The Seventh Survivor
Lori Lacefield
Reviewed by Barb Radmore
Palmer Reed is ecstatic when she is selected to the exclusive position
on the board of directors for the Diamond Foundation. As a child
she had been kidnapped by her father's enemies so she can related well
to the Foundations goal to raise money to help victims of crime. She is
especially pleased to have been hand chosen by the Foundation's high
profile Chairperson Marjoram Swall. Swall was also the woman who had
rescued her from her kidnappers twenty years before. It seems
like a perfect combination of women to work together to help victims
such as Jeremiah who nearly died when his parents lit him on fire or
the rape victim, and the parents of murdered children. It seems like a
golden opportunity to both help others and advance her own career.
Palmer's grand dreams come to crashing end when, at one of the Board
meetings, Marjoram Swall lets the newest board members in on the ways
the Board actually raises the majority of its funds. Palmer is greatly
disturbed by the choice she must make- agree to be part of the method
she feels is not right or resign her position on the Board. This
decision becomes a moot point when she alone discover Swall's personal
means of revenge for the victims. Palmer must take flight for her
life from pursuers of both her present and past
In this up coming book (September 2006) Capital Crimes is publishing
another twist on the moral mystery/crime scene. Lori Lacefield has
written a book that manages to be both entertaining and thought
provoking. The drama enfolds both the plot lines, which
realistically weave Palmer's past and present together, and the ethical
principles involved with revenge. A crisp story line with straight
forward writing style enhance the pace of the narrative. Lacefield
wisely draws the reader into the drama on both an emotional, personal
level (what would I do) and a narrative level. the main
characters are well thought out but the characters are not the focus of
the book- it is the events and the ideals that are the real
protagonists. It is an excellent feat for a debut writer.
We will be looking forward to Lacefield's next endeavor, 99 Truths,
advertised as the first in a series about novice FBI agent Frankie
Johnson.