Debra Webb, Staying Alive

Staying Alive

Debra Webb

Silhouette Bombshell, Jan 2007, $4.99

ISBN: 0373514387

In Seattle's Whitesburg Middle School, four armed terrorists hold hostage twenty-five fifth graders, Principal Dale Allen and teacher Claire Grant. She realizes the target is student Peter Reime, son of Washington State Representative, Paul who is extremely vocal on anti-terrorist activity. The leader of the invaders Habib Nusair demands the release of Hamid Kaibar or one by one everyone held captive will die. The first killed by the terrorists is Dale. The armed four try to make Claire kill Peter, but instead she kills one of them and injures another as the SWAT team enters the room. Three of the terrorists are dead, but one escapes, not before telling her she is dead.

Habib's father, Nusair, an internationally known terrorist, vows retaliation against the stupid schoolteacher. Claire is a pawn whose only chance to survive resides with FBI agent Luke Krueger. However she must expose herself if she is to have a life; the problem is not the risk, which is astronomical, but her falling in love with her enigmatic guard.

STAYING ALIVE is a fabulous, action-packed thriller in which the heroine has no time to rest on her laurels as she is the intended victim of vengeance. The story line is at its best when it focuses on the cat and mouse game between the teacher and her adversary; when it moves into romance territory between Claire and Luke, it slows down the plot as it feels surreal (ironically odd that the terrorist attacks seen genuine and the romance does not). Romantic suspense fans will enjoy this fine thriller starring a victim forced to be a heroine just trying to survive.

Harriet Klausner