Escape From Prague

by Colin Knight

Krystyna’s life is brutal. It has always been.

Forced into prostitution by Edvard, a violent Prague criminal and pimp, Krystyna struggles to survive.

Worse, her younger sister, Anna, whom Krystyna has protected and loved since childhood, has naively followed Anna to Prague and into Edvard’s clutches.

Desperate and reckless, Krystyna gambles her life and her sister's to become the concubine of four Englishmen.

A virtual prisoner in a remote house near Manchester, and powerless to help Anna, Krystyna becomes increasingly guilty about leaving Anna.

While Krystyna endures the men’s perverse demands, she undertakes a dangerous plan to free herself and Anna from Prague forever.

But for the plan to work, she needs Anna's cooperation.

Can Anna make it to Manchester to help Krystyna?

Will Krystyna’s plan work, or will her captors discover what she is doing and make her pay the ultimate price?

As pimp and clients join forces to exact revenge, will Krystyna and Anna survive or, like so many other anonymous sex-trade victims, will they simply disappear?


+++++++++++

Escape From Prague is a fictional story of Krystyna, a sex trade victim. A victim who wants to escape, survive and live a normal life. The need for realism made this a difficult story to write, especially as a man. Some reviewers have told me it was a difficult story to read.

I offer no apologies.

Genres: Thriller, Ebooks, Fiction

299 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 25, 2017

About the author

Colin Knight was born in Manchester, England to working class parents – his father painted houses and drove delivery trucks; his mother worked in a retirement home. He and his four siblings shared a small three-bedroom house on an unremarkable city owned housing estate ten miles from the city centre. From seven to sixteen years old, he held newspaper and milk delivery jobs, which he did, before school. Educated to state standards, at an experimental public high-school for boys, Colin graduated at sixteen with minimum credentials. At eighteen, he joined an American international company as a general office helper. By twenty-three Colin had developed an aptitude for product management and marketing. His career with the American company provided work assignments in Italy and Switzerland, as well as travel to many European countries. In 1987, Colin immigrated to Canada to work for a distributor of the American company. In 1991, he took a chance and quit work to attend university. By 1997, Colin had obtained a BA Honors Degree in Political Science, and a MA Degree in International Relations. In 1999, after a brief return to the private sector, Colin joined the Canadian Federal Government. During his fifteen-year government career, Colin worked for the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Canadian International Development Agency, the Public Safety Department, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and most recently, he was a Senior Policy Analyst in the Federal Privy Council Office. Government work and assignments took Colin to Europe, Asia, Latin America and the US. Colin retired from the government in 2014 to focus on family, writing and life. Colin lives in Ottawa, Canada with his wife and their three children. In between housework, groceries, shuttling children and general family support, Colin is working on his next novel. Squash, soccer, learning to play the guitar, and quality beer relieve stress and writers block.

Reviews

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having previously read "Bad Analysis" by Colin Knight I was very excited when I was asked to read his new book "Escape from Prague". This had a very enticing blurb which had me intrigued from the start.
There's no preamble here just straight into a gritty, hard hitting often brutal novel with a setting that almost had me feeling I was there in the Czech square with the undesirables. The story starts around Anna trying to flee Prague and her violent pimp Edvard to reunite with her sister Krystyna in England who unbeknown to her is being held as a concubine to several perverse men. Does Anna finally make it to England and is there freedom there for her and her sister? Anna's fear throughout her escape is quite palpable. Hearing of Krystyna's account of her everyday ordeals with these men is so distressing. A word of warning though, if you are offended by anything to do with the sex trade then this book is not for you as the author has not withheld anything and at times this does make quite disturbing reading. Unfortunately these stories are the harsh truths of this awful industry and consequences of immoral men which of course shouldn't be glossed over. It really did make me stop and pause for thought. I can imagine a lot of unpleasant research must have gone into writing this and the author should be commended on how he has portrayed what girls have to go through to survive.
As this addictive book progresses, without giving away any spoilers, the plot becomes nail-bitingly tense, and compelling and by the time Part One ended my nerves were frayed! Needless to say Part Two is no less tense and ends with an terrifying breath-taking finale!
Colin's writing of the various locations is very descriptive, the plot is exhilarating and at times emotive. It's a no holes barred account of two women trying to flee the sex trade industry, will they succeed? You'll have to read the book, I highly recommend that you do! "Escape from Prague" will stay with me a long time, I thoroughly enjoyed it and I am so pleased I had the opportunity to read it! A very deserved 5 stars, well done Colin on a brilliant piece of women's fiction.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a goodreads drawing.

Harrowing book about a woman who falls victim to the sex trade in Prague. She tries to escape from a brutal pimp. Meanwhile, her younger sister comes to Prague and falls into his clutches.

Very eye opening.

[Liis · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Escape From Prague‘ is fast paced and as such offers a quick, thrilling reading experience with a raw use of crime and prostitution elements. With great execution, being equal parts riveting, chilling and harrowing, it certainly kept my adrenaline levels high throughout and in the end… I think the outcome of the story was the best. It wasn’t disillusioned when it came to certain relationships and at the same time it left just enough up in the air to leave me pondering… For full disclosure,the Amazon Kindle copy I purchased had a handful of really teeny tiny, unimportant editing issues, however these didn’t affect my reading experience to grant a full star deduction. 4.5 stars.

Want to know more? Read on!

Now-now... while I didn’t find the cover of the book the most appealing at first glance, I have to say, after I finished reading, it kind of fits the book perfectly. The haunted feeling mixed with a sense of foreboding transfuses from cover to story, and from story to cover.

In Prague, as a street-level prostitute, Anna discovered that vodka was much more than just a way for teens to get drunk. Vodka served Anna as a mouthwash, an agent to clean and sanitize, a way to calm nerves, dull pain, and to forget.

As is the case with thrillers, mysteries and crime books, there isn’t a whole pile I can reveal about the story without ripping away those elements of surprise. I have to say though, the blurb is a good starting point because the full story delivers so much more.

Krystyna’s plan to escape from Edvard’s clutches in Prague and get a foot in the door at a chance of new life in Manchester, England is pretty much a case of from the fire to the frying pan. Now a prisoner of four Englishmen in a house in Manchester, Krystyna has to endure their specific demands. The men of course think everything is dandy: she has a roof over her head, food on the table and she’s being paid. The vile – married, I may add- pigs think that this is definitely better than her previous life in Prague. But Krystyna is a fighter and a survivor and she’s really not stupid at all. While Krystyna’s heart bleeds with the knowing that her younger sister Anna has to endure pimp Edvard’s demands, she believes she can devise a plan to free them both from their unprivileged life.

Anna needs to escape Prague and find her sister somewhere in Manchester. Sounds simple enough, but with limited phone contact and without Krystyna’s exact address, the task is not quite so straightforward. It’s easy to get lost is a big city, and even easier to lose yourself in the whole country. With the dirty breath of a pimp hanging over Anna, she will just have to think. And think fast! But first she has to put in another day’s work at the Wenceslas Square and get away with the money she makes without Edvard and his goons getting to her.

I have to say- more often than not I found my feet bouncing- this is how engrossed I was, this is how much the book made my blood pump. Add to this the fact that while it felt like Krystyna had everything under calm control, Anna tended to bring the air of panic and helplessness with her. I thought it was great to have the opposite characteristics to the sisters personalities. In fact, in certain moments it definitely enhanced the suspense effect.

I was positively grossed out by Edvard and also by the 4 Englishmen. What bloody pigs! I was 100% on board with Krystyna’s plan, however, and her ingenuity and attention to detail added a small wow-factor. I wanted to know how her plan was going to work out and if anything, her ability to think on her feet was something a dunce criminal could be jealous of.

What I truly liked about the story and its characters was the fact that nothing seemed far fetched. In fact, everything read as if it could be an episode of reality TV crime show. The councilmen can stay home because in this book I didn’t find any plotholes that needed to be filled.

So the questions I will leave you with are these:

Will Anna manage to escape Prague to go and find Krystyna in UK? What is the great plan of escape Krystyna has planned? Is Edvard just going to accept losing two of his ‘girls’ or will his influence reach from Prague to Manchester? … and just to tease you a bit more… These questions are only just the beginning of the story!

[Anne (w/ an E) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent story, in spite of the mistakes I found. I would read another story by Colin Knight.
I won this ebook in a Goodreads Giveaway.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Escape from Prague was written by Colin Knight and was published 26 February 2017.

“Krystyna’s life is brutal. It has always been.

Forced into prostitution by Edvard, a violent Prague criminal and pimp, Krystyna struggles to survive.

Worse, her younger sister, Anna, whom Krystyna has protected and loved since childhood, has naively followed Anna to Prague and into Edvard’s clutches.

Desperate and reckless, Krystyna gambles her life and her sister’s to become the concubine of four Englishmen.

A virtual prisoner in a remote house near Manchester, and powerless to help Anna, Krystyna becomes increasingly guilty about leaving Anna.

While Krystyna endures the men’s perverse demands, she undertakes a dangerous plan to free herself and Anna from Prague forever.

But for the plan to work, she needs Anna’s cooperation.

Can Anna make it to Manchester to help Krystyna?

Will Krystyna’s plan work, or will her captors discover what she is doing and make her pay the ultimate price?

As pimp and clients join forces to exact revenge, will Krystyna and Anna survive or, like so many other anonymous sex-trade victims, will they simply disappear?”*

I was provided a complementary copy of Escape from Prague to review. It in no way, shape, or form influenced my opinion/review of the book.

It has been SO long since I’ve come across a book that I couldn’t put down. A book that was so intense my heart beat with it. A book so true in all aspects that it was like listening to a person tell me their life story.

Escape from Prague is all this and more.

It does not surprise me that this book has been either loved or hated by reviewers. Gritty, raw, intense books like this one tend to be polarizing. It is not for the faint of heart, and certainly not a book you would expect to fall in love with. Still, I can say only good things.

There is something to be said about the power of two sisters. Two women who are strong in different ways and can buoy each other up in times of hardship. In this case, Anna and Krystyna are a power duo. Perhaps what makes them so great is not their strengths, but their weaknesses. Anna is impulsive and emotional. Krystyna is cold and too pragmatic at times. Put these together and you have a bond between two women who balance each other out. When Anna screws up (and she does, big time), Krystyna is there to offer both Anna and the reader a sense of calm in the storm. When Krystyna is too calculating, Anna is there to add a moral voice to the mix. Both women are strong, capable, and flawed in a way that only humans can be.

The book itself is fast-paced and offers little in the form of breaks. When you finally expect to take a breather, another plot twist is thrown. It is this continual unfolding of drama that makes the novel one you can’t possibly put down. When you do put it down (reluctantly), you can’t stop thinking about it. As soon as I finished Escape from Prague, I told my mom to stop reading her own book and start reading this one. (She’s thoroughly enjoying it so far, and has similar thoughts). Certain parts had me gasping out loud (without revealing too much, an unexpected death had me reeling), and at certain times, I was afraid to turn the page because of what I might find. Honestly, I’m having a hard time reviewing this book for the fact that I was too engrossed to take notes!

If the two protagonists weren’t enough to keep me reading, the plot would have been. It is a thrilling chase of cat and mouse all the way from Prague to Manchester. There are just enough tiny connections to allow antagonists (such as Tyrion and Edvard) to piece together a puzzle that leads them within striking distance. Each time they found a clue or stopped to think like foreign prostitutes, I found myself tensing up as if they would find me as well. Stringer offers a nice curveball to the mix, and even though his fate is expected, I was still saddened. His side story of why he became a private investigator was a nice respite from the ever-growing tension between the sisters and their pursuers. Stringer himself added a layer of humanity to the plot, and helped it to ground itself into reality even more.

This is a shorter review than most because I have absolutely nothing bad to say. Drop whatever book you’re reading now and run to the store (or to your computer) to pick this book up. Add Knight’s other books to your cart while you’re at it – I’m sure they are just as fantastic as this one. Knight’s work in literature is unparalleled – Escape from Prague is just one example: the novel was masterful in all aspects. I look forward to hopefully reading his previous and future books soon.

5 out of 5 stars.

*Blurb by Goodreads.

[The Bookish Wombat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book through the Goodreads Giveaways programme and hadn't heard of the author before. The novel is a fast-paced thriller focusing on two sisters and their fight to leave the sex trade behind them. It's written for maximum tension and will be a big hit with fans of the thriller genre as the action goes on right to the end of the book. I did feel at times, however, that some of the detail of both the sexual acts and violence was a little strong for me, and that I would have enjoyed the book more had these been dialled down a little. Despite that, the author is undoubtedly skilled in the thriller genre and anyone who likes that kind of book will like this one a lot.

[Clare Pama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Escape from Prague, absolutely loved the book could not put it down, hence I finished it in a week, reading it every chance I could spare. I found it a bit far fetched but at the same time so many parts of reality of what goes on in this world, very good balance. Of course I am no book critique but if a book grabs me in the 1st 5 pages it is a go. Reading the book I felt like I was there with the characters watching from a far.

I thought the ending was excellent although very unexpected, there is something to be said about karma. Very good story line, lots of twists I did not expect, a very good read.

Looking forward reading more of Colin Knights booked, three of which I have already purchased.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time reading Colin Knight book & I will definitely be reading another one of his. Escape From Prague was fast paced & edgy. His characters were well developed. I was disgusted by the Manchester men, cheered for the sisters & was very satisfied with the ending. Knight brought out the horror, the trauma, experienced by people caught up in the sex trade. While I want all to obey the law, I understand why so many people in this situation feel there is no safety for them within the law.

[David Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable fast paced thriller. A young woman escapes from the vicious pimp that was forcing her to work the mean streets of Prague. She follows her sister (who also escaped from the same pimp) to England. The sister unfortunately is trapped working as a prostitute for four lowlives. Will the sisters escape the life of prostitution? Or will the pimp from Prague track them down to seek revenge?

[Lizenbyl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good read about two sisters in the sex trade in Prague. They escaped their pimp & went to England where one of them was in kept by 4 men who used her on a regular basis. She escaped them & her & her sister started a new life. Both the pump from Prague & one of the men from England-- hunted them down. Read the book to learn the rest.

[Renée Fornelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this in a Goodreads giveaway, and I read it fairly quickly -- it's fast paced and full of action. The style was great -- I prefer third person narration so I enjoyed that. However, the content is not my cup of tea. I did find the ending satisfying, as well. A solid read.

[GERALD GENTRY · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book is fiction, Escape from Prague by Colin Knight, sheds light on just how depraved and demonic the sex-trade really is. A sometimes hard to read, brutal story of human trafficking.

[Kendra Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

From Prague to Manchester

Pretty good. It’s about escaping the seedy of a bad city, escaping the gangsters that run the place, and trying to start fresh.

[Gary Scialdone · Rating 2 out of 5]

Waste of time

Characters, none of which elicit any sympathy. Small amount of suspense with an extremely unsatisfying end. Spend your time elsewhere.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was going to be way more graphic and uncomfortable. I was pleasantly surprised! Colin Knight did a great job of detailing just enough without going overboard to get the story across without making it too gory. I was on the edge of my seat for most of the story. I was hoping it would end a little differently, but I'm not heartbroken. Overall, LOVED IT!

[Laura Larson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty decent thriller. I didn't feel connected to the characters much and I kinda wanted to smack some sense into Anna more than once. Huge trigger warnings for human trafficking, violence, rape, and racism. The plot was pretty basic but well written with some interesting details added to keep of from being too bland.

[Lavender]

Placeholder

I won this book via Goodreads Giveaways.

[KarnagesMistress]

I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways. It is a Kindle book.

[Tena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won a kindle version #GoodreadsGiveaway