Randolph "Dilda" Carter

Decent mainstream supernatural thriller that has one major flaw, it is way too long. There is about a 400 page novel here dragged out by Simmons to 800 page epic length. The pacing at times is plodding for a thriller. One example, the final chess game is so corny and drags on so long and does nothing to advance the story except eliminate bothersome characters. I kept expecting Austin Powers to jump out.

The idea of "mind vampires" isn't particularly novel, but Simmons may have done it first. I don't know. However, China Miéville did it better in Perdido Street Station and even Stephen King made his mind vampires much more three dimensional in Doctor Sleep. Except for Tony Harod, Carrion's vampires are two dimensional characters.