THE BLACK SHEPHERD by Steven Savile

"How can serving the homeless and rescuing runaways be so lucrative?"

The Black Shepherd

Posted: July 7, 2019

Peter Ash is just returning to work after six months of recuperation from his last case. His office, Eurocrimes Division, has been moved from London to Germany, a more centralized location for the twenty-eight countries they serve. His first case back is personal. His partner\'s cousin is missing from the university she attends, and his team has been tagged to find her. He learns that his partner, Francesca (Frankie) Varg, is already on the ground in Estonia working undercover as Cesca Volk, a homeless runaway.

Peter\'s team also includes Laura Byrne, an expert computer analyst who guides Peter along his was as he goes to Estonia to investigate and keep Frankie safe. It is believed that Frankie\'s cousin, Irma Lutz, is mixed up with a cult / religion called One World, that is using run-away girls for the sex trade. Frankie easily ingratiates herself with a soup kitchen volunteer who works for One World. There she meets their leader, The Shepherd. He invites Cesca (Frankie) to join their organization, telling her he sees much potential in her to be a leader in their group. Frankie is in, but what follows is a harrowing experience, not just for Frankie, but for her cousin as well. Is it just sex-trade, or is there something bigger, even global, at work here?

THE BLACK SHEPHERD is an exciting Eurocrimes Thriller by Steven Savile that you will not be able to put down. It\'s not exactly action-packed, but the cyber technology behind the investigation moves at lightning speed, enabling Peter to move in real time to keep pace with the One World organization. The plot moves steadily along to keep the reader engaged. The characters on the investigative team are a mixture of diverse personalities who work together quite seamlessly. The female characters are strong, smart, and driven. Peter is a little more laid back, but ready to engage at a moments notice. The supporting characters are a mixed bag, but you never know if they are trustworthy or not. THE BLACK SHEPHERD is the second installment in Mr. Savile\'s new series, and I look forward to this continued story.

Book Summary

Frankie Varg of the Eurocrimes Division heads to Tallinn, Estonia, in search of her young cousin who's believed to have dropped out of university to join One World, a religion many believe to be nothing more than a fanatical cult.

Hot on her heels is her field partner Peter Ash, who's searching for the identity of a woman’s charred body found in the woods close to Tallinn. When Peter arrives in the city, he finds Frankie attempting to infiltrate One World by posing as a runaway sleeping rough.

Brought into One World’s all-encompassing embrace, Frankie is shown the work the organisation does with the homeless around the world. But is it all a cover-up for their more nefarious activities? Who is their leader, the mysterious Shepherd? What clues will the burnt body uncover . . . and is Frankie out of her depth?