Ransom is the chilling, page-turning narrative about the July 4 th 1995 kidnappings of British, German and American trekkers in Kashmir by Islamic extremists, replete with insider details about the hostage negotiations and the bravery of the hostage families.

A groundbreaking narrative that chronicles a two-year journey behind the scenes of the post-Cold War surge in kidnappings worldwide. It is based largely on interviews with former hostages and hostage negotiators (from Scotland Yard, the FBI, and private firms, such as Control Risks Group). The narrative focuses on a July 4, 1995 kidnapping by Islamic extremists in Kashmir, considered to be al-Qaeda’s first assault against Americans. One part British and one part American, the book offered the first close look at the privatization of hostage negotiations and was the first journalistic account of the tragic July 4, 1995 kidnapping in Kashmir.

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“Reads like a tautly written thriller.” – Dayton Daily News

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“A riveting account of the dramatic growth in global abductions.” – Business Week

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“A book that is hard to put down.” – Escape magazine

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“Virtually every day an innocent person is kidnapped somewhere in the world. Often behind the event is a tale of heroism and heartbreak. This book tells that story.  – Terry Waite, former hostage