DOUBLE THREAT - PAUL WILSON

 DOUBLE THREAT

Double Threat - Paul Wilson

- Paul Wilson -

My first Paul Wilson book...and it probably won't be my last, for a couple of reasons. One, I liked his writing and ideas. Two, this book ended with so many loose strings that there HAS to be a second book.

I think what I liked most about the book was that I couldn't really pigeon hole the genre. It was science fiction for sure, but a mix of some pretty hard medical science fiction and an attempt at horror...with some action/adventure thrown in, and a tiny splash of romance (more of a pinch than a splash maybe?). An interesting cocktail that I have never tasted before. While reading I had glimpses of Stephen King books, Dan Brown, Sagan, and a host of other authors that slip my mind at the moment...a mash up of some of my favourite writers.

Okay, enough about the writing style, how about the story? A lovable woman, with a criminal mind, has her brain infiltrated by a mystical/alien being. The life form bonds with her and takes up residence in her mind. Together they realize they have the power to heal people. For eg removing cancerous tumours from innocent children's brains. Paul Wilson is a doctor, so his knowledge of medicine really comes through in his writing. He doesn't dumb it down, which is something I really liked while reading. So, that's one story line.

The second story line is that a strange religious cult is expecting their god-like 'visitors' (aka Aliens) to return to earth...yet there is one person in the way. They believe it may be this mystical healing girl. There are a few members of this religion that are skeptical and / or rebel against this thinking...and they seem to be falling in love with this healing girl just to add to the conflict.

You can probably guess this will end up in a big old fight, both internal with the religious cult and external as they try to eliminate this healing girl. The book comes to a thrilling climax with a botched murder attempt...and then the story end. No real conclusion, just a bunch of pissed off characters and an open story line...

Which is why I'm expecting a second book.