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Liepman Literary Agency
Marc Koralnik
Original language
English

THE CAPTIVE

Fiona Foster

Sold in a six-figure auction to HarperCollins Canada and Ecco in the US, The Captive is an assured, action-packed and heart-stopping debut for readers of The Outlander by Gil Adamson and Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell – a feminist noir story of survival, difficult choices, and the enduring fierceness of a mother's love
In a present-day secessionist rural state that has cut itself off from urban centers, where living is hardscrabble and poor but free, Brooke Holland runs a farm with her husband and two daughters. Their existence is tenuous, yet Brooke cherishes the peaceful life they have created. She has even begun to believe she is free from the violent history she has kept secret.

When escaped criminal Stephen Cawley attacks the farm, Brooke is convinced he has come in retribution for a blood feud that began long ago. Her buried talents surface and she quickly subdues him, deciding to take Cawley to the nearest marshal, collect the bounty on his head, and lead her family into hiding far from danger. It's their chance to escape the feud for good. Their journey is miles on foot across an unforgiving landscape, with the winter season looming. As Brooke's ghosts—both real and imagined—close in, the ruthlessness that allowed her to survive her past may become the biggest threat to her hope for a different future.

Haunting and propulsive, The Captive is a thrilling debut novel about the seemingly impossible choices we make to survive and to protect the ones we love.

FIONA KING FOSTER was raised in Brudenell, Ontario, a rural community now misleadingly referred to as a ghost town. Her writing has been featured in a number of publications including The Globe and Mail and Maisonneuve. She lives in Toronto and works with the national literacy organization Frontier College. The Captive is her first novel.
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Published 2021-01-01 by Harper Collins Canada

Comments

“Beguiling. . . Part adventure novel and part crime novel. . . Foster keeps the tension high. . . . effectively [keeping] readers in suspense all the way through.”

Ecco

“In this suspenseful, tightly written noir, Foster reinvigorates the familiar perilous journey trope as she portrays Brooke's steely determination to save her loved ones. Exuding that irresistible blend of courage and vulnerability that defined David Woodrell's Lee Dolly in Winter's Bone (2006) Brooke drives this propulsive wilderness adventure, made all the more chilling by its shockingly realistic vision of a country ravaged by culture wars.”

“With this part–feminist Western, part–dystopian odyssey, part just plain-old nerve-jangling thriller, Foster does a terrific job of maintaining the page-turning pace of her narrative—and of Brooke's angst-ridden story. The action is full of (often violent) surprises, and the plot exposes one secretive layer after another, embedding a highly contemporary feel to the tale despite its futuristic setting. Packed with heart-stopping misadventures, this novel makes outdoor challenge–style outings look like a walk in the park.”

March Forth Media

, “While the novel is beautifully written and richly characterized, what makes it such a delightful read is Foster's skill in upending readerly expectations. . . With echoes of Elmore Leonard, Charles Portis and Donna Tart, The Captive is a powerful debut, but with a hint of timelessness.”

"“Winter Books You Won't Be Able to Put Down”"

“Dark as an ice cold winter's night, Fiona King Foster's debut novel is a pitch-perfect noir thriller.”