Kidnapping, Travelers, Ransom, Hostages, International crimes 

A riveting and frequently terrifying investigation of the world's fastest growing criminal enterprise--kidnapping for ransom and political advantage.

In Ransom, Ann Auerbach spans two years in the high-stakes world of international kidnapping, beginning on July 4, 1995, when terrorists seized an unsuspecting couple on the banks of a Himalayan river in Kashmir. Seamlessly moving between this story and others, the book shows how events in the post--Cold War era have compelled criminals, former rebels, former terrorists, and even former soldiers to turn to kidnapping to make a living. She discloses one shocking detail after another about the crime and its perpetrators, including trends that dramatically affect every businessperson and traveler venturing abroad.