Tommy Phan, a successful Vietnamese-American detective novelist, returns home to find a mysterious, hand-stitched rag doll on his doorstep. The inanimate object quickly transforms into a lethal, shapeshifting demon that pursues him through the night. Accompanied by the enigmatic and highly capable Deliverance Payne, Tommy flees across Southern California as the creature evolves into increasingly dangerous forms. The narrative follows their frantic efforts to survive until dawn, eventually leading them to Tommy’s own family history and a curse tied to a disgruntled relative.
Readers of fast-paced supernatural thrillers choose this story for its blend of suburban horror and dark comedy. It appeals to those who enjoy relentless chase sequences and the trope of an ordinary professional forced into an extraordinary life-or-death struggle. The book provides a look at how cultural assimilation and family resentment can manifest as literal monsters. A reader walks away with a high-speed survival tale that emphasizes resourcefulness and the bizarre ways the past can intrude upon the present.
Practical, growth-minded, clear-cut and escapist; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1996
- Language
- EN
