The Ascent

The Ascent by Adam Plantinga is a debut thriller that is "jaw-dropping, authentic, and absolutely gripping" according to Harlan Coben, the #1 New York Times bestselling author. Plantinga's first nonfiction book was also praised by Lee Child as "truly excellent."

Meet Kurt Argento, an ex-Detroit street cop who cannot let injustice go—and who has the fighting skills to back up his idealism. When he sees a young girl being dragged into an alley, he intervenes and causes some damage. His actions lead him to a small, corrupt town in Missouri, where he is brutally beaten and thrown into a maximum-security prison.

Meanwhile, Julie Wakefield, a grad student and the governor's daughter, is about to tour the prison. However, a malfunction in the security system releases a horde of prisoners, leading to a fierce struggle for survival.

Argento must help a small band of staff and civilians, including Julie and her two state trooper handlers, navigate from the bottom floor to the roof to reach safety. The only obstacle they face is six floors of the most dangerous convicts in Missouri.