Publisher's Weekly
The supernatural horror elements in Hyman's second novel, after The Eyes of a Stranger , may not convince as thoroughly as Stephen King's but her story moves smartly. In 1992 San Paradiso, Calif., the mayor is prime suspect in a series of murders, a senator's wife receives pornographic photos of herself, an upright judge is reportedly hinting at a gubernatorial race--but all three know these ''facts'' are wrong. It's as if each has a double. Elsewhere in the world, Paris suffers earthquakes, a fanatic Ayatollah conquers Saudi Arabia and world leaders (including the U.S. president) are kidnapped at a summit meeting. In San Paradiso, reporter Laura Bennett learns that her long-dead father had been tormented by the devils in Goya's painting ''The Witches' Sabbath.'' Troubles climax in San Paradiso as these demons, who can ''echo'' anyone, turn to Laura as the Devil's potential bride. Enabled by inner strength to shrug off a fate worse than death, Laura nevertheless experiences horrors that would be even scarier as movie special effects.
Library Journal
Like the best of Dean Koontz's supernatural chillers, this novel forces readers to suspend disbelief--in this case, to the point of accepting the premise that demons are taking over the world. Strange, literally earthshaking events are taking place: the kidnapping and murder of several world leaders, earthquakes in France, fissures in the earth. In San Paradiso, California, several powerful people suddenly have look-alikes behaving oddly, even murderously. Political reporter Laura Bennett must fight the demons within herself to retrieve from her memory the explanation for this otherworldly invasion. Former AP editor and veteran novelist Hyman ( The Eyes of a Stranger , St. Martin's, 1987) has written a compelling tale, recommended for horror collections.-- Marylaine Block, St. Ambrose Univ. Lib., Davenport, Ia.
Genre: Horror
The supernatural horror elements in Hyman's second novel, after The Eyes of a Stranger , may not convince as thoroughly as Stephen King's but her story moves smartly. In 1992 San Paradiso, Calif., the mayor is prime suspect in a series of murders, a senator's wife receives pornographic photos of herself, an upright judge is reportedly hinting at a gubernatorial race--but all three know these ''facts'' are wrong. It's as if each has a double. Elsewhere in the world, Paris suffers earthquakes, a fanatic Ayatollah conquers Saudi Arabia and world leaders (including the U.S. president) are kidnapped at a summit meeting. In San Paradiso, reporter Laura Bennett learns that her long-dead father had been tormented by the devils in Goya's painting ''The Witches' Sabbath.'' Troubles climax in San Paradiso as these demons, who can ''echo'' anyone, turn to Laura as the Devil's potential bride. Enabled by inner strength to shrug off a fate worse than death, Laura nevertheless experiences horrors that would be even scarier as movie special effects.
Library Journal
Like the best of Dean Koontz's supernatural chillers, this novel forces readers to suspend disbelief--in this case, to the point of accepting the premise that demons are taking over the world. Strange, literally earthshaking events are taking place: the kidnapping and murder of several world leaders, earthquakes in France, fissures in the earth. In San Paradiso, California, several powerful people suddenly have look-alikes behaving oddly, even murderously. Political reporter Laura Bennett must fight the demons within herself to retrieve from her memory the explanation for this otherworldly invasion. Former AP editor and veteran novelist Hyman ( The Eyes of a Stranger , St. Martin's, 1987) has written a compelling tale, recommended for horror collections.-- Marylaine Block, St. Ambrose Univ. Lib., Davenport, Ia.
Genre: Horror
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