Tom Wallace is an average suburbanite whose life fractures after his brother-in-law performs a casual amateur hypnosis on him at a party. This event unlocks a dormant psychic faculty, turning Tom into a receiver for the private thoughts and hidden histories of his neighbors. He soon perceives the restless spirit of a woman murdered within his own neighborhood. As Tom struggles with these intrusive sensory bursts, he unearths the local secrets and suppressed violence lurking beneath the quiet, mid-century domesticity of his suburban block.
Readers who enjoy clinical, psychological horror and stories about the fragility of the nuclear family will find this useful. It appeals to those interested in how sudden extrasensory perception would realistically dismantle a person’s sanity and social standing. The book provides a look at the anxiety of the 1950s middle class, leaving the reader with a stark perspective on how little people actually know about those living right next door. It functions as a study of urban legends and the invasive nature of unwanted knowledge.
Practical, growth-minded, clear-cut and escapist; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1958
- Language
- EN
