Six books that explore Stockholm Syndrome

Jeff Somers is the author of Lifers, the Avery Cates series from Orbit Books, Chum from Tyrus Books, and We Are Not Good People from Pocket/Gallery. He has published over thirty short stories as well.

At B & N Reads Somers tagged six books that explore Stockholm Syndrome--wherein the victims of a kidnapping identify with, and even come to have affection for their captors--including:

Captive, by A.J. Grainger

Robyn, the daughter of the prime minister, is kidnapped by a terrorist group that threaten to kill her unless one of their compatriots is released from prison, and try to use her captivity as leverage to expose alleged corruption. Her three captors range from more or less kind and sensible (a young man called Talon) to extremely frightening and unpredictable, but what backs up her shift from terrified victim to enamored sympathizer is her disappointment and confusion when her father refuses to “negotiate with terrorists,” apparently leaving her to her fate. That sort of bitter pill might wreak havoc on anyone’s psyche, giving the story all the gravitas it needs.

Read about the other entries on the list.

--Marshal Zeringue