horrific as some of the scenes were - [with the richly woven plot intertwined with deeply touching personal relationships] there was going to be an outcome worth waiting for - and I wasn't disappointed!

The author does such a brilliant job in bringing the characters to life! They live - you know them, care about them; you smile when they smile and grieve when they cry. Real life situations can be very hard to convey - but not for Niv Caplan!

In short - this is a brilliantly written book; and if you love mystery and intrigue - [and don't mind violent situations] then you won't be able to put it down until you've reached the last page. Guaranteed!

I'm going to bed now - your turn. Enjoy the book!

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like books that will keep you on the edge of your seat, Tracks by Niv Kaplan is a great read for you. Mr. Kaplan creates characters that resonate within the reader and make one ask, "What if my child were taken?" It's really hard to write a review for this book without any spoilers, but it is a great read. You won't put it down until you are finished with the story. It's powerful.

[Rich Meyer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Let's see: To begin with, we have some serious formatting issue that are just unprofessional. Fonts vary in size, pages start at varying places on the screen, and the use of page breaks is seriously inconsistent. Independent authors get enough junk thrown at them for the stereotypes of being unprofessional in presentation and this sort of laissez-faire attitude toward formatting makes us all look bad.

Then you've got the sniveling fact that the author has put keywords in on Amazon.com for his "contributors" on the book. "Espionage" apparently wrote a non-existent foreward to the book, "Mystery" provided some lackluster, if non-evident illustrations and "Thriller"'s evocative but invisible photographs provided a great counterpoint to the story. Please, if you want to game the system, try and be a little less obvious, okay? As I always say, I don't mind a crook, but I hate a cut-rate one (to paraphrase Bogart).

And then there's the actual novel itself. I don't ever recall a mystery and espionage thriller that began with a fairly graphic birth sequence. And several forays to a nude beach. While the author obviously had a mind to set something up there, I think he could've taken a less gratuitous path to the plot.

There's also an old adage among writers: "Show me, don't tell me." Without going back to look (and I don't want to, since I've already deleted this book from my Kindle), I would hazard an estimate that about 20-25% of the book was dialogue, the remainder being exposition; the author telling us what the characters are doing and feeling and thinking and droning on and on and on. I didn't find a single piece of dialogue until about 4.8% in, and by that time I was so bored I wasn't sure if it was part of the opening flashback again or someone actually talking in real time. I sped read through most of it, something I rarely do with a book that captures your attention, but if I start a book I like to finish it.

I should've taken my Kindle's advice; when I downloaded this book today, my Kindle froze up for an hour or so. It tried to tell me. My Kindle tried to save my time! Why, oh why didn't I listen? I must listen to loud heavy metal now for a few hours to drown the sluggardish monotony of Tracks from my mind!

[Sarah Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I decided to review the book Tracks, I had read the summary. I tend to get emotionally involved in the books I choose to read, but when there are children in the book it is either hit or miss for me. I can't bring myself to read about children getting hurt because we see so much of that in our world today on the nightly news. I knew I was taking a risk tackling this book.

Kaplan did a beautiful job with this book. He clearly knows how form a decent story. This story is not for the faint of heart and is not for someone looking for a light read. It's also not a book for someone who is not interested in details or strong character building. Kaplan works hard to show his readers exactly who the characters are and why they behave the way they do. I find this to be a strength in the book. If you really pay attention to the details, you will understand exactly what the motives are behind each character and this is one of the many reasons that the story holds up so well.

There are a few different plots running through this book, which adds depth and richness to the story. All of the plots wrap back into the main plot, which is finding missing children. There is also a large life lesson in there for all of us. One person's action, no matter how righteous it may seem, can bring about massive destruction and affect the lives of many. It was a good reminder to think through every decision we make, especially in a time of crisis, and be sure we are willing to accept the consequences of these actions for everyone involved.

[Denise]

Tracks written by Niv Kaplan is very heavy read that is full of suspense from the first page all the way to the last. This book is very well written and keeps you on the edge of your seat waiting for the next big move. The book centralizes on a grieving father is tracking any clues, and any traces of his kidnapped child. While focusing on this search, he helps form an international organization that tracks other missing children. The subject matter ranges from child trafficking, terrorism, and sex. The story is well told and believable. I found myself quietly hoping that Sam would be reunited with his lost son.

The characters are all very well developed and relateable. Although there are many characters and a lot of different plots to keep track of, the setting and characters are developed enough that it is easy to flow through each plot and from character to character without getting lost or confused.

The book easily help my interest throughout. I found there were few if any parts of the novel where I was bored or losing interest. I was constantly hoping the good guy would "win" and wanting to know what would come next. There is plenty of mystery and heart ache to keep reading and hoping for.

The subject matter is quite deep and there are plenty of sex scenes and violent scenes to make this highly inappropriate for younger readers!

[Deb Picard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time! I COULD NOT put it down! This is a must read! The author does such a brilliant job in bringing the characters to life! They live - you know them, care about them; you smile when they smile and grieve when they cry. I love reading a book that actually makes you feel like your seeing it yourself. This is that book. It was a little difficult at first just knowing how much truth there is to the book itself but it was amazing and heart touching. I am recommending this book to everyone that loves to read! Enjoy!

[Karen Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book started out with some very graphic and unexpected scenes that would lead you to believe that it's not as it's presented. Get yourself past them and then you get into the heart of the story. It's about the underground world of child slavery, trafficking and government corruption. Sam takes you on his life's mission to save children from these horrific scenes while holding on to any hope of ever finding his own missing son.

[Melissa T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently finished reading Tracks. It was a very interesting read. I was able to relate it to things that are happening now and this made it even more attention grabbing. There are some parts that contain graphic details and violence. I wouldn't recommend this for a young audience.

[Sandra Scherl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Read

This book was fast paced,well written.Took me into each situation which was clearly explained.Loved it.I recommend it to anyone looking for an exceptional thrill.

[Joan M Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally Gripping Story

Told with much detail, but never boring. Plot is also realistic. Read it straight through. Would recommend to anyone who likes action

[Colette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not the usual type of book I read but as I had downloaded it for free a couple of years ago (I am slowly making my way through my freebies - I get distracted with some fab ones that I purchase the series and read those, hence why it has remained unread for so long). Firstly there are serious formatting issues - the font size goes from miniscule (not good for someone who purchased a Kindle so that I could increase the font size to be able to read comfortably) to enormous at random points for the first part of the book. (knocked off 1 star for that).

Secondly the opening, a graphic birth scene that initially makes you (or maybe it was just me?) think it was describing someone having sex. Twelve months passed and the mother is stood naked in front of her full length mirror reminiscing on how she met her childs' father and then spends a great deal of time on their way of life at that time which involved spending most of the summer on a nudist beach and engaging in a lot of sex and not just with each other, although that appeared more the father than the mother. I found it totally unnecessary to the story - OK it introduces a character that appears much later in the book but I don't think the introduction needed to be described like that. I don't read books that have a lot of gratuitous sex in it, it's just not something I enjoy in a book and so I was tempted to "throw" it on my DNF "pile". (star number 2 knocked off).

Now for the good. Skip forward 10 years and the father has devoted his life to tracking down his son who was kidnapped after the brutal rape and murder of his wife on that night. He has set up an agency which employs 5 others - 3 women and 2 men (both former police/detectives) - and whose aim is to track down children who have been kidnapped/taken for 1 reason or another, be it by estranged parents after divorce, child slaves or child sex trafficking. The plot is really good, although the subject matter does make it hard reading.

If you can get past the formatting issues and the initial sex then I would recommend you give it a try.

[writesss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rewrite this in professional way A man’s life turns to tracking…

In this gripping thriller, a grieving father, Sam Baker, embarks on a relentless manhunt to find any clue that might lead him to his kidnapped child. His desperate search grows into an international organization dedicated to locating and rescuing other missing children worldwide.

The suspense never lets up as Sam and his team probe the darkest corners of the flesh trade, custody battles, and child slavery from bustling cities to the desolate beauty of the Sinai Desert. Amidst timeless granite cliffs and the Gulf’s striking landscapes, Sam’s greatest fears take shape: hate, corruption, and greed threaten to destroy everything he’s built. In a desperate move, he turns to a covert outfit for help only to uncover a chilling plot to use children as pawns of terror. What begins as a personal quest leads to a deadly confrontation with a ruthless terrorist network.

Tracks is a powerful tale of modern terrorism, international intrigue, and sacrifice all driven by a father’s unwavering hope to find his son. Kaplan’s second novel delivers a riveting adventure about ordinary people risking everything to rescue the world’s most vulnerable.

Overall, I would recommend this book without hesitation. It’s well-written, deeply researched, and the characters feel strikingly real you come to know them as if they were close friends or neighbors. While the story starts at a steady pace, once the action escalates it becomes impossible to put down.

A compelling, thoughtful read that stays with you long after the final page.

[RASHMI · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deeply affecting, intelligent, and powerful novel. Tracks is more than a thriller—it’s a heart-wrenching story about love, loss, and the lengths a parent will go to for justice. Kaplan’s descriptions of the international underworld are terrifyingly vivid, yet the emotional journey of Sam Baker grounds the story in something deeply real and human. The pacing is relentless, the stakes are high, and the resolution is both satisfying and thought-provoking. Easily one of the best thrillers I’ve read this year.

[Yael Wagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

may be great for an action movie with some tear jerking moments, but overall, disappointing. too many "side plots" that, i guess, are meant to increase the adrenaline rush, but too often they are not developed enough to justify the branching out.
topic, nonetheless, is important. read if you've got nothing better to read.

[Linda Look · Rating 4 out of 5]

American babies are being kidnapped, shipped to Lebanon and trained to infiltrate America when they are returned at age 16. Sam's son Sammy was taken and his mother killed when he was 1 year old. Many countries, intelligent services and warriors tried to stop the smuggling and find Sammy. Good plot but too long and too much war and killing. I rate this a 4.7

[Cheryl Linton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book

Well written and interesting. It took me a while to get really involved in the story, but suddenly I found I didn't want to put it down.

[Moshe · Rating 2 out of 5]

מתחיל טוב ואף, נותן תחושה שהולך
לקרות משהו ממש טוב.

ואז, דואך בבת אחת. נהיה נדוש ולא
אמין בעליל.

[Michael Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tracks Sneaks Up On You Like A Whistleblower True Story

Tracks by Niv Kaplan boasts spotless editing, picture perfect narrative prose and flawless dialogue-directed action. The book sneaks up on the reader. A shocking opening gambit propels readers into a lull during which the tension winds up behind the scenes of the protagonist’s malaise. The pressure-cooker boils over and explodes the story onto the canvas painted by a reality-based artist.

Rarely have I read love of country translated into intimate affection for the land; its geography; its nuance; its power. Having visited the area around Nueba in what is now Egypt but was Israel, I can testify that the descriptions of the Red Sea area border on aching descriptions of a lost love. Then just when the reader thinks the story has settled into a disturbing though predictable pattern, a time bomb starts ticking a new unsettling subplot.

Niv Kaplan’s book must become a movie. Its visual imagery and heartrending personal tragedies balanced against triumphs would shine on the silver screen. Pick it up before one of the big six publishers takes it away.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Disappearance' is one of those books that took me by surprise. The plot was unbelievably thrilling. Full of mystery, action and suspense. The way it played out had me stunned at times, mostly due to the believability that the scenarios could be based on truth. The characters were great. I liked how the good guys, from different walks of life, banded together in attempts to save Karen. The only thing that confused me was that there were so many players within this story that I had a hard time remembering who the good guys and the bad guys were. Yet I understand with a storyline like this it had to have many characters. A great add to your tbr list.

[Florence Primrose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sam Baker returns home to find his wife, Michelle, dead and his infant son, Sammy, missing.

For ten years Sam works with his agency to find missing children throughout the world. Inadvertently Jack, on his team learns that young children from the U,S. Have been abducted and are being trained to be terrorists in the U,S.

Sam and his team are involved with terrorists throughout the Middle East as they search for Sammy and other missing children.

[Anita R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great mystery with twisted plots that keep you in suspense.

[Sharon]

Great book, couldn't put it down!

[Alanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

very suspenseful. this book kept me interested although I'm not sure about plausability it was a good read.

[Jo Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! I'd like to read more by this author.

[Racheli Zusiman · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's OK, nothing special.

[Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it

This book has a little of a slow start but is good at the details so that you feel that you are on an actual case. It immersed me in the story by the end

[Knottynana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tracks?

I was intrigued by that title and wanted to know why, but had to go through preparation.
Bam, and just took off and kept healthy pace to make a good read.

[Paul E Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very compelling and interesting story.