Primal Threat

by: Earl Emerson

Published by: Ballantine Books

Reviewed by Patricia E. Reid

Zak Polanski is haunted by the death of his sister in a car wreck when Zak was twelve. Zak was unable to rescue his sister who was trapped in the car nor was he able to save his family from the disintegration that followed his sister’s death. Zak is now a firefighter and is considered a pro at freeing persons trapped in a vehicle after a crash. His fellow workers have no idea of the fear and memories that invade Zak’s mind every time he is forced to attempt a rescue.

Nadine Newcastle comes from a very rich family. When she is trapped in her vehicle after a crash, Zak rescues her. Although Zak’s relationships with women are usually short-lived, he feels that this will not be the case with Nadine. Zak’s intolerance when it comes to rich people, and Nadine’s old boyfriend Scooter’s constant interference, makes the relationship between Nadine and Zak difficult. Even though Zak advises Nadine to contact the police about Scooter’s stalking, Nadine thinks this is something that will just go away in time. Although Zak and Nadine have quit seeing each other, they are still in contact.

Zak and his friends take a bike excursion into the mountains in spite of the fact that there are forest fire warnings. Scooter and his buddies follow Zak’s group–and there are terrifying consequences.

Forest fires are raging all around and Scooter’s group contributes to the fires. One of Scooter’s friends accidentally plunges to his death. Scooter’s gang blames Zak and his friends. The war for survival then begins.

This is a haunting and terrifying story. The story of the two groups will stay with you long after you have laid aside the book. I learned more than I ever wanted to know about forest fires and the damage that the fires can do. I also learned a lot about the sport of biking. It is amazing the feats that Zak’s group performed. It is also unbelievable the outlook the spoiled rich boys had on life and how set they were on revenge.

Armchair Interviews says: A 5-star read that feels oh-so-real.

Author’s Web site: http://www.EarlEmerson.com