The gripping narrative unfolds, introducing Matt Mason, a brilliant advocate whose calm professional demeanor masks a dangerous past rooted in Special Forces operations. His life takes an unexpected turn when he is unexpectedly drawn into the kidnapping of an internationally prominent justice activist, Lord Gilford Bankes, through facilitating the narrow escape of his daughter, Meghan, from the ruthless extremist kidnappers. His seemingly straightforward brief to secure the release of Lord Bankes quickly spirals into a high-stakes international incident to rescue him from the enigmatic and menacing Dieter Mann and his New Aryan Order, an extremist organization targeting the destruction of the US as a free society.
The story propels Matt into a race against time, forcing him to leverage his unique blend of legal acumen and combat skills. The initial focus is on the intricate and perilous negotiation for Lord Bankes’ release from Dieter Mann’s super yacht, the Odin. Every communication from the shadowy captors dictates the next desperate move. As Matt delves deeper, he uncovers layers of deceit and betrayal, realizing that the threat extends far beyond a simple ransom demand. The narrative skillfully introduces key allies and adversaries, each adding a new dimension to the unfolding drama, from Matt’s loyal and formidable comrades to the technical wizardry of Bill Summers.
The geographical scope widens, transporting readers from the seemingly ordinary streets of Johannesburg to the wild and dangerous African bush. Then to the business heart of London’s Canary Wharf, and on to the remote and dangerous waters off the coast of Mozambique. The stakes continually escalate, moving beyond mere survival to encompass national security and even global implications. As the tension mounts, Matt finds himself not only fighting for Lord Bankes’s life but also for Meghan’s and his own, while battling an insidious ideology that threatens to unravel the fragile fabric of world order. The book navigates intense action sequences, strategic maneuvers, and moments of profound personal connection, driving towards a climactic confrontation in the lush, tropical Caribbean, where the very definition of victory remains uncertain.
About the Author
Martin Stephens
A retired South African advocate, entrepreneur, and former parliamentarian, Martin Stephens was first elected to Parliament as a member of the opposition in 1970. At 24 years old, he was at that time the youngest MP ever elected since the Union in 1910. Leaving Parliament in 1974, he remained active in politics and served as the Transvaal leader of the New Republic Party from 1980 onwards. He re-entered Parliament in 2004 as the Finance Spokesperson and a member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA).
He graduated with a BA in law and political science from the University of the Witwatersrand and practiced law for 10 years as an advocate of the Supreme Court. This included a stint of three years as a senior state advocate in the Office of the Attorney General of the then Transvaal province.
He entered the business world as an entrepreneur in 1982. Fascinated by finance, banking, and trading, he qualified as a futures and options trader in the US. He wrote five successful books on trading with futures and options in business and investment settings and one on South African colonial history. In 2006 he was named Best Student in the program in Economics and Public Finance of the University of South Africa (UNISA). In 2017, he obtained a PhD in Development Studies from the University of the Western Cape. In 2019 he passed “Social Anthropology: An Introduction 2” from Oxford University.
He has now embarked on his lifelong ambition of writing action/adventure thrillers. His first book is titled “Shadow of the Odin” and will be available on Amazon in late 2025.
For inquiries, please contact the author below.
Please indicate your name, phone number and reason for inquiry.