The Survivors: A Cal Henderson Novel

Early in Palmer’s convoluted debut, a series launch, Washington, D.C., psychologist Cal Henderson receives a surprise visit from Scottie Glass, a childhood friend he hasn’t seen since Cal’s mother apparently shot his father, two older brothers, and herself to death 25 years earlier at the family’s suburban Maryland home. The only survivors were eight-year-old Cal, who hid under a bed, and visiting Scottie, who was seriously wounded. Scottie’s memories of those chilling events differ from Cal’s, but they both have doubts that Cal’s mother was the killer. The still-traumatized Cal, who suffers from blackouts, finds the obsessive-compulsive Scottie hard to deal with, but gradually they unearth discrepancies in the record of the crime that upset some powerful people. An assist from a sympathetic FBI agent provides essential help as they uncover a network of lies built on a slaughter of innocents. Unfortunately, the plot never gathers much steam. [em]Agent: Katherine Fausset, Curtis Brown. (Oct.) [/em]