Conspiracy Thriller set in the Yugoslav Wars

Been writing some tidbits for this particular theme. Originally, it was suppose to be a Blacklist/Black Lagoon story set in the 1990s when Reddington got involved in the region and helped an OC, who's a long lost brother to Yukio Washimine for reasons undisclosed. That's another story for another time.

Initial writing is set in Bosnia. The MC is Asian, orphaned after a hit was placed on his family. He survived with most of his immediate family killed. He's helped by a "family friend" who agrees to help him find clues to why his family was targeted.

In the 1990s, his death was faked to get the heat off him. He is seen in Bosnia under another name as he's there with other "volunteers" fighting with Bosniaks. The family friend is a known arms dealer in the underworld and he's helping them and the Croats.

MC later find out that the death of his family is part of a conspiracy that's centered on the Balkans.

That's it for now since that's the hash of the plot...

I'm free to have any input on this idea.

edited 22nd Mar '16 3:30:29 PM by Ominae

How familiar are you with that time and place?

Very much so. I read some conspiracies that arose from the Balkans such as the reason why Tudman and Milosevic met secretly, which was investigated years after the war between the Croats and Bosniaks ended.

edited 27th Mar '16 7:40:35 AM by Ominae

But how familiar are you with the details of daily life in that setting? Or are you more familiar with the large scale historical events (albeit the hidden ones)? The reason I ask is because it limits the kind of stories you can tell.

I see. Thanks for clearing that up.

It's mostly on historical details with some bits on daily life that happened there.

So probably you want to write this as a kind of large-scale epic. Lots of characters, many sub-plots, the point of view characters struggling with their own personal challenges against the backdrop of a war that goes on without them, that sort of thing.

Had a feeling that it would probably have to go there.

I did write some drafts up online on some forum. I'll need to compare those and see if they need further revamping since I stopped months ago.

All I need to do is to read up on conspiracy stuff that came out of the war...

edited 30th Mar '16 8:58:01 PM by Ominae

Don't forget to include some relatable characters, the kind of people who can personalize something as large and abstract as a war, let alone a conspiracy. Have you read Alan Furst's novels? It's WWII noir, but they seem right up your alley. I think you would find some inspiration in them.

I read some of his excerpts after you mentioned his name.

Better start planning up soon...

Still doing the stuff, but I need some insight on whether having the MC be 18-19 when he arrives to be involved in Bosnia from overseas would make people... well weary of reading the story. Of course he gets smuggled in from Croatia, as what actual foreign fighters did.

Why would the MC's age be a problem?

Just concerned someone would cry foul that I'm portraying a very young person (albeit at 18) shooting at the bad guys...

Just don't make him all that good at it.

Definitely.

Idea is that while he's familiar with using small arms, he'll be way over his head (at first) when he gets to Bosnia, facing off against well-trained soldiers. Though he'll get better later on since he only used it against non-living targets.

Sounds good.

Now I just need a good title for this.