Strays of Rio

Strays of Rio

by Edith Parzefall

Genre: Thriller

Release: September 21, 2012

Tags: action, adventure, crime, suspense

Editor: Tanja Cilia

Line Editor: Les Tucker

Cover Designer: Nika Dixon

Words: 83547

Pages: 267

Price: $5.95

ISBN: 978-1-77127-149-3

Back Cover:

Lisa Kerry witnesses a private death squad attack street kids close to her bookstore. When the police take no action, she vows to purge Rio of the ruthless killers. To keep him out of the line of fire, she must quell her affection for the one man cut out to exorcise the demons of her past. Drawing strength and rage from the abuse she suffered as a young girl in a juvenile detention center, Lisa closes in on her marks.

Unable to get to the rich and powerful leader of the recreational killers, she enlists the older brother of one of her street urchin friends—a drug lord. Lisa's pursuit of justice spirals into a violent struggle to survive, for herself, her young charges, and the man she loves.

Excerpt:

The air conditioning in the car chilled the sweat on Félix's skin. He glanced over at the American slumped in the passenger seat. Wet spots marked his blue shirt.

Félix pointed ahead. “The Sugar Loaf. Have you been up there?”

Norton straightened in his seat. “No, not yet.”

“You should go.” Félix had no clue where the fame of this particular rock originated, but the view from the top was stunning. “I can drop you off at the cable car station if you want.” Would save him a few kilometers drive. He should have put Norton in a cab instead of offering a ride.

“No thanks, I'll take a city tour.”

Félix smirked. Maybe he was one of the timid guys who didn't dare to set a foot outside the hotel on his own, calling in the hookers, drinking at the hotel bar. Of course, Norton had buckled up as soon as he got in the car. Félix never wore a seat belt.

He was not afraid to die—and he loved to make money off the fear of weaker men. His customers called themselves the elite, because they had money and power, but they wouldn't survive one night out, alone in the city. Without his security installations, they'd be scared shitless in their luxury apartments and villas. Even the fortresses built for the rich wouldn’t be obstacles, without the alarm systems, cameras, electric fences, and armed guards.

They entered the tunnel leading to Copacabana.

“How did you get into this line of work?” Norton asked.

“It gives me a deep sense of satisfaction to work for the good of the community, to help protect people and businesses.” What he hated about his job was acting as if he actually cared about their safety. “We can't let the scum take what honest people have worked so hard for.” He glanced sideways at the American. Norton stiffened. He probably thought that was a bit extreme, but what did he know?

The car in front of him slowed. Félix slammed the brakes and honked. “Kind of ironic,” he continued. “In the sixties your government sent security specialists to this country, now the roles are reversed. I'm advising you.”

“Not sure what you're talking about.”

“Specialists teaching police procedures...”

“You mean torture and intimidation? No need to put it so politely. We screwed up the major part of South America. Nothing to be proud of.”

“No, this country would have gone to hell if it hadn't been for the support from the U.S. against communism. My uncle received some training in interrogation techniques.” Félix could feel Norton's stare and decided to back off. “I grew up with some pretty gross stories.”

“You mean he was one of the torturers under the military regime? Your uncle?”

“Fortunately those days are over. Now it's all about business. And, once again, security.” Back on track, Félix smiled at Norton, who seemed to relax.

“What's the actual risk of burglary to a company like ours—or maybe even armed robbery?”

Félix stopped at a red light and revved the engine. He grinned. “If you go with our full surveillance system, you and your company will never find out.”

Norton laughed. “I sure hope not. Almost got shot yesterday evening. That's enough excitement for me.”

Always the same with the stupid gringos, stumbling into places they shouldn't go. “Already? How did it feel?”

“What?”

“To have a gun pointed at you. How did it feel to be at the mercy of a criminal?” Félix asked with growing excitement.

Tony snorted. “Rather the mercy of a pretty girl. I asked her out for dinner and she reached for her gun. Didn't fit my picture of Brazilian women.”

Félix laughed until the image took on shape in his head, her gun pointing at him instead of the gringo. “Must have been quite an experience. Who was she?”

Tony chuckled. “You'll never believe me. She sells books and does city tours.”

Excitement coursed through his body. “Books and guns. Fascinating.” Why did something like that never happen to him?

“Do you know where the Copacabana Palace Hotel is?” Norton asked.

“Of course.” Only the best for the gringo. Hopefully he'd also buy the best security system. His. He turned into Avenida Atlantica and saw the large colonial building. Just a little longer and he'd head back north to find a playmate.

Norton looked at his watch. “Actually, do you mind taking me a few blocks farther and turn right?”

“Not at all. Tell me when.”

“At the next light.”

And the light turned red. Merda! Félix stopped the car. They sat in silence until it changed to green. He gunned the engine. From the corner of his eye he saw Norton grab the overhead handle. Félix smiled.

“Nice little car,” Norton said.

What an idiot. The low growl of the two-liter engine agreed with him. “A Mazda MX-5.”

“Turn left here, please.”

He did so, grudgingly.

“Okay, kick me out wherever you can stop.”

Félix pulled into a driveway. “I'll see you tomorrow,” he said and held out his hand.

Norton shook it. “Obrigado.”

“De nada.”

Félix winced when Norton slammed the door shut. What piece-of-shit car did he drive back home? He waited and watched the gringo cross the street and walk straight up to a woman pulling down the shutter of a bookstore. He jerked up in his seat.

The girl with the gun? He released his grip on the steering wheel and studied her: tall, slender, dark blond hair. The color of her skin showed a trace of slave blood.

She smiled when the gringo materialized by her side. As she turned, something bulged above her right hip.

They walked down the street, not in the direction of Norton's hotel but towards the beach. Félix felt tempted to follow them, get a better look at her. Maybe she'd make a challenging playmate. A woman who'd fight back.

Reviews:

Strays of Rio is tightly written. Edith Parzefall takes us to Rio, where we become immersed in the beauty and the danger of everyday life. The characters each bring to the intriguing plot their own problems, backgrounds and goals. Once the scene is set, Parzefall’s novel accelerates to an edge of the seat ride.--5 Stars, Ramblings from Lady Rosalie...READ FULL REVIEW

About the Author:

I studied literature and linguistics in Germany and the United States. After graduating with a PhD, I worked as a technical writer. Drawn to a more challenging career and increased opportunities for traveling, I moved on to management at a global IT company. Now a full-time writer and free-lance editor, I strive to combine my two passions: writing and traveling.

I'm supporting a street kids project in Recife, Brazil, and visited Grupo Ruas e Pracas where I took part in a music and crafts workshop with the children. During my stay in Rio de Janeiro, the idea for Strays of Rio was born.

Customer Reviews:

Strays of Rio is an action packed thriller in which homeless children are targets of a private death squad, and their protector is at risk from an unknown stalker. rnrnScarred by her own abusive childhood, bookstore owner Lisa Kerry shelters a group of homeless children in fashionable Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, from the private death squad hunting them down. Acting on her vow to protect the street urchins and rid the city of the killers, Lisa is drawn into the terrifying world of drug lords and corrupt officialdom and takes us with her. rnrnLisa is a tortured young woman who resembles Lisbet Salandar, but with a softer side. She finds her purpose in life, but the purpose could destroy her body and soul at the very moment she is discovering love for the first time, awakened in her by a handsome, persistent American. Her determination to avenge the street kids threatens to compromise her integrity and her chance for happiness.rnrnAs we ride through the streets of Rio, frozen in fear with Lisa, the author, Edith Parzefall, makes us question our own values. Faced with the terrifying plight of street urchins, how far would we go for a principle?rnrnIf you’ve never visited Rio de Janeiro, just open the pages of Edith Parzefall’s novel, Strays of Rio. She transports you there. Immediately you become part of the exotic scene. From the police on the beaches to the capuchin monkeys in the bars, to the affluent houses within view of the hillside favelas (shanty towns), the setting absorbs you. Strays of Rio is a most worthwhile book, timely and topical, especially since the city is being cleaned up in time for the Olympics of 2016. This story needs to be heard if street children everywhere are to be valued, protected and cared for. They are our future. I highly recommend it.rnrn

Strays of Rio is a FIVE STAR ‘must read’ thriller.rn rnFrom the first page the tension begins to wind up. The gritty, gutsy heroine Lisa Kerry has a dark past of her own. Now she offers a better future to a group of kids making their way through life on the streets of Rio. She isn’t to know the offer draws each of the group into the sights of a deadly adversary.rnrnStrays of Rio explores the line between right and wrong, with realistic emotions, experiences, drama. Without dwelling on the tragedy of life on the streets, Strays of Rio involves the reader in an uplifting look at how a simple act of charity can improve life. rnrnLiving with choices though, takes determination. Caught in a war between drug lords and corrupt police, Lisa and her courageous collection of strays find survival calls for desperate measures.rnrnStrays of Rio is tightly written. Edith Parzefall takes us to Rio, where we become immersed in the beauty and the danger of everyday life. The characters each bring to the intriguing plot their own problems, backgrounds and goals. Once the scene is set, Parzefall’s novel accelerates to an edge of the seat ride. rnrnMy advice is to grab a copy now, set aside a few hours because once you enter the streets where the Strays of Rio takes place, you are not going to be able to put this one down. Don’t expect to emerge unscathed, Strays of Rio will leave you thinking. The sign of a great story.rnrnTo be released on the International Day of Peace, it is fitting that Strays of Rio explores the characters’ desperate attempts to provide themselves with a peaceful future. rnrnStrays of Rio is set in a world we know exists but would rather forget as we go about our safe and secure lives. Edith Parzefall delivers a well researched story that is guaranteed to satisfy and impress.rnrn

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