This is a very simple story: a couple are involved in a very serious road accident and whilst they are both badly affected, the husband, Hatch, is left in a state of suspended animation for around about 80 minutes whilst his wife, Lindsey, is relatively unscathed. The story then follows the couple over the next few months and despite the fact that they are ordinary people in most ways the husband begins to suffer from visions or flashbacks.  These visions are very specific and they relate to the activities of the same person each time they happen.

In parallel we read about someone known as Vassago. Vassago is a soul in torment: he wears black he wears sunglasses at night and he lives in a deserted and derelict theme park. He murders people and he does so because he wants to return to Hell. Not only does he murder people but he does so in a way that he can only hope will guarantee him the key to the door of Hell. Vassago is no ordinary person and part of the way through the book will learn that he has undergone a similar experience to Hatch.

The visions that Hatch suffers from are visions of Vassago. Both men were brought back from the brink of death, from their state of suspended animation, following a major trauma by the same man Dr Nyebern. It turns out that Vassago is Dr Nyebern’s son. Moreover, Vassago was always an evil person and he attempted to kill himself having murdered his mother and his sister.

In the middle of the story Lindsey and Hatch decide to adopt a child partly because they lost their own child, a son, to cancer several years ago. The new child isn’t to be a replacement but to fill a gap in their lives. They do adopt a child who is a spirited young thing, who has been living in an orphanage and has some physical disabilities. The adoption goes well and the girl is very happy as are the adoptive parents.  The girl, Regina, feels something of an atmosphere in the house and in addition to her doubts about her own acceptability she feels some tensions. She can’t put a finger on the tension and tries to put them at the back of her mind.

The key element of the book then is the visions: Hatch has them and Vassago returns them. That is, Hatch and Vassago are linked spiritually by virtue of their near death experiences and they can see each other through each other’s eyes. Hatch can see what Vassago is doing and Vassago can see what Hatch is doing. These visions are at their height when there is anger or malice in the air.

One disturbing aspect of the story is that without realising the implications of it, Hatch vents his anger on certain people who are then found dead … murdered. After a short time, Hatch realises that the people who died had died as a result of his outbursts. He realises at this time that his vision are really two way and that Vassago interprets the anger and uses it as a way to help him return to Hell.

Vassago becomes deeply attracted to the visions he sees of Lindsey and then of Regina. Vassago hatches a plot in his own mind which involves the kidnap, murder and humiliation of the Lindsey and Regina. The same humiliation he has visited on all of his other victims.

I can’t say any more than that otherwise the story would be completely spoiled. Suffice it to say that the two main characters get embroiled in a crisis by themselves and whether they all live happily ever after not if you do find out! Having said that, this book was published in 1992 so I imagine not many people will read it from now on. Still, no need for me to ruin it.

This is the fifth Dean Koontz book I read and enjoyed it. Over the last two months I have read nothing but biographies, technical and academic texts and it was a relief to read a novel. I fairly flew through this book, finishing it within just a couple of days. So, it is very readable although I did feel that the middle of the book rather laboured the point and had I been the editor I think I could have chopped out as many as 100 pages.

Nevertheless, four stars out of five. Do read it if you come across it and you won’t be disappointed.

Duncan Williamson
14^th August 2007