The Stolen

“Tension mounts, bullets fly and Pinter’s cool fusion of a new outlaw with blood ties to an old one hits the mark. The resolution is a ripsnorter, leaving thrill fans ready for the next Henry Parker newsflash.”

—
Publishers Weekly
on
The Guilty

“A suspenseful and shocking tale that will leave readers clamoring for the next Henry Parker novel.”

—
Library Journal
on
The Guilty

“A gripping page-turner you won’t be able to stop reading.”

—James Patterson on
The Mark

“Jason Pinter has made a substantial contribution to the thriller genre with
The Mark,
a fast-paced, addictively suspenseful thriller.”

—Allison Brennan

“An excellent debut. You are going to love Henry Parker, and you’re going to hope he survives the story, but you’re not going to bet on it.”

—Lee Child on
The Mark

“A harrowing journey—chilling, compelling, disquieting.”

—Steve Berry on
The Mark

“Pinter’s a wizard at punching out page-turning action, and the voice of his headstrong protagonist is sure to win readers over; his wild ride should thrill any suspense junky.”

—
Publishers Weekly
on
The Mark

“Jason Pinter has a wonderful voice.
The Mark
captivated me from the first. A page-turner from the get-go—I loved it.”

—Heather Graham

“From the opening sentence to the exhilarating conclusion, Pinter’s debut thriller gets the reader’s heart racing. Pinter is clearly one to watch.”

—
Library Journal
on
The Mark,
starred review

“A stunning debut by a major new talent!”

—James Rollins on
The Mark

“A first-rate debut from an author who dares to take the traditional thriller in bold new directions.”

—Tess Gerritsen on
The Mark

“Pinter’s debut novel showcases his fresh, witty voice…readers will undoubtedly look forward to many more.”

—
Romantic Times BOOKreviews
on
The Mark

“Breathless, poignant and fresh.”

—P. J. Parrish on
The Mark

“A terrific thriller.”

—
Midwest Book Review

“
The Mark
is a stunning debut.”

—Jeffery Deaver

“A top-notch debut…Fast-paced, gritty and often raw,
The Mark
is a tale you won’t soon forget.”

—Michael Palmer

“A harrowing novel that keeps the adrenaline level high. The plot is so fascinating and twisting you can’t put the book down to sleep.”

—
New Mystery Reader Magazine

“A high-octane debut,
The Mark
introduces Jason Pinter as a major new talent in thriller fiction. It’s a brilliantly executed chase novel, but it’s also a heartfelt exploration of honor, ambition and courage.”

—Jeff Abbott

To my sister, who taught me the meaning of friendship.

To my father, who taught me the meaning of generosity.

To my mother, who taught me the meaning of strength.

The first thanks go to my beautiful wife, Susan, who more so than on any of my previous books humbled me with her patience and understanding. After many coffee-fueled late nighters and supportive pep talks, this book is as much yours as it is mine.

Joe Veltre, who has proved time and time again that the best business relationships are also great friendships. Thank you for both. Thanks also to Diane Bartoli and Sara Wolski, who are always gracious with their time.

Adam Wilson. Thanks for always being there in a pinch, and answering even the silliest questions faster than humanly possible. I’ll stump you soon, I promise….

Donna Hayes, Dianne Moggy, Margaret O’Neill Marbury, Heather Foy, Maureen Stead, Ana Luxton, Jayne Hoogenberk, Ken Foy, Michelle Renaud, Don Lucey, Andi Richman, Katherine Orr, Craig Swinwood, Loriana Sacilotto and Stacy Widdrington. The best is yet to come. Thank you, thank you, thank you all.

I also owe a debt to George Witte, Sally Richardson, Andy Martin, Kylah McNeill, Keith Kahla and Kelley Ragland. I’m sorry our time together was cut short, but every day was a real treat. I’m lucky to have spent so much time working with people who know how to publish the right way.

Susan Schwartzman. After knowing you for just two weeks, I was in awe. By the time this book comes out, I can only imagine what you’ll have accomplished.

Bonnie and Joe, Maggie Griffin and Terry Lucas. I still have a lot to learn about this crazy thing called writing, but when you’ve had friends like these, everything seems possible.

Linda McFall. Three down, and hopefully many, many more to go. If I feel spoiled, it’s your fault for being such a terrific editor. Thanks also for your help on understanding the (often frightening) mind of the American toddler. Thank you again, ad infinitum.

To the booksellers and librarians who have made it possible for people to read my stuff.

To everyone who’s read one of my books, thanks for giving me the greatest job in the world. You keeping reading ‘em, I’ll keep writing ‘em.

And to reporters around the world who risk so much to write about good, evil and everything in between, Henry Parker offers a sincere thank-you. He wouldn’t be here without your inspiration.

Dear Reader,

It is said that the most painful experience a parent can endure is losing a child. The pain and anguish must be simply incalculable. But what happens when a child presumed gone forever returns suddenly with no explanation, no injuries and no recollection of where they’ve been?

In
The Stolen,
Henry Parker must face perhaps the most difficult, and most personal, story of his young career. Because when he investigates the sudden reappearance of ten-year-old Daniel Linwood, Henry soon realizes that despite the jubilation of Daniel’s parents, something far more sinister is beginning to take shape. And as Henry fights to uncover the truth, caught in the balance are a family, a community and several people who will stop at nothing to make sure those questions stay unanswered, and that Henry is silenced—permanently.

I hope as you read
The Stolen,
you might ask yourself the same question that drives Henry to find the truth: How far would you go to protect your loved ones?

Enjoy
The Stolen…

Jason Pinter

January 2008