Bad Traffick by DV Berkom

AMAZON UK
AMAZON US

After reading the first Leine Basso thriller (Serial Date), I had no hesitation at all diving into book number two. This reminded me of those bath-bomb soaps that fizz and crackle energetically as soon as they touch the water. No sooner had I ‘turned’ (tapped on the Kindle!) a couple of pages, this burst into a fizz of energetic thrills. Mind you, that’s where the similarity ends: a bath bomb invites you to de-stress in its luxurious smelling water. Leine Basso is not the sort of protagonist to let you relax: there’s no doubt that, whether she likes it or not, she’s quite the adrenalin junkie who takes you on a roller-coaster ride.

I’m totally smitten by this character. In this second adventure, Leine takes on another temporary position looking after the security of an actor, Miles Fournier. A popular one of particular interest to a young twelve-year-old, Mara, an abductee of some unscrupulous traffickers, who has managed to escape the horrors they have in store for her. Mara believes Miles can help her, but when her ‘mother’ also contacts Miles, claiming he is her brother and hoping he can help find Mara, alarm bells sound for Leine, and she has to draw on her considerable experience to flush out the traffickers in a bid to find Mara before she gets sucked into their web of heinousness. 

My opinion of Leine hasn’t changed. She’s sassy, smart, brave and passionate and doesn’t suffer fools (or evil criminals) gladly. 

Utterly gripping, compelling, edge-of-your seat writing. I’d say the only problem is, you’re left wanting more. As it happens, that’s nicely solved (thank goodness) by book number three, which is burning a hole on my Kindle waiting to be read forthwith!

Highly recommended.