Fast Track (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The most cataclysmic week of Lark Chadwick's life begins when she discovers the dead body of her aunt, a victim of carbon monoxide poisoning. This was the aunt who raised Lark from infancy after the tragic deaths of her parents in an auto accident. Yet what un-folds for Lark in the coming days is a dark and twisting mystery into the sinister circumstances of that awful day so long ago. Lark's desperate search for the truth reveals secrets that are about to put her life in great peril. "I was so interested in what happens with Lark I couldn't put it down. It's an awe-some book-a fun read. Intrigue, humor, emotion-what more do you need?" Carol Costello, Anchor, CNN Daybreak "Fast Track is a page-turning thriller that you simply won't be able to put down from start to finish. The suspense is palpable, the characters unforgettable and spectacu-lar, the plot ingenious and masterfully crafted." Barbara Casey, Author, The Coach's Wife "I've known John DeDakis as a dedicated and skilled journalist since 1975 when I was a White House reporter for United Press International. Now, as a journalism pro-fessor, I appreciate all the more John's commitment to bringing to life ethical journalism and mentoring relationships. He knows about the roller-coaster of life's experiences and he demonstrates that in Fast Track. IT'S A MUST READ." Wesley G. Pippert, Director, Washington Program University of Missouri School of Journalism "I love the story. John DeDakis' debut novel, Fast Track is such a well-woven tale, it will leave you wanting to stay up all night until you finish. The plot and scenes are rich in detail; and the characters intensely-memorable. This story will stick with you and you will want to read it again just to be sure you caught every nuance of this fine writer's wordsmithing." Lisa Adams, Author, Bound Justice

Product Details

• Hardcover: 300 pages
• Publisher: ArcheBooks Publishing; 1st edition (August 21, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159507094X
• ISBN-13: 978-1595070944
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,600,909 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fast Track is fast-paced, September 30, 2005

By	Lit Fan (Washington, D.C.) - See all my reviews

DeDakis' debut novel is a page-turner, full of interesting sub-plots, suspense, and energy. One can easily imagine this as movie material, because it is very visual and action-filled. The protagonist and narrator is a young woman, and DeDakis easily makes the transition to a woman's voice. He clearly understands her motivation and her character. She, Lark, is a likable and appealing figure, and she, foibles and strengths combined, makes the entire novel attractive and interesting. The 300 pages of this mystery go by fast, and mystery lovers will find it compelling. This reader hopes for more novels to come from this author, whose profession is editing the early morning news for CNN.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BE CAREFUL ON THE RAILROAD TRACKS, LARK, June 23, 2009

By	Peggy C. Opland "mystery aficionado" (La Crosse, WI) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Lark Chadwick is a likeable, naive young woman who gets a rude awakening into real life. There were times when I wanted to smack her for the stubbornness she displays, but I had to keep reading just to find out what was really going on. Thanks, John, for creating such a wonderful page-turner. I lost sleep but it was worth every wink....even reading it for the second time! The characters and scenery are very real, and the surprise near the end makes sense of the entire story. Can't wait for the sequel!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tension Lies Between Secrets Revealed and Unrevealed, February 27, 2006

By	Norman Goldman "Editor of Bookpleasures.com" (Montreal) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

John DeDakis, who edits and writes on Wolf Blitzer's "Situation Room, has crafted an exciting narrative with his debut novel Fast Track.

Our story begins with a cataclysmic event when our principal protagonist Lark Chadwick's aunt, Ann, unexpectedly takes her own life. Lark had been very close to her aunt after her parents were killed in a collision with a train. As a result, Lark is now determined to find out how exactly the accident occurred and why did her aunt commit suicide.

Following the shock waves of the suicide of her aunt, she accidentally meets up with Lionel Stone, a former Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times editor who has now recently become the publisher of a local newspaper. Stone hires Lark as an investigative reporter and what she discovers, after a relentless journey, was that she was in the car at the time of her parents fatal accident. Fortunately, she had been thrown to safety, thus giving her the name of "the miracle baby," by the press.

However, Stone never realized that when he hired Lark that the subsequent story she would stumble upon was beyond his wildest imagination that would include a threat on the life of his newly hired reporter, a move to oust the local priest, the questionable and suspicious behavior of the law authorities at the time of the accident, and the exact nature of the train accident. Moreover, Lark believes that her entire life had been lived in the shadow of a lie, as she was never told the truth by her aunt and grandparents as to what exactly happened.

The novel's strength is its roller-coaster plot, where tension lies between secrets revealed and unrevealed. In fact, you can't stop reading and you don't want to stop!

Norm Goldman, Editor of Bookpleasures