Sanctity of Freedom
Peter Thomas Pontsa
Iconic Scribes Press, Inc. (2025)
ISBN: 978-1738313082
Reviewed by Demetria Head for Reader Views (08/2025)
Although I read a variety of books in most genres, I have a soft spot for a good espionage thriller, and Sanctity of Freedom: An Inspector William Fox Series by Peter Thomas Pontsa just melted me in a good way. As soon as I started reading this book, the action scene jumped off the page. Pontsa took me inside Do Yun Cho’s decision, which was a matter of life or death aboard a freight liner on the St. Lawrence. A North Korean agent is tasked with either bringing Cho back or executing him, which ultimately led to Cho’s fate. I must warn readers that the opening scene is a bit violent and brutal. After all, it is a murder scene. But it is done without over-the-top gore.
The story then shifts to a more laid-back, very human interaction between William Fox and his girlfriend, Tracy Jordan. I love how the story shifts from the intense scene on the freightliner to a nice day at the marina. It also allows the story to breathe before the next action scene. They are getting their cigarette boat, Midnight Fox, ready for inspection and a shakedown run. This enjoyable time between the two is very rare for William Fox because of his demanding job as an Inspector. Readers are allowed a glimpse into his personal life, not just who he is when he wears his badge. But this personal downtime is short-lived when William hears over the radio that a body was found washed up on the Canadian shore.
Before we even get out of the opening chapter, a lot has already happened with William now getting involved and working with the Longueuil Agglomeration Police Services, otherwise known as SPAL. Just the way Pontsa outlines the police procedural work gives this story a realistic touch. But as William gets closer to this investigation, he recognizes the address that the police were able to preserve when it was found on Do Yun Cho. He realizes the address belongs to his close friend, Mr. Kim’s dojang. His visceral reaction made me react. That’s how invested I was in this book. But all of this sets the stage for the events that begin to unfold in this investigation, and William immediately finds himself too close to this case to let it go.
There is so much to love about Sanctity of Freedom. It isn’t your typical espionage thriller or crime mystery. It has a backstory and reflective moments that are raw. For example, when Mr. Kim is at his dojang, looking at an old black and white photo and starts thinking about his village in Korea, the emotions in this entire moment feel so real. The war stories he shares with his children are relatable. It even has some elements of romance as Mr. Kim reminisces about meeting his wife, Linna, during the war as she nursed his wounds. Pontsa reels us into the raw emotional moments of the story, but they don’t overshadow the main premise of solving the murder and piecing the puzzle together.
Yet, while the investigation and personal lives are happening, there are other pieces to this puzzle, such as when Ava Ryan arrives in Dandong to meet Park Ho Jin. The two are suspicious of each other even as they trade proof of personal and political motives. Ho Jin’s confession about his mom being trapped in North Korea, however, humanized his character beyond just being a spy. It made the scene shift from cinematic to emotional. Then the scene spikes into action when Ava realizes she’s been followed. I held my breath as she came so close to being caught.
The action never lets up from chapter to chapter as the story takes readers across the seas and back. For example, Park Joon, who we find out later is a trained assassin who was forced to join the North Korean army, puts on an acrobatic show as he goes up against William and Kim. What happens at the Broken Bridge is a highlight; he seizes a tourist as a hostage and thwarts William’s and Kim’s control. You can see the whole scene playing out, with the chase ensuing, dodging cars, hijacking SUVs, right before Joon escapes and slips right back into the shadows of North Korea. You can feel William’s frustration.
Readers who love Daniel Silva’s Gabriel Allon thrillers will appreciate what Pontsa has done in Sanctity of Freedom. Also, those who enjoy a good balance of espionage and high-octane action with some political edge, like Tom Clancy’s Patriot Games, will most likely enjoy a novel like this. It’s also a strong fit for fans of classic and contemporary spy fiction.