Deep Shadow

When approached by old friend Arlis Futch to help search for lost Cuban gold at the bottom of a Floridian lake, there's no way Doc Ford could anticipate that the easy afternoon dive with friends would turn into a struggle for life both below and above the waterline. A collapsing underwater shelf traps Ford's pal, Tomlinson, and a young troubled teen, Will Chaser, under tons of limestone. When Ford rushes to the surface he discovers more peril: two escaped murderers holding Futch hostage. As precious minutes pass, it is up to Ford to keep himself and Futch alive, outwit the deadly duo, and rescue his friends before they drown. Some listeners might find George Guidall's homespun delivery too folksy for this gritty thriller, but his enthusiasm for the material and fine character portrayals soon push any such qualms aside. A Putnam hardcover (Reviews, Jan. 4). (Apr.)