Dinah McCall, The Survivors

The Survivors

Dinah McCall

Mira, Mar 2007, $6.99

ISBN: 0778324354

US Senator Patrick Finn begs his colleague Darren Wilson to support his legislation, but the latter says no as his constituency would go berserk. Patrick is irate with Wilson's refusal because failure will mean the mob will kill him as his proposed law pays off his enormous gambling debt to them. Both are on the same plane heading from DC to Atlanta. Also on that flight, among other passengers, are five-year-old Johnny O'Ryan, accompanied by grandparents Frank and Shirley Pollard, and child welfare worker Molly Cifelli.

When the plane crashes in the Appalachian Mountains near Chandler, Kentucky, Johnny's guardians die but he lives. Molly also survives and takes charge of the stunned youngster. However, both are further terrorized when they observe Finn kill Wilson. The two witnesses to the homicide flee while the killer chases after them. Meanwhile, local psychic Deborah Sanborn "sees" the plane crash, the murder, and the subsequent cat and mouse game. She helps Johnny's father Evan and his grandfather Mike with the search though she is attracted to the fortyish older O'Ryan, but first they must save the child and his protector.

Though too much chance sets up the opportunity for the murder to occur, fans will appreciate this tense, paranormal, romantic suspense. After introducing the readers to the key players, the fast-paced storyline soars as the plane crashes. Readers will appreciate the O'Ryans coming to Kentucky in search of the missing next generation, but also finding love in the mountains.

Harriet Klausner