Quake

Tracey
Alvarez
Genre: 
Contemporary

New Zealand businessman Daniel Calder is with Ana Grace in her third-floor office when the floors and walls start shaking and crumbling around them. When the shaking stops, Daniel takes things in hand, devising a plan to escape the collapsed building. Panicked, Ana wants to get to her children right away and must use Daniel to help her. Their journey is slowed by Daniel helping others in the building, and their journey encounters one obstacle after another as they try to reach her home and find her children.  At every turn, Ana questions Daniel when all he asks of her is to trust him. But Ana has trust issues, especially with men. Can they make it home and rescue her children in time?

“Quake” is a very realistic tale of what could happen during and after an earthquake. The story arc is wonderful and keeps readers on edge. Daniel is charismatic and everyone except Ana trusts him to do the right thing. There is more narrative than dialogue in this disaster tale, but it moves smoothly ahead at a great pace. Just before the epilogue there is an advertisement for the author’s other books. This leads the reader to believe the novel has ended abruptly. The world building is fantastic, and one can well imagine the chaos and destruction that lie before Daniel and Ana as they make their trek. Ms. Alvarez is a master at portraying the emotions of her characters as they live through this epic tale!

Belinda Wilson