REVIEW for The Survivor

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for sending me a copy of this thriller.

TITLE:                  The Survivor

AUTHOR:             Sean Slater

GENRE:               Thriller

RATING:             4 Stars

Author Sean Slater has clearly understood one of the most important lessons when it comes to writing a thriller - it is crucial to grab your audience from the very first page of the book!

I loved the fact that our main character, Detective Jacob Striker is just back on the job - actually, it is his very first day back as he finds himself having to "attend" Saint Patrick High to deal with the news that his daughter has "ditched" school again.  Except that as he and his partner are talking to the principal, they hear gunshots - which turns into a nightmare as three gunmen are killing students - and all of this happens in the first chapter!

Of course, school shootings are huge news and, I have to admit, when it is fiction, it makes for an interesting and very engaging read.  However, what makes this one a little different is the fact that we find out that there were, indeed, 3 shooters - 2 are now dead and 1 has escaped into the general population.

I have to admit that I was a tad disappointed with this turn of events. I think that the plotline would have worked better, for me anyway, had the gunman stayed within the confines of the school (I love these scenarios where there is nowhere to go and everyone is a hostage).  However, the author chose to go another route, which I thoroughly enjoyed, once I got over my initial disappointment.

This thriller is not linear - there are many little detours and characters that pop in and out to eventually lead us to the "mystery 3rd gunman".  But, in the process, Striker will find himself having to deal with family issues that may or may not end up blending into the shootings  - with some surprises along the way.

I highly suggest you get this thriller - which, as a bonus, is actually set in Canada.