What do runners, chemists and Colombia have in common? The answer would be the first novel written by Jamie Freveletti, Running from the Devil. When I read over the synopsis of this book, I had my doubts, but from the first word until the last word, I was mesmerized! This is a fantastic book. I contacted the author and told her that I truly enjoyed her book and I hoped that she had more on the horizon, I was told a second book has been written and is due out May 2010. I can't wait!

Now on to what a runner, chemist and Columbia have in common. Emma Caldridge is a long distance endurance runner. She runs to help soothe a bad time in her life. She is also one of the best chemists around and currently is working on a secret project for a cosmetics company. Colombia is her destination. She needs to go back to Columbia to finish something that she accidentally discovered a year before and make things right.

Emma is on a plane from Miami to Colombia when the worst occurs. The plane is hijacked and passengers are instructed that they will land on a runway in the middle of the Colombian jungle. Problem is, the plane is way too big for the runway. The pilot tries to land anyway, but the plane breaks apart on impact, catches on fire, parts explode and everyone in the entire rear of the plane perishes. Only 70 people survive. The survivors are immediately corralled by guerrillas who seem to have come from nowhere. Somehow, Emma is thrown clear of the wreckage and is able to escape capture. Emma tries to send a text message to her boss, letting him know that the plane was hijacked, many died, and about 70 were taken prisoner by the guerrillas, but the messages cannot be sent.

Cameron Sumners is also on this flight, but unfortunately he is not as lucky as Emma. He is part of the group taken prisoner. Before they leave the area, Sumners is able to hide his belongings. This is something that Emma sees, so when the area is clear, she goes to see what is so important. From his belongings, Emma finds out that Cameron works for the Southern Hemisphere Drug Defense Agency. In his belongings are guns and ammunition. Though she cannot shoot and doesn't know the first thing about guns, she decides to take them with her. They might come in handy.

About the same time as Emma is trying to send her text message, the Department of Defense back in the States receives a signal from the GPS in Emma's phone. They know that there are survivors and they know that they need to get to Colombia to rescue them. That is where Edward Banner comes in. He is the owner of an agency called Darkview. His specialty is special operations and he is hired on a regular basis by the United States ggovernment to assist in risky situations.

From the moment you pick up this book until you read the final sentence, you are in total awe of the story before you. It's a compelling, well-written, adventure novel that makes you feel like you are right there seeing and living what the characters in the book are feeling at that exact moment. What a great first book, I can't wait for more from this new author. It's the best book that I have read this year.