‘Dealing with kidnappers is easy!’ A hostage negotiator reveals the secrets that can transform your life

After years in the police, Scott Walker became a response consultant', handling everything from abductions to piracy and cyber-attacks. The skills he used can help you get a pay rise, lower your rent, defuse a family crisis ...

Somewhere in Europe, a man is taken at gunpoint from his BMW. He is a successful businessman, worth an estimated 200m; from the burnt-out wreckage of his car, it's clear this is a professional operation.

In London, 48 hours later, Scott Walker is part of the team brought in to secure the man's release. A hostage negotiator with more than a decade's experience, Walker prepares himself for a long haul: it could be weeks before the kidnappers make contact with their demands. But the immediate negotiation is not with them - it's with the hostage's younger brother.