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Where Labyrinths End
They kidnapped the wrong girl.
During the famed running of the bulls in Pamplona, Symphony Messina, the daughter of a Mafia capo is visiting Spain with her fiancé, Miguel Angel, a young heir to a Spanish-Basque fortune. While Symphony waits for Miguel to run with the bulls, Basque terrorists watch her every move.
In a lightning operation, Miguel is abducted and Symphony is held a secret prisoner. Back in New Jersey, Symphony’s parents have no idea where she is. Was she kidnapped too? Is she alive?
Unable to turn to the authorities, Joey Messina, her mobster father, turns to his crime family don, who recruits New York’s most vicious hitman to track down her abductors. The bloodbath that ensues sets off a dog-eat-dog match that threatens to leave no one involved alive.
Hope comes in the person of Tess Bernard, a sympathetic young lawyer, who hires Zeus Aguirre, a former CIA operative experienced in military Intelligence.
Will Tess and Zeus be able to rescue Symphony after she is abducted yet again by Minot, one of her crispiest kidnappers?
More than a clash between Euro-terrorists and American gangsters, Where Labyrinths End explores the volatile mixture of emotions that pull average men and women to shocking choices. Readers who appreciate Robert Ludlum’s fast-paced action and the absorbing prose of Don DeLillo’s political thrillers will enjoy the blend of multiple plot twists and intense storytelling.
During the famed running of the bulls in Pamplona, Symphony Messina, the daughter of a Mafia capo is visiting Spain with her fiancé, Miguel Angel, a young heir to a Spanish-Basque fortune. While Symphony waits for Miguel to run with the bulls, Basque terrorists watch her every move.
In a lightning operation, Miguel is abducted and Symphony is held a secret prisoner. Back in New Jersey, Symphony’s parents have no idea where she is. Was she kidnapped too? Is she alive?
Unable to turn to the authorities, Joey Messina, her mobster father, turns to his crime family don, who recruits New York’s most vicious hitman to track down her abductors. The bloodbath that ensues sets off a dog-eat-dog match that threatens to leave no one involved alive.
Hope comes in the person of Tess Bernard, a sympathetic young lawyer, who hires Zeus Aguirre, a former CIA operative experienced in military Intelligence.
Will Tess and Zeus be able to rescue Symphony after she is abducted yet again by Minot, one of her crispiest kidnappers?
More than a clash between Euro-terrorists and American gangsters, Where Labyrinths End explores the volatile mixture of emotions that pull average men and women to shocking choices. Readers who appreciate Robert Ludlum’s fast-paced action and the absorbing prose of Don DeLillo’s political thrillers will enjoy the blend of multiple plot twists and intense storytelling.
300 pages, Paperback
Published December 14, 2021
9 people want to read
About the author
Nick Padron
8 books3 followersAuthor, composer Nick Padron grew up in New York City and resides in Miami FL. and in Madrid, Spain. His stories have appeared in numerous literary magazines and anthologies, including Ploughshares, Zoetrope: All Stories, Pank Magazine, in the U.S. and abroad. His first fiction collection, Souls in Exile published by Adelaide Books, N.Y. is now available. He is the author of three novels, including Gabriel Hemingway’s The Cuban Scar, and his latest works, The Exhumation, and Where Labyrinths End,.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 26, 2021
“Where Labyrinths End” by Nick Padron is a thriller that checked every box on my list!
Great characters, fascinating history, an exotic landscape and a fast-paced plot that races toward a thrilling end.
The story begins when a 19-year-old American, Symphony Messina, is standing on a balcony in Pamplona, Spain, looking through binoculars. She’s attempting to follow the progress of her Spanish fiance, Miguel Angel, who, along with other thrill-seekers, is running with the bulls during the famous annual festival. Just as she catches sight of him, however, an odd thing occurs: two men appear to hustle her fiance into a building.
She races to the location, enters the vacant building and is attacked by two men. Despite efforts to fight back, she’s abducted. We soon learn Miguel Angel is the son of a wealthy Spanish businessman who’s been kidnapped by members of ETA. The Basque separatist group means to ransom the young man as a means to fund ongoing efforts to create an independent Basque territory. The young woman, however, is not part of the plan and soon causes major problems, given her father is a mafioso.
The author has done a fabulous job of research. Fast-moving scenes are believable and colorful and include loads of twists and turns that can’t help but ensue as multiple entities get involved: assassins, Spanish police, ETA personnel. Best all, the author weaves in fascinating history of the Basque and they’re yearning for independence.
A very entertaining, informative, exciting read!
Great characters, fascinating history, an exotic landscape and a fast-paced plot that races toward a thrilling end.
The story begins when a 19-year-old American, Symphony Messina, is standing on a balcony in Pamplona, Spain, looking through binoculars. She’s attempting to follow the progress of her Spanish fiance, Miguel Angel, who, along with other thrill-seekers, is running with the bulls during the famous annual festival. Just as she catches sight of him, however, an odd thing occurs: two men appear to hustle her fiance into a building.
She races to the location, enters the vacant building and is attacked by two men. Despite efforts to fight back, she’s abducted. We soon learn Miguel Angel is the son of a wealthy Spanish businessman who’s been kidnapped by members of ETA. The Basque separatist group means to ransom the young man as a means to fund ongoing efforts to create an independent Basque territory. The young woman, however, is not part of the plan and soon causes major problems, given her father is a mafioso.
The author has done a fabulous job of research. Fast-moving scenes are believable and colorful and include loads of twists and turns that can’t help but ensue as multiple entities get involved: assassins, Spanish police, ETA personnel. Best all, the author weaves in fascinating history of the Basque and they’re yearning for independence.
A very entertaining, informative, exciting read!
December 17, 2021
With an endorsement like, "Driving action never lets up..."* and a blurb like, They kidnapped the wrong girl," how could I turn down Nick Padron's novel, Where Labyrinths End." I have always liked political thrillers, from Tom Clancy to John le Carré.
The major settings in Padron's novel are set with an international flair, fluctuating between Spain, France, and Miami. Boston, New Jersey and New York are also featured.
Here is what impressed me the most about Where Labyrinths End:
Plot: An intricate and attention-grabbing plot that involves a Jersey girl and her fiancé, a wealthy Spaniard, die-hard Basque terrorists, the Spanish police, the FBI, a former Cuban CIA agent, ruthless hit men, serious U.S. Mafia figures (plus their attorneys), and a whole lot of money.
As the author pits the characters against each other, the interaction results in a gripping story. Some characters, in the middle of the action, become allies making the tale even better. By the first page the action builds, as a woman watches her husband disappear while running with the bulls.
Characters: Authentic and believable.
Literary Style: Expressive writing is everywhere. For me, more of a reader than a book reviewer, this is what keeps me reading. Also, I like the use of colloquial language (Spanish and Basque language) throughout the book.
Background Research: The information imparted about Spain, the Basque country, and the ETA adds a dose of realism to the book. Plus, the subtle interplay between terrorists, the Spanish government, and the Mafia, is fascinating.
If I had not needed to go to work I would have read Where Labyrinths End straight through. I could not wait to find out what happened to the heroine, and the characters wanting to help her. I look forward to reading some of the author's other books.
* Endorsement quote at the top by Lawrence de B Andersen author of Redeemed.
The major settings in Padron's novel are set with an international flair, fluctuating between Spain, France, and Miami. Boston, New Jersey and New York are also featured.
Here is what impressed me the most about Where Labyrinths End:
Plot: An intricate and attention-grabbing plot that involves a Jersey girl and her fiancé, a wealthy Spaniard, die-hard Basque terrorists, the Spanish police, the FBI, a former Cuban CIA agent, ruthless hit men, serious U.S. Mafia figures (plus their attorneys), and a whole lot of money.
As the author pits the characters against each other, the interaction results in a gripping story. Some characters, in the middle of the action, become allies making the tale even better. By the first page the action builds, as a woman watches her husband disappear while running with the bulls.
Characters: Authentic and believable.
Literary Style: Expressive writing is everywhere. For me, more of a reader than a book reviewer, this is what keeps me reading. Also, I like the use of colloquial language (Spanish and Basque language) throughout the book.
Background Research: The information imparted about Spain, the Basque country, and the ETA adds a dose of realism to the book. Plus, the subtle interplay between terrorists, the Spanish government, and the Mafia, is fascinating.
If I had not needed to go to work I would have read Where Labyrinths End straight through. I could not wait to find out what happened to the heroine, and the characters wanting to help her. I look forward to reading some of the author's other books.
* Endorsement quote at the top by Lawrence de B Andersen author of Redeemed.
December 12, 2021
I loved reading this story, it's full of action and has so many twists and turns that you just have to keep on reading to learn what happens next. The author, Nick Padron, was able to put in the same plot a kidnap, a rich family, terrorists from Eta, the mob from New York, a fancy lawyer's firm, an ex-Cuban/Soviet spy, and a hitman who thought he was a movie star! Someone with less ability in writing and putting a story together might not get the excellent result Padron obtained, which is entertaining, fictional, and at the same time very close to reality. His descriptions of places, people's feelings are also outstanding.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 26, 2021
this was a great thriller novel, the characters were really well done and I enjoyed the politics in the plot.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 30, 2021
a decently fast paced thriller that mixes up the two most well known of the underground families. What happens when one crosses the other.Can an ocean between keep them apart? Throw in some outsiders that are after both sides and it's anyone's game. Fans of John Clancy type of books should enjoy this one.
November 24, 2021
A non-stop action political thriller with the American Mafia and Basque separatists waging war on each other after two kidnappings take place. One planned and one not. This is a page turner that you can’t put down until the end. Great writing keeps the reader enthralled until the end. I received an advance review copy for free, and the opinions expressed are my own.
January 22, 2022
Title – Where Labyrinths End
Author – Nick Pardon
Genre – Action Thriller
Word Count - 96,800
Rating – Four stars out of five
No. 03 - 2022
Posted 1/22/2022
My Impressions: deeply sensitive telling of the struggles of the Basque ETA Terrorist to gain independence.
Main Characters:
Symphony Messina – daughter of ‘Joey the Bear’ mob boss in New York, fiancé of Miguel Angel
Miguel Angel Estrada-Uribe – son of wealthy Spanish businessman.
Joey the Bear Messina – mob boss in New York
Zeus Aguirre – Cuban special ops, fixer, ex-CIA
Gunther Crimmil – Assassin, torturer
Tess Bernard – Lawyer, intermediary
Minor – Badly disfigured ETA terrorist
Miguel Angel and his fiancé are in Pamplona, Spain where he is to participate in the running of the bulls. Symphony watches him intently with binoculars from a balcony a distance away. She sees a scuffle and then Miguel Angel is out of sight. Fearing something has happened to him, she leaves the apartment and tries to follow him. Inside a deserted building she hears voices and calls to Miguel. She fights valiantly but to no avail. She and Miguel are captives held separately in earthen bunkers that are cold, damp, and dark
Miguel Angel’s father is notified, and a ransom payment is negotiated for his son’s release. No mention is made of Symphony and the terrorist claim no knowledge of her disappearance.
Then dead, badly mutilated ETA members begin turning up. Joey Messina’s boss over the New York crime families secretly sent Gunther Crimmil to work his way through the Basque ETA organization instilling fear and gathering information to locate Symphony. But are his tactics actually helping or hurting the hunt for her?
In the meantime, Tess Bernard has arrived in Miami to contact Zeus Aguirre and persuade him to use his influence with the ETA to secure Symphony’s release. He goes to Spain and contacts friends in the ETA. But shortly he is being hunted by Spanish authorities. The story plunges ahead to several surprises at the ending.
The story is fast paced and intense and I enjoyed it.
The editing and sentence structure are good with several exceptions of missing words, incorrect words
Character development is good for important characters.
Details are abundant and research is evident.
The plot is involved and intense as the kidnappers argue over what to do with the unwanted female captive.
Vigilant Reader Book Reviews.
Author – Nick Pardon
Genre – Action Thriller
Word Count - 96,800
Rating – Four stars out of five
No. 03 - 2022
Posted 1/22/2022
My Impressions: deeply sensitive telling of the struggles of the Basque ETA Terrorist to gain independence.
Main Characters:
Symphony Messina – daughter of ‘Joey the Bear’ mob boss in New York, fiancé of Miguel Angel
Miguel Angel Estrada-Uribe – son of wealthy Spanish businessman.
Joey the Bear Messina – mob boss in New York
Zeus Aguirre – Cuban special ops, fixer, ex-CIA
Gunther Crimmil – Assassin, torturer
Tess Bernard – Lawyer, intermediary
Minor – Badly disfigured ETA terrorist
Miguel Angel and his fiancé are in Pamplona, Spain where he is to participate in the running of the bulls. Symphony watches him intently with binoculars from a balcony a distance away. She sees a scuffle and then Miguel Angel is out of sight. Fearing something has happened to him, she leaves the apartment and tries to follow him. Inside a deserted building she hears voices and calls to Miguel. She fights valiantly but to no avail. She and Miguel are captives held separately in earthen bunkers that are cold, damp, and dark
Miguel Angel’s father is notified, and a ransom payment is negotiated for his son’s release. No mention is made of Symphony and the terrorist claim no knowledge of her disappearance.
Then dead, badly mutilated ETA members begin turning up. Joey Messina’s boss over the New York crime families secretly sent Gunther Crimmil to work his way through the Basque ETA organization instilling fear and gathering information to locate Symphony. But are his tactics actually helping or hurting the hunt for her?
In the meantime, Tess Bernard has arrived in Miami to contact Zeus Aguirre and persuade him to use his influence with the ETA to secure Symphony’s release. He goes to Spain and contacts friends in the ETA. But shortly he is being hunted by Spanish authorities. The story plunges ahead to several surprises at the ending.
The story is fast paced and intense and I enjoyed it.
The editing and sentence structure are good with several exceptions of missing words, incorrect words
Character development is good for important characters.
Details are abundant and research is evident.
The plot is involved and intense as the kidnappers argue over what to do with the unwanted female captive.
Vigilant Reader Book Reviews.
November 28, 2021
The story kept my attention from the beginning! I love the action in the story from the start. The plot read like an action movie. The detail of the action and the characters are well written. I had to put the book down a couple of times, to make the book last longer!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 4, 2022
Nick Padron has crafted a lightning-fast international thriller with “Where Labyrinths End.” From page one the reader is drawn into the labyrinth and held there throughout. The plot follows a botched kidnapping in Spain’s Basque Country, which leads to a Brooklyn Mafioso, to the FBI, to Miami CIA intrigue and back to Spain for a gripping climax. Each page brings on more questions than answers and the action never fades. A totally absorbing read.
March 1, 2022
Nick Padron's novel had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.
His vivid and well-developed cast of characters and international settings make this book a must-read for readers who love suspense, action/adventure, and political thrillers.
His vivid and well-developed cast of characters and international settings make this book a must-read for readers who love suspense, action/adventure, and political thrillers.
April 11, 2025
Where Labyrinths End by Nick Padron is a gritty, high-octane thriller that throws readers into the heart of chaos during the famous running of the bulls in Pamplona. When Symphony Messina, daughter of a New Jersey Mafia capo, is caught in a deadly web of terror and vengeance, the lines between justice and bloodlust blur. What begins as a romantic European getaway soon spirals into an international kidnapping nightmare involving Basque terrorists, mob enforcers, and covert operatives.
Padron masterfully weaves multiple perspectives—mafia hitmen, Euro-terrorists, a haunted CIA veteran, and a determined lawyer—into a complex and fast-moving plot. The tension is relentless, the stakes high, and the emotional undercurrent surprisingly poignant. Beneath the gunfire and espionage is a chilling exploration of loyalty, desperation, and the haunting power of trauma.
Fans of Robert Ludlum’s intrigue and Don DeLillo’s atmospheric intensity will be drawn to this taut, character-driven thriller that refuses to let go.
Padron masterfully weaves multiple perspectives—mafia hitmen, Euro-terrorists, a haunted CIA veteran, and a determined lawyer—into a complex and fast-moving plot. The tension is relentless, the stakes high, and the emotional undercurrent surprisingly poignant. Beneath the gunfire and espionage is a chilling exploration of loyalty, desperation, and the haunting power of trauma.
Fans of Robert Ludlum’s intrigue and Don DeLillo’s atmospheric intensity will be drawn to this taut, character-driven thriller that refuses to let go.
December 27, 2022
actually much better than i expected tbf
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews