April 13, 2015
This breakneck edge-of-your-seat thrill ride from Palmer (Desperate) falls just short of perfect. Jake Dent was on his way to becoming a major-league pitcher when he drunkenly crashed his car and shattered his elbow. Since his wife left him and their diabetic son, Andy, Jake has found a sense of security as a doomsday “prepper,” teaching himself and Andy how to survive any kind of catastrophe. Now the head custodian at Pepperell Academy in the picturesque Berkshire town of Winston, Mass., he has the chance to put his training to the test when apparent terrorists take 16-year-old Andy, a student at Pepperell, and a number of other students hostage. As Jake tries to save the kids, he begins to understand that Andy and friends did something criminal to bring this disaster to the school. Extraordinary character development and more than a few bombshell plot twists will keep readers turning the pages until the contrived ending. Agent: Meg Ruley, Jane Rotrosen Agency.