Submerged, Cheryl Kaye Tardif (4 stars)

About Submerged
(From GoodReads)

From the international bestselling author that brought you CHILDREN OF THE FOG comes a terrifying new thriller that will leave you breathless…

"Submerged reads like an approaching storm, full of darkness, dread and electricity. Prepare for your skin to crawl." —Andrew Gross, New York Times bestselling author of 15 Seconds

Two strangers submerged in guilt, brought together by fate…

After a tragic car accident claims the lives of his wife, Jane, and son, Ryan, Marcus Taylor is immersed in grief. But his family isn't the only thing he has lost. An addiction to painkillers has taken away his career as a paramedic. Working as a 911 operator is now the closest he gets to redemption—until he gets a call from a woman trapped in a car.

Rebecca Kingston yearns for a quiet weekend getaway, so she can think about her impending divorce from her abusive husband. When a mysterious truck runs her off the road, she is pinned behind the steering wheel, unable to help her two children in the back seat. Her only lifeline is a cell phone with a quickly depleting battery and a stranger's calm voice on the other end telling her everything will be all right.

Review

Marcus Taylor barely gets through each day--the pain of losing his wife and son almost too much to bear. Now working as a 911 operator, he does what he can to make up for his own mistakes.

Rebecca Kingston, along with her two kids, is heading away for the weekend--away from the pain of her abusive marriage. Suddenly a truck rams into her. She calls 911, and Marcus answers. Things go from bad to worse, and Rebecca finds herself fighting for her life as well as the lives of her children. Can Marcus get to her in time? If he does, can they figure out who wanted her dead?

From the first page, the author builds the intensity and suspense. But the story's as much about the characters as it is the action. Rebecca is a mom with the strength to leave an abusive husband, and Marcus is battling demons most of us couldn't process. Marcus's pain was palpable, and I found myself choking up while reading.

I recommend Submerged to readers who enjoy a storyline that keeps them on the edge of their seat while also giving them characters to care about.

Rating: 4 stars

About Cheryl Kaye Tardif
(from her website)

I'm an award-winning, bestselling Canadian suspense author. My novels include Submerged, Divine Justice, Children of the Fog, The River, Divine Intervention, and Whale Song, which New York Times bestselling author Luanne Rice calls "a compelling story of love and family and the mysteries of the human heart...a beautiful, haunting novel."

I'm now working on my next thriller.

I also enjoy writing short stories inspired mainly by my author idol Stephen King, and this has resulted in Skeletons in the Closet & Other Creepy Stories (ebook) and Remote Control (novelette ebook).

In 2010 I detoured into the romance genre with my contemporary romantic suspense debut, Lancelot's Lady, written under the pen name of Cherish D'Angelo.

Booklist raves, "Tardif, already a big hit in Canada…a name to reckon with south of the border."

Cheryl's website & Twitter

Please visit other stops on the Submerged blog tour.

Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.

Recently, I had the honor of hosting Cheryl on my Depression Cookies blog page. Please visit her guest post: Submerge Yourself in the World of Cheryl Kaye Tardif.