Barbara Seranella, Deadman's Switch

Deadman's Switch

Barbara Seranella

Dunne, Apr 2007, $23.95

ISBN: 031236170X

In Orange County, California, recently-widowed Charlotte Lyon provides crisis management consulting services to companies with media or shareholder issues. She is highly regarded by her clients as following her advice can save the firm plenty of money and keep negative press to a minimum.

Corporate lawyer Dom Cole hires Charlotte to assist Sun Rail Corporation whose train the Sunliner just derailed. The accident killed the engineer and an elderly female passenger; twelve passengers are in the hospital. Charlotte takes charge of the spin control to insure the firm has the right image for public reaction starting with booting out the Red Cross. Meanwhile, the Feds are all over the scene trying to determine whether what happened is mechanical failure, driver error, or terrorism. Charlotte, unable to stay out of the inquiry, soon begins to believe someone deliberately caused the derailment by tampering with the tracks.

Switching from Munch to Charlotte, fans of Barbara Seranella will appreciate this powerful thriller starring an intelligent, take-charge woman; she serves as a fitting tribute to the late author who recently passed away from liver failure. Charlotte makes the fast-paced storyline so much fun to read as she seeks the truth while taking charge of her client's publicity. Character-driven readers will take pleasure in observing the behind the scenes work at managing a crisis even as Charlotte goes after the saboteur.

Harriet Klausner