Diane Rapp's Blog: She's a Mystery and Science Fiction Writer! - Posts Tagged "runaways"

Currents of Sin by Arleen Alleman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Searching for a runaway teenager in Sin City

This author masterfully tackles the difficult subject of human trafficking in her newest novel. She portrays the desperate plight of teenage runaways with a tone of compassion but also shines a ray of hope into the bleak situation. (In the narrative she describes social outreach programs for the victims that might make a difference.) It is obvious that she researched the subject matter extensively.

The action begins when Darcy rushes to Las Vegas to help friends from Seattle, Don and Charlie, find their adopted daughter’s sibling, Pamela, who was recently lured back to Las Vegas by an associate. Several people admit seeing the teenager but claim she abruptly disappeared. No one knows where she has gone.

Throughout novels in this mystery series, the “currents” of Darcy’s life constantly return to dark elements associated with Las Vegas. In this story those currents flow into a whirlpool of evil that trades on the suffering of powerless human beings, and Darcy feels compelled to intervene. She meets two pitiful girls, who sell their bodies on the street but yearn for a better life. She needs to help them!

Darcy risks her own life to track down the missing teenager and rescue girls from a dreadful life. Her determination unearths two gangs of human traffickers in “Sin City”—an Asian group kidnaps girls and ships them to overseas buyers, and s second gang operates an illegal brothel on the strip.
These dangerous thugs were originally hired by a man who harbors deadly malice towards Darcy and her friends, but he’s stuck in a super-max prison and no longer runs the day-to-day business. The current ringleader sends his gang out to kidnap beautiful runaways and puts them to work as sex slaves in the hotel that he manages.

As Darcy exposes activities of both gangs, she becomes a prime target for murder. Taking down despicable criminals means putting her life on the line and increases stress on her shaky marriage with Mick. Can Darcy and her family survive another perilous situation?

Those who previously read books in this series will certainly relish the conclusion of this novel. It wraps up unresolved currents in Darcy’s life. Those who haven’t read the other books can certainly appreciate this one as a standalone novel. Enough information is provided about Darcy and her friends to understand their story. Ms. Alleman’s insight into the human psyche helps add drama to an already compelling narrative. I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a psychological mystery.





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