Wreck and Return: An EMTs Journey Into and Out of Darkness

Meet Griffin Ambrose, news manager at a New York television station and a volunteer EMT in his New Jersey town, stressed and feeling unfulfilled. The daily commute, the constant pressure, and the weight of responsibility take their toll, leading him down a path of self-medication. But when a disastrous ambulance transport ends in tragedy, Griffin's world unravels —in a tragic, unexpected way. He loses his job, his freedom, and his privacy. Haunted by the memories of that fateful night, Griffin is forced to confront the consequences of his actions. With the help of a sharp-eyed journalist and former patients who have experienced struggles, Griffin embarks on a journey of redemption. Will he overcome his demons and find his way back to the EMS community he once called home? Or will the ghosts of his past forever haunt him?

Wreck and Return: An EMT’s Journey Into and Out of Darkness by Tom Kranz is a searing novel exploring the world of emergency medical services (EMS) and the lives of the brave men and women who dedicate themselves to daily saving. The story follows Griffin Ambrose, a 42-year-old EMT who has just started his journey in the field, as he faces the challenges of his new profession. The book opens with a powerful and haunting premise that sets the tone for the rest of the story, with vivid descriptions of the foggy night, the flashing lights of the ambulance, and the unsettling conversations between the EMTs, which create an intense and disturbing atmosphere. As Griffin embarks on his first direct-to-scene response, he is met with a patient who is unresponsive and in cardiac arrest. The scene is tense and chaotic, with Griffin's inexperience and anxiety playing out vividly. Kranz illuminates the harsh realities of EMS work, from the long hours and physical toll on the body to the emotional toll of dealing with traumatic calls. The characters are well-developed and complex, with expertly written backstories, from Ambrose to the disillusioned Journalist James Finneran. Wreck and Return delivers sparkling dialogues, intriguing characters, and a setting that infuses life into the EMT world. It is a winner for fans of thrillers and narratives with characters that win with pathos and tales with strong psychological underpinnings.