The Survivors

by Gregg Luke

When his commuter plane went down, agnostic David Kirkham's thoughts were a million miles away. The combination of sleeping pills and alcohol had left him disoriented and helpless--not his usual cynical self. However, he did seem to remember someone sitting next to him--a young Mormon girl named Melodee. Now hopelessly lost, the two battered survivors are forced to drag themselves back to civilization, battling the raw brutality of the rainforest while escaping drug runners and sinister jungle natives. Melodee's self-assured, uncomplaining attitude helps David come to grips with his personal demons, while hiding a foe that maliciously tears at her innocent life. With time ticking away, the pair must find a way out before its too late.

Genres: Lds Fiction, Mystery, Christian Fiction, Novels, Lds, Suspense, Fiction

276 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Gregg Luke is a practicing pharmacist. He received his medical training at the University of Utah. He has been writing since he could put pen to paper. He enjoys medical thrillers and is one of the first to work this genre into the LDS market.

Reviews

[Rebecca Trujillo Batty · Rating 3 out of 5]

David Kirkham knows his plants and their best medicinal uses...he knows his stuff! He works for a pharmeceutical company and is constantly being sent on trips out of the country spending less time with his wife and daughter. He is being sent to South America for his latest trip which causes him to miss yet another Thanksgiving with his family.

Melodee is a 12 yr old LDS girl who has just visited her grandpa for possibly the last time. She is extremely full of faith, patience and joy.

David and Melodee end up sitting next to each other on their flight. They share a brief discussion of niceties where Melodee quickly makes an overall good impression on David. Then, the unthinkable happens and their plane crashes in the rain forests of Mexico. Obviously, David and Melodee are the only survivors and start on an adventure that has it all, good bad and ugly.

Will they find their way home? and in time? What affect will the drug runners have on them and what secrets lie ahead of them in this strange place? What role will Melodee wonderfully strong faith play in all they endure? Will apathetic David help in any way?

I have now read two of his books and they are very different from each other and I like them both and would find it difficult to say which I liked better. I liked the overall storyline of The Survivors. I think I have to say that Ester is my favorite character, especially in the end...so sneaky, lol. I also believe that is about all I can say without giving away anything major in the storyline, which I really really don't like to do...

...on to the quotes, of which there are several:
pg 72: "Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine which is structurally related to caffeine in that they are both methylxanthenes and tehrefore have similar effects stimulation and euphoria." With this statement and a little more explanation, expert David assures Melodee that she perfectly fine eating chocolate. I am sure many of you reading this will be glad to know this, too, LOL!

pg 86: "Good morning...I'd say that statement is the most-often used oxymoron in the world...Oxy-mormon?...Oxymoron. When two contradictory words or ideas join to make a single phrase. You said, 'Good morning.' It's morning, all right. It's the good part I'm questioning." I just had to include this one, my husband always tells me to good morning and I often just shake my head no in response, so this part of the conversation made me out right laugh!

pg 200: "How are you feeling? Fine. You? Better than I deserve..." This one is strictly for all Dave Ramsey fans out there, I couldn't resist posting this one! Most ironically, I am listening to a Dave Ramsey podcast while I am typing this up, lol!

pg 226: "Faith must play a part in all things. Faith and trust....I did not say belief. I said faith." "Faith, belief--what's the difference." "You can believe anything you like, but until you act on that belief, it is nothing more than a wish. Faith requires a show of confidence, even in the misdt of sorrow and doubt." I really liked this explanation of the difference between these two words.

pg 227: "...you must give God a chance. We believe in miracles, but most miracles occur when we meet God halfway. Belief is required, but so is effort. Belief plus effort creates faith. We have done all we can. Now we must trust in God and let His will be done." Again, loved the explanation and it also goes right along with my focus on faith this year!

pg 237: "Alma said to plant the seed and allow it to grow. Don't kill it with unbelief but nourish it with hope; give it a chance. And when it begins to grow you will feel a swelling within you." So true regarding faith and testimony and most everything spiritual. If you ignore it or don't nourish it, it dies.

pg 238: "Faith wasn't the mindless wanderings of uneducated individuals. It wasn't the blind being led by the blind. It wasn't the scapegoat for things unproved. It was the doorway to greater understanding and knowledge and light. And I wanted to run through the doorway at full speed." As hard or scary it can be, for some, I hope we all can have this same desire to run through the doorway at full speed!

pg 255: "A testimony is not a one-time thing...A testimony grows line upon line, precept upon precept. It's something you have to work constantly to maintain or you'll lose it." 'nuff said.

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first read the synopsis on the back of this book, I liked the sounds of what this book was about. Once I got into the story, I was surprised by how different it was, but it was a definite page-turner. The story starts off with a pharmaceutical guy on an airplane with a young Mormon girl and the plane crashes in the jungles of Mexico, with the two the only survivors. How they each help each other and how David learns the true meaning of life and learning to care for others, is the most important element of this fantastic novel. How they outwit drug runners and survive the elements was fascinating and I learned some things about the rain forest and the primitive, but very spiritual and humble people in this region. You are in for one thrilling roller-coaster adventure!!!!

[Linda Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faith promoting, easy, quick read for LDS audience. A successful but worldly pharmaceutical research scientist & a young Mormon girl are the only survivors of a small plane crash in a primordial jungle, forced to walk their battered bodies back to civilization. They are chased & captured by drug runners; they find help when they stumble upon a humble tribe of indigenous people, descendants from Bk of Mormon who have perfected a zion-like existence, but discover that they may be trapped there forever. Not great literature, but it is an entertaining suspenseful story with some twists and turns, along with some fantasy.

[Kristina Brownell · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was supposed to be a scary mystery. Plane crashes in jungle. Middle age man and 12 year old girl on the run. Yet somehow this was intensely boring! The man is unbelieveably selfish and can't control is temper. The little girl is too much of a preachy saint. And the last half of this so-called action packed book is about him reading the Book of Mormon and her bearing testimony to him about things like the Word of Wisdom. Throw in all the plant biology and a strange pseudo-village of healing and this book was just weird.

[Cristal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it a lot! The plot was interesting, and it kept twisting and turning in a way that kept me from getting bored. It wasn't a very hard read at all.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this journey of a change of heart that the spirit can bring when you read the Book of Mormon. This is not an unusual setting but the discovery is fasinating

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

It took awhile for me to get into the story but once they got to Cumorah it picked up.....their culture and medicines were fascinating and the possible parallels to the Book of Mormon were interesting.

Melodee is amazing but unrealistic. I've definitely never known a 12 year old with that kind of wisdom, maturity, and knowledge of scripture. And David? His temper and belligerence in the face of danger was just annoying.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. A man and a girl...not together are the sole survivors of a plane crash in the jungles of Mexico. They bond together as they come across a secret civilization that teaches them the importance of love and living and serving. Cute plot, good adventure and many lessons. Good little read.

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a great idea, but so many things are wrong. Melody is a terrible 12 year old, as in, no 12 year old,ever, would act that preachy and know so much. And I absolutely Hated the ending! Like "we fell asleep and then we were back, safe in civilization", UGH!

[E Brent · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written spiritual journey that was a delightful read.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this tale of David and Melanee's survival of a plane crash in The Yucatan. David learns of faith from Melanee

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had a few slow spots, but overall an interesting book.

[Jodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the cheesiest, best testimony builder book! I loved it! This may be his best book. Totally not a true story and all, but made me see the world differently.

[Kim Grotepas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[James · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have to preface this review with two things. One: I don't usually read LDS books, but Two: I listened to Gregg Luke's other book Do No Harm on CD and thought it was pretty decent. I picked this book up in the library because the summary on the back deceived me.

Okay, now with that said...terrible terrible book. Terrible on all levels. The book starts off with a self-centered botanist/pharmacist on a small plane between Arizona and Texas sitting next to an extremely annoying and too-smart-for-her-own-good 12-year-old girl (That's my opinion, not the author's), who practically beats the grouchy man over the head with her Book of Mormon. The plane crashes in a jungle in Mexico (the characters somehow deduce that this is very likely...) The book at first seems to introduce South American Drug Runners as the main complication, however that stale cliche would have been much more welcome than what actually happens. Run ins with the drug runners is limited to "They saw us! Maybe they're nice? (that's the girl). They're shooting at us! Run away!" Repeat several times throughout the book in exactly the same context.

Anyway, for a set up as dramatic as a plane crash in a jungle, the book has no drama. The title should have been "Cheeky Mormon Girl keeps faith while grouchy botanist spews scientific plant names and reads the Book of Mormon for 2/3 of the book".

Seriously, the main focus of the book is the man's reading through the Book of Mormon. Now I'm LDS myself and love the Book of Mormon, but if I pick up a book that purports to be about a plane crash and surviving in the jungle, THATS WHAT I WANT TO READ ABOUT. Plus, the author takes the reader through an overview of Mormon ins and outs, including very obscure topics that he seems to want to explain in detail so that people who may not understand will "get it". For example, there is a conversation between the girl and the man about why chocolate doesn't violate the word of wisdom, because of course, the man has scientific expertise on the subject. Way overdone.

No character development, misleading premise, boring plot, and obscure religious topics forced down your throat combine to make one strange book.

[Amanda Caswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book more than a year ago because I really liked the author, but when I found out there wasn't going to be a romance in it, I put it down before I finished the first chapter. How much I missed! This book is about two survivors of a plane crash in Central America, a workaholic father on his way to close another deal and a young LDS girl on her way home from her grandparents', who find themselves dodging drug runners and their minions as they try to find shelter, help, and a way to get home. The little girl is so intrepid and such a joy to read about, while the man, David, is really the only one to experience any character growth as he re-evaluates his life and his belief in a God. Maybe now I'll finally get around to reading Altered State, another of his books that I've had on my shelf for a while now.

[Melody · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me longer than I figured it would to get into the story, but I did find myself wanting to see what would happen next... And while they were in Cumorah, it almost reminded me of a Chris Heimerdinger book, and since those top my list, I enjoyed that...
I am glad my Mom had me study words (so I have something intelligent to say when others just swear), so it was fun to see words I rarely hear, but it also made it not as fun to read when there were a few I'd have to read a couple times. Not what I like for a fun fictional read...
I of course adored the smart Melodee, though her name is totally spelled wrong, but that's just my own issue with that awesome name... :)
So I'd say it's a a good one-timer, but not anything I'll want to read again.

[Kevin Hanks · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining book, but one that I won't read again. The story line was a little disjointed and didn't seem to connect all that well. I was left many times wondering what was going on, and those threads were never resolved in my mind.

The part of the book that I really did enjoy, was the main character's discovery of the Book of Mormon. He discovered the book and began reading it, inserting commentary and his own perceptions about it. It was fun to discover the amazing book from the eyes of someone who had never seen it before, as it's always been in my life.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melodee, 12 years old, and David Kirkham are the only survivors in a plane crash. Their destination was meant to be Texas, but their surroundings suggest somewhere in Mexico. I got caught up in their struggle for survival. Melodee comes from a very active family--members of the LDS Church her father teaches seminary. She begins teaching "Uncle David" about Heavenly Father and persuades him to read her Book of Mormon. Events in the story became unbelievable, but David's testimony was very believable as all of ours can be.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book ok, but enjoyed his other, "Do No Harm" better. This one seemed to be written for other pharmacists...in some parts he didn't find it necessary to use language that "a normal joe" like me, could understand. Even with a nursing degree, I was having to search context to understand the terminology. The story itself was so-so, I didn't find the characters as believable but there were parts that were exciting or touching. This book won't get a high recommendation, but it was an interesting take on what may have happened to some of the posterity of Book of Mormon peoples.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Others complained about the botinist using his knowledge heavily and the girl being too preachy. There were moments where both of these things happened, but in general this was not the case. The lead character's anger issues felt a little forced, but I've never known anyone so volitile. If those types exist then maybe they are that way. I was annoyed one time by our character that was acting like a jerk and then in his mind calling this kid all the things he himself is guilty of.
An interesting story though of survival, love, faith and forgivness.

[Steven · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Survivors is an exciting enough thriller, but other elements kept it from being a book that I would recommend. I had a difficult time buying in to all of the premises the book wanted me to believe, and the language of the protagonist, and therefore the author, was so excruciating at times (and maybe he really was so insecure that he needed to flaunt his command of large, latin-based words every change he got). This is the type of story that would be very interesting if it were true.

[Dora · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started out with a flight from Arizona to Texas and had the plane crashing in the jungle in Central America. Then the man and girl who survive discover a secret land called Cummorah and implies that the people are Nephite descendents. Not my favorite book by any means but I was curious enough to finish it. And here is a question I have asked more than once: why do authors have to make adolescent 12 year olds talk like they are 30?

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think Gregg Luke can write intrigue and action well. This story tells about what happens to a 12 year old girl who is a member of the church and a 39 year old man who isn't. Their friendship is believable and the gospel principles discussed are well done. Worth reading.


David, the main character is a botanist and gives some very vital information. I learned that there is no caffeine in chocolate! Good to know!

[Sherri Condie Sillitoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story and couldn't put it down. It actually helped increase my testimony of The Book of Mormon. It was fascinating even though it referred to scientific and medicinal terms I might not have been familiar with, it made me think and want to learn more. The story made ancient civilizations come to life and think of the possibilities. The book brought me to tears. Well done!

[Tamsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It is by an LDS author so it was clean. Had some very thought provoking moments. It was suspenseful and kept you guessing. The story is about a 12 yr. old LDS girl and a business man and their struggle for survival in the jungles of central America after a plane crash. It is a story of faith and hope.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The survivors was a different book then those i have read before. It was far fetch but a interesting way to look at the book of mormon. Melodee was amart little girl that learned and listen to parents and teachers and gain a testimony of her own.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

An emotional rollercoaster, it goes from intense to heart wrenching and back again. Sometimes I justed wanted to yell at the guy "really? I thought you were supposed to be smart". Quick enjoyable read.

[Megan Swanson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I flipped through a bit of this before I read it, and thought that I wouldn't really like it. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoyed it. Only my favorite books ever can get fives, so I try to make it hard to get fours as well, but this is pretty darn close.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't like the characters.
Didn't like the preachy-feel.
Didn't particularly like the plot.

However, I did skim through to the end to see how he pulled things together. Happily ever after, just like I was expecting.

Not one I would recommend, even though I have liked his other books.