THE DEVIL AND POLITICS: KIT BURGOYNE'S THE CAPTIVE

Kit Burgoyne's The Captive's elevator pitch could be "Patty Hearst has Rosemary's Baby". NAIL, a group of British revolutionary terrorists kidnap heiress Adeline Woolsaw to draw attention to the immoral practices of her family's conglomerate. The first chapter kicks it into high gear with the kidnapping and a paramilitary group popping out to defend the young woman. When NAIL grabs Adeline they learn two things about her- She's more than willing to go with them and get away from her family and she's pregnant. 

Then there is the baby. This is the second time Adeline has been artificially inseminated, the first child taken from her at birth. When NAIL members find themselves delivering this infant, they soon learn it has dark powers, The Woolsaw family has cut the ultimate deal with some demonic forces that will put the child on the throne of a much different world.

Burgoyne fuses the horror novel and political thriller together with the use of some dark satire. While it contains horror elements, it works more like and action-crime novel with NAIL and Adeline fighting to end her family's diabolical plan, much of which revolves around an art heist. Burgoyne is more focused on deliver a thriller's fast pace than horror's slow burn dread and mood. The 379 pages move like a tight action adventure paperback.

Much of the story builds with its character dynamics. Each member of NAIL has a different background, relationship with others, and the cause that creates tension, especially when it comes to how they each feel about Adeline. Adeline grows more engaging as she goes from passive victim to taking agency against her parents.

In The Captive, Kit Burgoyne creates a fun read for out times. I wouldn't be surprised if some film production company hadn't snapped up the rights. It moves entertains and has a premise that looks at our times in a unique way. As dangerous as the demons are, it's the humans in the shadows we really need to worry about.