Second Thief »

When Tom stepped onto the plane, he knew he was making a choice that would change his life. But he had no idea how much.

The author, Travis Thrasher, tells us: "The Second Thief is a story about a man who survives a plane accident and has a second chance at life. As he runs from his present mistakes while making amends for past ones, he comes to grips with his own lack of faith."

This fast-moving, unpredictable story asks the question: Is it ever too late to redeem past mistakes? Its central character, Tom, realistically represents the skepticism and doubt of many people today who simply don't "buy into" Christianity. Faced with a new opportunity and a chance to change, what will be his decision?

Readers of all ages will enjoy the suspense of Tom's journey and its unexpected, dramatic conclusion.

About the Author:
Travis Thrasher has been writing since college and is the author of two well-received novels. He spent his youth living with his family in places such as Australia, Germany, New York, Florida and North Carolina. Travis currently lives with his wife, Sharon, in suburban Chicago.

Publishers Weekly

In his third novel for the CBA market, Thrasher (The Watermark) pens the tale of Tom Ledger, a fledgling corporate thief who quits his job but pockets some company information on his way out to sell to competitors. It's a deal that will set him up for life-if he can stay alive. Just a few years before, Tom's avarice and desire for freedom caused him to sever all ties with Allegra, a beautiful African-American woman who loved him, for the fast track. Now, Tom finds his existence meaningless and recalls the motto he was raised on: "You work hard, then you die." However, when he survives a horrific airplane crash, Tom begins to re-evaluate his priorities. His search for meaning leads him back to Allegra; his brother, Sean; and the Christian aunt and uncle who raised him, but his religious skepticism won't find resolution until the final pages. The idea of a plane crash paving the way for second chances is nothing new; Nancy Moser used it quite recently in The Seat Beside Me. But the end of Thrasher's tale has an unusual twist that will surprise the reader. An obligatory gospel presentation and rather lengthy conversion scene should appeal to the CBA market, although other readers may find them didactic, and the third-person narrative told in the present tense is initially jarring. Despite these pitfalls, Thrasher's steady pacing and competent prose keep the story moving. (Feb.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.