Three years ago, a collision between a fast-moving freight train and a school bus full of kids led to devastation and grief on an unimaginable scale. But a fresh clue leads San Antonio police detective Amara Alvarez to the unlikely conclusion that one of the children may still be alive. If she’s correct, everything law enforcement believes about the accident is a lie.
With time running out, Amara must convince others — and herself — that despite all evidence to the contrary, the boy lives. And she will do everything in her power to bring him home.
A fresh voice in suspense, Tom Threadgill will have you questioning everything as you fly through the pages of this enthralling story.
Tom Threadgill was born and raised in Memphis back when the muddy Mississippi was less riverish and more streamish. His childhood was unremarkable. (Unless you count the concussion. Oh, and the time he nearly got arrested. And the time his dad made him smoke a cigar so he wouldn’t try cigarettes.)
After giving up on a calling as a professional Pong player, Tom married his high school sweetheart and moved off to Nashville. He attended Belmont University where he majored in English (because the sky’s the limit for English majors, right?), learned to type on an IBM Selectric, and helped his wife study nursing terms with flashcards.
While there, Tom began an almost thirty-year career working for a package delivery company, spending most of the time working his way up the ranks and looking for his stapler. The job took him to Indiana, Missouri, Florida, and Texas, before he opted to retire early and move to rural west Tennessee. Think Green Acres minus the farm but with the helpful county agent.
These days Tom spends his time piddling in the yard and writing novels. His hobbies include working jigsaw puzzles, trying out Dad jokes on his grown kids, woodworking, and using leftover potted meat cans from Y2K for target practice.
Tom enjoys riding his Harley in the mountains with his wife, who shuts off the microphone after the third “I am a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar.” He’s also a rabid hockey fan, following his beloved Predators as they chase their first Stanley Cup.
My Impressions:
First I have to say I love, love, love main character Amara Alvarez and am thrilled that she will be returning in another novel! Okay, I got that out of the way and can say that I really, really liked Collision of Lies by Tom Threadgill. Besides the very funny, sometimes quirky, and normal law enforcement types that populate the pages, Collision of Lies is a page-turner full of twists and turns and a lot of please don’t go there — oh you did! No, this book isn’t graphic, but it doesn’t sugarcoat the evil that men will stoop to. Police work is the key to the investigation, so if you like that sort of thing, this novel is for you. The cop vibe is strong, but in a very credible way. There were a few things I did find less than credible, but they heightened the suspense, so perfectly allowable. Amara is a fabulous character — intuitive, empathetic, and kick-butt. I cannot wait to see where she will go next. The book is pure suspense, but there may be a bit of romance down the line.
Great plot, characters, and action — Collision of Lies has it all! It is highly recommended!
Highly Recommended.
Audience: adults.
(Thanks to Revell for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
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