In his third novel for the CBA market, Thrasher (The Watermark) pens the tale of Tom Ledger, a fledgling corporate thief who quits his job but pockets some company information on his way out to sell to competitors. It's a deal that will set him up for life—if he can stay alive. Just a few years before, Tom's avarice and desire for freedom caused him to sever all ties with Allegra, a beautiful African-American woman who loved him, for the fast track. Now, Tom finds his existence meaningless and recalls the motto he was raised on: "You work hard, then you die." However, when he survives a horrific airplane crash, Tom begins to re-evaluate his priorities. His search for meaning leads him back to Allegra; his brother, Sean; and the Christian aunt and uncle who raised him, but his religious skepticism won't find resolution until the final pages. The idea of a plane crash paving the way for second chances is nothing new; Nancy Moser used it quite recently in The Seat Beside Me. But the end of Thrasher's tale has an unusual twist that will surprise the reader. An obligatory gospel presentation and rather lengthy conversion scene should appeal to the CBA market, although other readers may find them didactic, and the third-person narrative told in the present tense is initially jarring. Despite these pitfalls, Thrasher's steady pacing and competent prose keep the story moving. (Feb.)
