Joe R. Lansdale, Lost Echoes

Lost Echoes

Joe Lansdale

Vintage, Feb 2007, $13.95

ISBN: 0307278174

Since childhood, the slightest everyday noise can push Harry Wilkes into hell as he has been mentally tortured by his unique ability to envision murdered corpses. His skill allows him to look back at violence as he can sort of see and hear ghosts. Unable to live a normal life and depressed by the brutality he has witnessed, but cannot do anything about as the victim is dead, Harry turns to alcohol to numb the pain by becoming drunk.

Harry meets another drunk, former martial arts teacher Tad. They agree to help one another turn sober while also controlling the visions. However, he soon has a request to use the "gift" from a childhood friend who knows what Harry can do. Reluctantly Harry agrees to find out what happened to Kayla's father; that is learn if the death was caused by a brutal killer.

This is a superb thriller that works on several levels because Harry's skill seems as real as his antipathy towards it makes him so human. The storyline starts off by introducing the audience to Harry as he turns to alcohol to numb the visions, but quickly becomes a thriller when Kayla, a cop, persuades a reluctant Harry to get back into the saddle and help her. Joe Lansdale provides a strong mystery in which the paranormal comes across as normal.

Harriet Klausner