DARK MATTER

Author: Cameron Cruise ISBN: 9780778325031 7/2008 PARANORMAL THRILLER Publisher: MIRA

There are those among us whose mental capacity is so evolved that they are able to tap into abilities that are beyond this world. Often diagnosed as autistic, these medical marvels have led quiet lives, ignored by science. Until now... One by one, these special "Indigo children" are disappearing and turning up dead. Now a boy handcuffed in a basement awaits his turn while two predators fulfill a mission for a madman. Caring for her own autistic brother, FBI agent Carin Barnes is driven to find the missing boy and hunt down his abductors—psychic twins Adam and Evie. At the command of their father, the two are collecting children for torturous experiments he believes will lead to the evolution of the human race. But in order to succeed, they need one powerful element ...something that Carin and her brother possess ...matter that elevates some minds to the highest levels of intelligence—and drags others to the deepest pits of hell.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

DARK MATTER is a thrilling sequel to THE COLLECTOR, with many of the same key characters. If you want to read THE COLLECTOR I'd tackle that one first. Otherwise the author clues you in sufficiently to follow the action in DARK MATTER as a standalone novel.

There's no single hero/heroine in this story, nor is romance a major part of the action. The FBI and local police are tracking a serial killer of fourteen-year-olds. Meanwhile, local psychics are starting to have visions and visitations. Lots of creepy stuff going on! Theories about autism and autistic people play a part in the story, but not to the extent you'd expect from the back cover copy.

I enjoyed the book and found it a quick, absorbing read. Though I expect it wouldn't do to examine the plot too closely, it flowed well. If you like dark, gritty, psychic thrillers, DARK MATTER is definitely going to be a favorite for you!

Heather Hiestand