The Ransom Drop by RobPhayre, whilst being a fictional construct, evolves into a very real-life experience of one of the most terrifying and pernicious acts that can be played out on the high seas, known to all as piracy, and infamously stretching back throughout recorded history. This is a world of extremes that is beyond understanding for most of us; a world where small settlements eke out an existence from the barren lands of Somalia whilst mega-ships ply their trade off the coast, carrying hundreds of millions of dollars with them to destinations forever beyond reach. This vast disparity ultimately leads to a breaking point, where some Somalians decide to take matters into their own hands and grab a piece of the pie. The truly terrifying thing about all of this is that the values by which these local people live seem to only apply to their own kind; foreigners are treated as property to be bought and sold, and heaven help you if they don’t get their way.

Rob Phayre’s The Ransom Drop is a fascinating read, with unique perspectives from all of the players involved, backed by an obvious depth of knowledge of the author. The incredible thing about this story, in my opinion, is the attitude of the pirates. These are people that have little regard for those outside their culture, and see what they are doing as just another job; incredulously, they seem to look at this as a career path of choice! Further, it seems the authorities are either too apathetic or disinterested to take action, even when the criminals are clearly identified and photographed carrying out their actions. Against this background, the characters were nicely built up into quite believable individuals, with obvious cultural differences molding their personas. The Ransom Drop is a quality read that opens your eyes to a problem that is obviously not going away without concerted effort.

The Ransom Drop is a thriller novel by Rob Phayre inspired by the hijacking of international cargo ships near the Somalian coast. Abdi, son of a warlord in Hobyo, Somalia, hatches an audacious plan to hijack international cargo ships. After borrowing a hefty sum from a nefarious man named The Associate, he uses those funds to buy skiffs and hire men needed for the mission. Soon, he successfully hijacks the Herbernia III, a VLCC commanded by Captain Oleksiy for a Greek company. John, manager of the company's fleet of ships, leads the negotiations with help from a hostage negotiator named Finlay. Meanwhile, a former MI6 agent, Max, and his team are hired to make the drop. As the days go by, the situation becomes increasingly precarious.

The Ransom Drop takes you to the dangerous waters of Eastern Africa, where piracy runs amok. Author Rob Phayre expertly builds up tension and intrigue in this thrilling tale of hostage rescue. The plot moves at a brisk pace, with a multiple POV narrative that shows the varying factions involved within the story. There is a realistic quality to Phayre's character work that makes them riveting to read. Apart from the protagonists, you also get a glimpse into the psyches of the antagonists that makes them all the more compelling. Scenes involving Max's crew were some of my favorite sections to read, and I thoroughly enjoyed the banter between Raj and Mike. If you enjoyed the movie Captain Phillips, you're going to love The Ransom Drop.

The Ransom Drop (The Response Files) by Rob Phayre is an award-winning, gripping military suspense novel about piracy that will have you on the edge of your seat. Fledgling Somali pirates hijack an oil tanker in a lonely, dangerous location, so expert maritime negotiators are summoned to rescue the crew, but are these professionals up to the challenge? They need to avert a huge environmental crisis, save the souls on the ship, and preserve the precious cargo worth millions of dollars. Reputations are on the line and secrets are revealed as to how this Somali piracy was resolved.

Phayre expertly guides this thriller through its breath-holding plot. Grounded in so much realism, the story pulses with life and tension, and the characters spring to life. The author himself has personally delivered huge ransoms at sea and negotiated hostage situations, so besides this being a cutting-edge work of fiction, it's also written from a foundation of personal experience. Trigger warnings may apply for hostage situations, strong language, and extreme violence, but as you read, you will become absorbed in this military page-turner, and get an inside view of how piracy works and how it was thwarted. The momentum builds along with the action and dialogue to a crescendo fit for a movie or mini-series. The characters are well-constructed, the plot well-executed, and perfectly paced.

This author seems to be a natural storyteller. You'll have an interesting time getting to know the team, and you'll wonder how the story will play out. Vivid details and attention to the little things keep you locked into the story, and he has a quick, efficient way of bringing you into the lives and minds of the characters and their situations. If you like high stakes and rescue scenarios, you will become an instant fan of Rob Phayre and The Ransom Drop.

The Ransom Drop (The Response Files) by Rob Phayre is a tension-drenched narrative that sets the bar high for a thriller story at sea. Hibernia II is an oil tanker carrying a cargo of petroleum products and is on her way to Mombasa. Just as everything is smooth-sailing, a group of inexperienced Somali pirates hijacks the vessel, demanding 110 million US dollars by the end of the week. A team of negotiators, security, and maritime experts is called to help and ensure the safety of the tanker’s crew. They initially have no idea about the baddies involved in the hijack, except for one named Abdi, who speaks with a strong cockney London British accent. As negotiations are underway, the rescue team prepares for phases and timings—a plan that must leave no room for error. The problem is, things don’t always go according to plan.

What unfolds in these pages is gripping as Rob Phayre demonstrates his narrative skills at building tension: from an up-close and personal look at the Somali pirates to the detailed, meticulous plan of the rescue and ransom drop. Employing dialogue between negotiators increases verisimilitude, and this story greatly reminds me of Captain Phillips, except that this novel feels grittier and more intense. It has a balanced focus between hijacking and rescue. Moreover, there are powerful psychological exchanges between the pirates and the negotiators. It’s the kind of story where even the detailed plan of rescue is entertaining to read. It has a strong sense of urgency because the good guys are often fighting against time in order to deliver results. The Ransom Drop is an engaging military novel that ranks high in my list of must-reads.