Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

In Daniel Palmer's electrifying, brilliantly plotted new thriller, a private school campus becomes a battleground as a desperate father takes on a terrifying enemy....

When Jake Dent's dreams of baseball glory fell apart in a drunk-driving incident, his marriage did too. In those dark days, a popular survivalist blog helped to restore Jake's sense of control. He's become an avid Doomsday Prepper, raising his diabetic son, Andy, to be ready for any sudden catastrophe.

Andy, now a student at the prestigious Pepperell Academy where Jake works as a custodian, has a secret--he's part of a computer club that redistributes money from the obscenely wealthy to the needy. Usually, their targets don't even realize they've been hacked. But this time, they've stolen from the wrong people: a vicious drug cartel that is coming to get its money back...

Staging a chemical truck spill as a distraction, the cartel infiltrates the Academy, taking Andy and his friends hostage one by one. Jake, hidden inside the school's abandoned tunnels, knows that soon the killing will start. With his training, and a stockpile of weapons and supplies, he's the last, best hope these students--including his son--have of getting out alive. But survival is no longer an abstract concept. It's a violent, brutal struggle that will test Jake to the limit, where there are no rules and no second chances...

"This breakneck edge-of-your-seat thrill ride from Palmer ( Desperate ) falls just short of perfect." - Publishers Weekly

"Extraordinary character development and more than a few bombshell plot twists will keep readers turning the pages." - Publishers Weekly

"Palmer ( Desperate ) sets out to tell a fast-paced, suspenseful story and doesn't fail." - Library Journal , Starred Review

"This nail-biting tale is sure to get hearts pumping and bound to be a winner with fans of Greg Iles and Iris Johansen." - Library Journal , Starred Review

"Readers will care about everyone, and grimace and sweat with every tense scene. Palmer's thrillers involving family dynamics are terrific, and this one is no exception." - RT Book Reviews

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

Jake Dent is head custodian at the prestigious Pepperell Academy in the mountains of western Massachusetts and father of Andy, a student at Pepperell and a secret hacker. Jake also has a secret-after an accident ended his promising career as a major league pitcher and his wife left him and their diabetic three-year-old son, Jake found order and purpose through survival prepping. When Andy and his friends hack into a wealthy classmate's father's account and steal $200 million, they don't realize that they have stolen from a vengeful Mexican drug cartel. The cartel infiltrates the school, taking Andy and his friends hostage. Jake is hidden inside the school's abandoned tunnels with a stockpile of weapons and supplies, and he's the last hope the students-including his son-have of getting out alive. Peter Berkrot capably narrates. While the story is fast-paced and enjoyable, the clichés can be a bit heavy. VERDICT Recommended for libraries where thrillers are popular. ["This nail-biting tale is sure to get hearts pumping and bound to be a winner with fans of Greg Iles and Iris Johansen": LJ 5/15/15 starred review of the Kensington hc.]-Scott R. DiMarco, Mansfield Univ. of -Pennsylvania Lib. © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publishers Weekly Review

This breakneck edge-of-your-seat thrill ride from Palmer (Desperate) falls just short of perfect. Jake Dent was on his way to becoming a major-league pitcher when he drunkenly crashed his car and shattered his elbow. Since his wife left him and their diabetic son, Andy, Jake has found a sense of security as a doomsday "prepper," teaching himself and Andy how to survive any kind of catastrophe. Now the head custodian at Pepperell Academy in the picturesque Berkshire town of Winston, Mass., he has the chance to put his training to the test when apparent terrorists take 16-year-old Andy, a student at Pepperell, and a number of other students hostage. As Jake tries to save the kids, he begins to understand that Andy and friends did something criminal to bring this disaster to the school. Extraordinary character development and more than a few bombshell plot twists will keep readers turning the pages until the contrived ending. Agent: Meg Ruley, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Booklist Review

Palmer's thrillers examine family dynamics set against impossible odds, and his latest pits a horrendous drug cartel against a man desperate to keep his son alive. Jake Dent was thrown curve balls in life and has become a survivalist as a way of coping. He forces his son, Andy, to live the survivalist life as well, though Andy wants out. Andy and his friends at a private school, where Jake works as custodian, are computer wizards, but they have hacked the wrong account: ruthless people who are out millions of dollars want every cent back. They will do anything to recover the cash and exact revenge, even take all teen hackers hostage inside their high school. Jake is hiding in the bowels of the school and must utilize his survivalist skills to create weapons and save the boys. Palmer takes a straightforward kidnapping story and turns it into a compelling tale filled with not-so-typical heroes. Setting the action in a high school is risky, but Palmer pulls it off. Fans of Harlan Coben or Linwood Barclay will especially enjoy this one.--Ayers, Jeff Copyright 2015 Booklist