Sheriff Frank McKeithen – In An Instant
More often than not, I find my response to questions is usually quite different than the way most people would respond. Maybe it’s my job, maybe it’s my passion, or maybe it’s just the luck of the draw, as it applies to the latest request I have received: write a book review about the last book I read.
Well, imagine that! The last book I read was In An Instant, written and published by my lovely wife, Diane McKeithen. I was there from its inception to its birth and, by golly, you can bet I was going to read it. I witnessed the development of each character, the growth of their conflicts, and the emergence of an intricate storyline full of plot twists and suspense. And even though I will admit I’m a little biased— well, maybe more than a little—this was one of the most interesting and exciting books I’ve ever read.
The story revolves around eight teens whose lives change—in an instant—when they discover everyone over the age of 15 in their community and possibly worldwide, has died. Life as they know it ends when that happens. Electricity is shut off, technology stops. Can you just imagine a teenager today without a cell phone, Facebook, or Twitter?
But wait—not only do they have to figure out how to survive on a daily basis, they have to figure out how to defend themselves from predators outside their community. And remember, predators come in all sizes, shapes, and forms, both animal and human.
The characters must make choices and discover how far they are willing to go to ensure their safety and survival. I found it very impressive that the author—my wife—took events that are happening right now in today’s world and wove them into a plot that is downright scary in its predictions, yet still optimistic about the resilience of today’s youth. Biased or not, it is a great read!
ABOUT SHERIFF FRANK MCKEITHEN
Sheriff Frank McKeithen is the elected Sheriff of Bay County with over 39 years of service in Florida law enforcement. Prior to his service as Bay County Sheriff, he was the Sheriff of neighboring Gulf County. He served the majority of his early law enforcement career from 1976 to 1995 with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office as a patrol deputy, investigator, Lieutenant of the Special Investigations Division and Captain of the Criminal Investigations Division.
Sheriff McKeithen was the recipient of the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year in the State of Florida in 1993, and was recognized as an outstanding alumni of Gulf Coast State College in 2011. He is married to Diane Phillips McKeithen, and they have two sons, a daughter and several grandchildren.