Hope Rises, David Baldacii, author Macleod Andrews, Will Collyer, Shiromi Arserio, Christine Lakin, Larry Herron, Tim Lounibos, narrators.
Walter Nash was once a senior officer at Sybaritic Investments before his daughter Maggie was kidnapped and he was accused of abusing and murdering her. Isaiah “shock” York, a friend of his father’s, totally transformed him mentally and physically. He became Dillon Hope. When Dillon was Walter, he and his now deceased father, Tiberius Nash, were estranged. Somehow, he never measured up to the invincibility of his dad. As Dillon, he was an entirely different person, no longer the kindly Walter, he was the strong bodyguard for Rhett Temple, son of the company’s founder. He was not recognized as the former Walter Nash, financial officer. Soon he was drawn into a business controversy between the Temple’s investment firm and the Steers’ drug syndicate as a strongman.
Barton Temple was forced to make a work arrangement with the ruthless Victoria Steers, suspected of dealing in the illegal drug trade, when his business suffered setbacks and he needed help. Barton disliked his son Rhett, because he viewed him as weak and had actually wanted Walter Nash to take over Sybaritic instead of his son, but Rhett Temple stopped that effort in its tracks. There was no love lost between Barton and Rhett. The only one Rhett really loved was his developmentally challenged sister Angie. His stepmother Mindy was a thorn in his back. It was when Barton Temple supposedly committed suicide, that Walter, as Dillon Hope, began working for Rhett as a bodyguard. When Rhett was summoned to Victoria Steers, he took Dillon with him, and Dillon learned just how brutal Victoria Steers could be. Both men were put in a compromising position. They were given a choice to rescue her mother, Masuyo, or die. Rhett showed his true colors as time passed.
Masuyo was being held in a secret prison in Myanmar. The very wealthy and powerful man who ran this prison, Connor Lord, was almost unknown to most people as he kept a very secret profile. He supposedly imprisoned Masuyo to control Victoria in their business efforts. Victoria was devoted to her mother’s well-being. Although her mother had been a cruel taskmaster, she had devised a plan to rescue her with the help of Dillon and Rhett. Masuyo had raised Victoria to be a winner and had also manipulated her mind to be as evil as she was, but often, she was disappointed with her Victoria’s decisions and lack of strength. Victoria has a soft side. Her mother did not. Victoria preferred her kindly nanny, Hiroko, to her mother, Masuyo. Both women were well versed in the art of deception and brutality. They were imperious and presented an image of total strength and absolute control in every situation. They were authentic images of the elite and powerful Chinese family in both speech and behavior.
Dillon was working for the FBI. They also made him an offer he could not refuse. He was working to bring down the crime families and to provide evidence against Victoria Steers. She was believed to have been responsible for the kidnap and murder of his daughter Maggie and then the kidnap and murder his wife Judith, as well. Also, secretly, Judith had been having an affair with Rhett Temple which is why this plot thickened. Nash was conflicted in his feelings for Victoria. He should hate her, but he often felt sympathy for her and the tragedies she had suffered in her life because of Masuyo, her mother.
The story has many themes and threads. Parent and child relationships are frequently dysfunctional causing conflicts that have to be resolved in one way or another. The criminal mind is explored. Retribution and rehabilitation are explored. Sleight of hand is a common theme as well. Nothing is what it appears to be, at first. Sometimes the story grew confusing, but it always kept me glued to the page. The twists and turns were exciting, though sometimes they were hard to believe and felt contrived. Most of the characters had secrets. Many were totally unlikeable, like Lord and Masuyo. Hiroko and York were the nicest. Each of the characters in the novel felt completely authentic to their backgrounds, especially Victoria Steers, whose philosophy and formal expression felt genuine. Sometimes though, the story became too melodramatic, and at the end, too contrived. There were a bit too many surprises; some were more credible than others. All were interesting, though. This author was able to manipulate me to keep believing one thing and then another. The characters were all presented with conflicts that challenged them. All of their issues were resolved, in the end, some more satisfactorily than others.
When Dillon was charged with being bodyguard for Victoria’s mother, her mother demanded Dillon’s loyalty even if it betrayed Victoria. It was a conundrum. He was in an untenable situation. Why did he save her life? He believed that Victoria took his family from him. Uncomprehendingly, he seemed to be drawn to her. Her nanny, Hiroko has defined her far differently than everyone else, and he is beginning to see her gentler side. Was his soft Walter persona returning? Victoria believed she was unworthy and tells Dillon that in some of her rare moments of weakness and genuine emotion when she reveals secrets to him about her past. Many of the characters seem to have compromised personalities as their emotions are tossed and turned. It went on a bit too long, and it felt like the author wasn’t quite sure how to wrap it up conclusively. The ending fell short. What is next?