A teenage girl vanishes without a trace.
No ransom demand. No body. No witnesses.
Did she run away with a secret boyfriend? Was she kidnapped? Or is something far worse waiting to be uncovered?
Her parents are frantic, trapped between hope and dread. The police move methodically, but not urgently enough. With every passing hour, the chances of finding her alive slip away.
Enter Ben John-former elite officer, now a private investigator who knows that the first version of a story is rarely the truth. As he digs beneath the surface of the city of Hong Kong, secrets begin to fracture the façade of a respectable family and a tightly knit community.
Lies multiply. Timelines collapse. And someone is watching his every move.
In a city where reputation is everything and silence can be bought, Ben must uncover what really happened before "Gone" becomes "Murdered"...
Because the truth is out there. And it doesn't want to be found.
About the Author :
Barry John Smith spent 35 years with the (Royal) Hong Kong Police Force joining as an Inspector and retiring as a Chief Superintendent. For a large part of his career, he worked in the Special Duties Unit, an elite team charged with providing the Hong Kong Government with a military response to a terrorist incident. Due to their unique training and equipment, they also handle hostage rescue and criminal cases involving firearms.He is currently semi-retired, dividing his time between providing close protection for high profile clients and more recently, writing books which are a teasing blend of fact and fiction.
Review :
"Hong Kong, an exciting city with a unique vibe and culture all of its own, is the perfect backdrop for a riveting riddle involving the strange disappearance of a teenage girl. In 'Gone', the author, formerly leader of Hong Kong's elite police counter terrorist unit, skilfully weaves elements of fact and fiction to produce an entertaining tale that grips from start to finish." - Ben Kennedy, author of The Sam Steadings books
"A fine detective story that accurately captures modern Hong Kong with its fascinating blend of East and West written by a highly experienced former senior police officer who spent much of his career with the elite 'Flying Tigers' police tactical unit." - Valerie Goldsilk, Author of 'Reliable in Mong Kok' and other Asian Thrillers
