The Three Hostages
(1924) is a
thriller novel
by
John Buchan
, featuring his famous character
Richard Hannay
, best known from
The Thirty-Nine Steps
. This book is the fourth in the Hannay series and blends
espionage, psychological manipulation, and adventure
in the years following World War I.
Now retired and living a peaceful life in the countryside,
is reluctantly drawn back into action when a powerful criminal network kidnaps three important hostages-a politician's son, a banker's daughter, and a judge's child. The criminals aim to manipulate global affairs, and Hannay must rescue the hostages while unraveling a sinister conspiracy.
His main adversary is the
charismatic yet malevolent Dominick Medina
, a hypnotist and master manipulator who poses one of Hannay's most formidable challenges. Unlike the purely action-driven adventures of the previous books,
introduces elements of
psychological warfare and mind control
, making it a unique entry in the series.