Have you ever received a suspicious email that felt just a little too personal? Or perhaps you’ve chased a dream so hard you ignored the red flags? In Cynthia J. Giachino’s novel, Between Lines, these modern-day anxieties spiral into a high-stakes international thriller that connects a retired schoolteacher in Chicago with a captive young man in Southeast Asia.
If you are looking for a story that blends the emotional bonds of female friendship with the tension of a rescue mission, this is a must-read. Here are my thoughts on why Between Lines is a gripping read.
The Setup: Two Worlds Collide
The story operates on two parallel tracks that are destined to crash into one another.
First, we meet Harris, a bright, young college graduate from London. He thinks he’s landed a dream job at a tech company in Bangkok, hoping to earn enough money to support his widowed mother. Instead, upon arrival, he is kidnapped, stripped of his identity, and forced into a brutal “cyber scam camp.” His new reality is a nightmare of forced labor, where he must scam innocent people out of their life savings to survive.
On the other side of the world, Irene, a retired teacher in Chicago, has written a memoir titled Quiet. Fear. Eager to share her story with the world, she navigates the murky waters of self-publishing, only to fall prey to predatory “publishers” who demand exorbitant fees for editing and marketing.
The connection? Harris (forced to use the alias “Ricco”) becomes Irene’s account representative. But as he drains her bank account under the watchful eye of the militia, he tries to do the impossible: send cry-for-help messages hidden “between the lines” of his business emails.
The “Golden Girls” of Espionage
While the premise is dark, the novel’s heart beats in the friendship among Irene and her two best friends, Betty and Stella.
- Irene is vulnerable and feels ashamed about being scammed, a feeling many of us can relate to.
- Betty is the wealthy, fashion-conscious, supportive friend who brings chocolate, wine, and moral support.
- Stella is the wildcard—an ex-military powerhouse who travels with a service dog named Blizzard and has connections to an elite extraction team.
When Irene begins to suspect that “Ricco” isn’t just a scammer but a victim himself, it’s this trio of women who decide to take matters into their own hands. Watching them transition from drinking coffee and discussing book covers to planning an international investigation is both heartwarming and thrilling.
Why You Should Read It
1. It Shines a Light on “Pig Butchering” Scams
The book does an excellent job of explaining the mechanics of modern cyber scams, specifically “pig butchering”—where scammers build trust and friendship with victims before stealing their money. It’s a terrifyingly realistic look at how intelligent people can be manipulated and the devastating reality of the human trafficking rings that fuel these operations.
2. The Tension of Communication
The most gripping parts of the book are the email exchanges. You are reading over Irene’s shoulder, trying to decode Harris’s hidden clues about his location, his health, and his desperation, all while wondering if the militia “Bossman” will catch him.
3. A Unique Cast of Heroes
It is refreshing to see a thriller led by older women who refuse to be passive victims. Stella, in particular, steals the show with her no-nonsense attitude and “weapons” disguised as jewelry.
Final Verdict
Between Lines is an emotional rollercoaster that moves from the cozy apartments of Chicago to the terrifying heat of a jungle labor camp. It explores themes of shame, resilience, and the lengths we will go to for the people we care about—even if we’ve never met them.
If you enjoy stories about underdogs fighting back against massive criminal enterprises, or if you want to know if Irene ever gets her book published, pick this one up.
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