Intense fear and an evocative atmosphere drive the relentless plot of Andrew Reid's The Survivor as a young man grapples with one of the worst days of his life.
Ben Cross is looking forward to his new job at DataDyne Solutions, a billion-dollar business that helps its clients avoid Environmental Protection Agency fines. But the 26-year-old's first day ends before it begins: he sits at his new desk to find he's locked out of his computer, then he's escorted out by security because he's been fired. Stunned, Ben makes his way to the subway, where his fear of dark, tight places almost prevents his descent down the stairs. After he makes it on board, he receives anonymous text messages saying that unless he stops some passengers from getting off at their stop, they will die. At first, Ben thinks this could be a prank, but then a man is shot after exiting the train. More threatening messages arrive, targeting other passengers and hinting at Ben's secret past. Meanwhile, NYPD Detective Kelly Hendricks, who was recently assigned to the subway system as punishment for publicly humiliating a supervisor, is above ground investigating the first murder.
The Survivor alternates between Ben's and Kelly's perspectives; Reid ramps up the terror as he evokes Ben's vertigo and claustrophobia, while Kelly's motivation comes from her hope that the investigation may put her back in good standing with the NYPD. Reid delivers an unpredictable thriller, doling out Ben's and Kelly's backgrounds as each turn of the train brings more scares. --Oline H. Cogdill, freelance reviewer