If you take a look back to the early months of this year, you will see that I was very much impressed with The Roo -also by Alan Baxter - which was a balls to the wall creature feature about a demonic killer 9 foot kangaroo.
This is a different kettle of fish entirely.
Jason Wilkes's wife never returned from her book club on Wednesday night. The only contact Jason has with the club says she left at the normal time. The police aren't doing their job fast enough for Jason, indeed they seem to suspect him in her disappearance, so he starts investigating for himself.
It's not long before he discovers that books were not the main focus of her Wednesday meetings. The truth is far less mundane than that.
Whereas The Roo was very broad, written with tongue firmly planted in the cheek, this is a tight little thriller. Jason's plight is realistically portrayed (until the otherworldly elements become apparent) and he's a deeply sympathetic central character for us. We really hope that he's going to get his wife back from whereever she's gone.
The supernatural elements are introduced well enough that we keep our suspension of disbelief perfectly willingly.
At a shade over 100 pages, this is a fast paced story that covers a hell of a lot in between the covers. I don't want to say where the story winds up - spoilers- but it's unexpected, scary and deeply weird.
Another excellent novella from Mr Baxter. I really do need to find some more of his work. The differences between this and The Roo show him to be a massively talented and versatile writer, capable of turning his hand to vastly disparate styles.
This is available through the PS Publishing website.
easy 8/10
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