By G. Robert Frazier
Tragedies resulting from accidents, shootings, bombings, or even natural disasters often result in stories about the victims lost: who they were, what they did during their lifetime, the dreams they’ll never achieve. In Life After ($14.99, Waterbrook), the new novel from Christy Award-winning author Katie Ganshert, the story surrounds the lone survivor of a train bombing in Chicago and the lives of those left behind. It is a novel that is deeply moving and enthralling from the first page.
The novel picks up almost a year after the fatal bombing that claimed the lives of twenty-two people. Survivor Autumn Manning was injured in the blast but survives, if living with twelve months of grief and survivor’s guilt can be called that. Autumn spends much of her existence after the bombing asking “why?” Why did she survive when so many others did not? Why did God allow such a thing to happen? They are the same questions many of the families of the other victims also ask.
When she unexpectedly encounters Paul Elliott, the husband of one such victim, and her daughter, Reese, her life takes an even more complicated turn. Both Paul and Reese are also struggling to “move on” from their loss in different ways, causing increased tension between them. Reese convinces Autumn to put together an enduring tribute to the victims of the bombing, but Paul resists, fearing the truth about his relationship with his lost wife will come to the fore.
Ganshert’s prose is simple, poignant, and above all emotionally stirring. The story moves swiftly, alternating between Autumn and Paul’s point of view. If it loses any steam it is when the novel veers in the middle to recount some of the testimonials from other survivors’ families. Fortunately, such diversions are short-lived and the emotional conflict between Autumn, Paul, and Reese rightfully takes center stage again.
I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for this review.
A former managing editor for NBCNews.com and the New York Daily News, Belsky has used that career of skill sets to create a thoroughly authentic investigative reporter in Gil Malloy. In his second adventure, Shooting for the Stars (Atria, 2015), the tenacious and oft-times cynical Malloy is convinced the murder of a local television personality is intrinsically linked to the thirty-year-old unsolved murder of Hollywood movie diva Laura Marlowe.
Unlike his previous efforts – 
elivery truck driver Ben Jones, for the most part, heeds that warning and largely respects the privacy of the desert’s oddball collection of characters on his route near Price, Utah. That is, until he encounters and becomes enamored by the mysterious woman hiding in an abandoned model home.
Homicide Detective Mike Warren embraces the easy way out by wanting to peg the crime on the victim’s wife, Miriam Hartwell, whom Carrick saw driving away from the scene. Fortunately for readers, the truth is a lot more complicated, as is often the case with Carrick’s adventures.
Donlay drops readers, and one of his main characters, right into the fray in his opening chapter as a CIA-operated Learjet crashes behind enemy lines somewhere in Eastern Europe. On board are Special Agent Lauren McKenna, code name “Pegasus”, and a recently liberated American scientist who possesses technological plans for a new stealth jet capable of delivering a nuclear device.
To be honest, the book is a bit dull at times. It’s not that Cleese’s life isn’t interesting. It is. I mean, the guy is wildly entertaining in his numerous classic sketches and standup routines on Python, and he’s starred in a few modestly funny movies. He can tell a pretty darn funny story.
Story By G. ROBERT FRAZIER 