The Temblor of Diablo

Arie Petrovich is a geologist and a journalist for a popular nature magazine. He is given an assignment to write an article on the new monitoring system being installed to monitor earthquakes. While he's there, a major earthquake strikes the city of Walnut Creek, nearly destroying the town and killing hundreds, among which are the two scientists he was interviewing. He finds himself involved in the investigation, using his connections and knowledge of science to uncover a plot of murder and coverup, and a manhunt that leads all over the state of California.