SLCL Welcomes Ridley Pearson Tonight

The St. Louis County Library presents St. Louisan and acclaimed suspense author Ridley Pearson at this special pre-publication event for his newest thriller "Choke Point" tonight, June 1, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. at Library Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd. The program is free and open to the public. (Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Seating is limited; early arrival is recommended.) Copies of the book will be available for purchase from Left Bank Books.

When an award-winning foreign journalist reveals the existence of an Amsterdam-based sweatshop known as a "knot shop" that employs and enslaves young girls as laborers, private security firm Rutherford Risk is hired by a philanthropist to find it and shut it down.

David "Sarge" Dulwich, Knox's former boss from their government contractor days, knows that Knox's cultural knowledge, combat skills, and sympathy for the abused make him right for the job. Joined by Grace Chu, whose more subtle skills for acquiring sensitive tech information help to balance Knox's improvisational style, he heads to Amsterdam in an attempt to dismantle the child labor operation and rescue the girls. In their way is a crime organization that has permeated the neighborhoods with good will turning even the victims' parents against their would-be saviors. With enemies around every corner, Knox and Grace can't tell the good from the bad.

Ridley Pearson is a New York Times best-selling author with nearly 30 adult suspense novels and over 15 children's adventure novels published in 22 languages in 70 countries. His novels have been adapted to both network television and the stage. He has also co-produced and written documentaries for television. Ridley has appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America, Craig Ferguson, CNN, the BBC, NPR, and has been reviewed in major newspapers around the world.

Program sites are accessible. Upon two weeks' notice, accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities. Contact St. Louis County Library by phone 314-994-3300 or visit http://www.slcl.org.