The Website: Finding the children: Old enmities leave bitter trails

by Miriam Verbeek

“Verbeek’s The Website is strikingly original in concept and scope. While the topic of sex-trafficked children is a familiar one, the author integrates fantasy elements into the story, beginning with the fictional island of Si’Empra” – Book Life Prize Perfect for fans of crime, thriller, and fantasy alike, The Website is a fast-paced, genre-mashing mystery novel that intertwines the beloved urban fantasy world of Si’Empra with the harsh realities of a child trafficking investigation. Saskia Van Essen is a dwarf, finance geek, and crime investigator who has seen it all, from fraudulent activities to covert work with law enforcement agencies. But nothing could prepare her for the challenge of her latest mission – uncovering the secrets of an organized crime ring and dark net site that sells images of unusual-looking children tagged in Interpol’s Child Sexual Exploitation database. In a stroke of luck, Saskia learns of a mystical, isolated island in the Antarctic called Si’Empra, and the people inhabiting this island share a remarkable resemblance to the missing children tagged in her database. Getting to the island is the least of her worries, however. Its inhabitants are wary of foreigners, and though she knows she’s getting close to those at the head of the trafficking ring, they always seem to be one step ahead. Can Saskia uncover the kingpins’ identities before more children fall victim to their whims? Gripping and full of intrigue, The Website is sure to be enjoyed by fans of hits like Bruce Beckham’s DI Skelgill series and Yasmin Angoe’s Nena Knight trilogy. Click “Add to cart” today!

Genres: Mystery

332 pages, Paperback

Published October 28, 2022

About the author

I've loved to create stories for as long as I can remember; characters come tumbling out of my brain and worlds develop around them. I have always wanted to be a writer but, somehow, life got in the way - with writing happening "in between". Not that I regret the eddies of my life. I grew up in a lovely, noisy, active, Dutch/Indonesian-origin migrant family, the second child of eight with a father and mother who knew how to laugh, had a keen interest in not taking anything for granted, and loved to philosophise and read books; they valued education and thoughtfulness. Reflecting now on my childhood, I often wonder why, given that I was often scribbling stories, that my parents didn't encourage me to take up a writing career. I asked my mother about it once (when I was already in my fifties); she said that "it just never occurred to us" - funnily enough, it never occurred to me either. Now, with my children grown up and the space to finally indulge, I've decided to bring my creations to the fore and show them to others.

Reviews

[Sandy Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Engaging Read

This mystery with a sci-fi backdrop definitely e gages the reader. The plot is built around internet child abuse, but the setting sets it apart. An outside cyber-crimes investigator is dropped into an isolated land that is just beginning to understand such criminality. The characters and their culture are uniquely naive and their path to sol ing the crime and saving the children carries the plot through some surprising alleys. Altogether, a diverting read to pass the time.

[Chris O'Neill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fascinating stand alone novel covers a wide range of reading interests from science fiction to anthropology to mystery to crime. Three separate well-described cultures intersect in an international pornography ring, though the Si'Empra people receive the most attention, and their world unfolds in a three volume series previously published.
Locating the action on an isolated mountain island in an inhospitable sea of the Southern Hemisphere gave the author a lot of room to invent, and she makes the most of it. I especially like the main character, Saskia, who uses her diminutive height to advantage with children while giving the reader a taste of what it's like to inhabit a world where most people are taller. The focus on child sexual abuse crimes is handled clearly and without excessive detail (a welcome feature if you're squeamish). Best of all, you don't have to read the three previous novels in the Si'Empra series to grasp what's going on--the reader can enjoy the mystery of a fantasy world from the first chapter. Enjoy!

[Susan Barton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Website was a great read

I was already a fan of the Si'Empra Trilogy, so I very much enjoyed revisiting that mysterious yet wholly believable civilisation tucked away in a hidden corner of Antarctica. This time we followed an engaging and unusual internet sleuth investigating insidious organised crime on Si'Empra of all places. The tension mounted as she carefully closed in on her quarry, and the book became quite a page-turner.

As with the other Si'Empra novels, there are charming and heart-warming characters that provide relief and humour against the lurking background of evil. Reading the book was a joy, and also a primer on how the dark web functions - knowledge I had until now happily avoided.

The Website would stand well on its own for those who have not read the Trilogy, but for those who have, it was great to meet again those wonderful inhabitants of Si'Empra.

[TaniaRina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique concept re: human trafficking

Since the main character is working with government officials, the author provides details about Si’Empra infrastructure, societies, history, and cultures. She has many nuances to interpret before she can truly understand what to look for and how.
Bureaucracy and turf wars are no different “down under”!
‘I think we should leave Lianthem politics to the Lians.’

Trafficking is a horrendous crime and technology only makes it easier for perpetrators to find their victims and to research methods of (fill in the blank). Fitting this cozy crime story into a fantasy world was a great way to heighten awareness.

It’s everybody’s job to protect the world’s children.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saskia receives calls from police and interpol to go beyond investigating those who upload photos of exploited children on the internet. Whenever she receives such calls, this isn't great news - particularly if it's an ongoing case such as this one. The story touches on real dangers in a fantasy setting.


I received a free copy and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Thank you to StoryOrigin and author.