The Shimmer

April 15, 2018

Stroud ("Niceville" trilogy) introduces a serial killer who has been traveling through time for close to a century. The villain, who proves to be astonishingly perceptive and adept at avoiding capture, is on the run from a murder scene in present-day Florida. Sgt. Jack Redding, whose wife and daughter died in an unexplainable accident, latches on to the case like a man possessed. As the investigation develops, Jack witnesses the secret power of death, which the killer is harnessing. When Jack is swept up on the tails of the suspect, he is transported back to 1950 New Orleans and faced with a heartbreaking choice that will change his life forever. Infused with the edge of hard-boiled cops, tarnished and not, and a villain beyond compare, this story races to a satisfying conclusion. VERDICT Comparable to Stephen King's 11/23/63, this crisp and compelling time-traveling thriller features a tough-as-nails cop with a sharp sense of perception who is up to par with Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch. Highly recommended for readers seeking a riveting, edge-of-your-seat read.--Susan Carr, formerly with Edwardsville P.L., IL

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from April 30, 2018
At the start of this adrenaline-filled supernatural thriller from bestseller Stroud (the Niceville trilogy), Sgt. Jack Redding of the Florida Highway Patrol chases a speeding truck, whose driver, serial killer Selena D’Arcy, eventually pulls over and escapes into the surrounding woods. Selena and members of a crime family later break into Jack’s home and get into a gunfight with him. When Selena runs toward a shimmering light, she travels back in time 61 years to 1957 with Jack on her tail. Jack finds himself in the backseat of a police car belonging to his grandfather, Clete Redding, who’s also pursuing Selena. This situation presents Jack with a harrowing decision: whether to help Clete catch Selena or try to alter the past to save the lives of his wife and four-year-old daughter, who died in a car crash in 2017. Each choice has potentially grave repercussions for Jack and the people he cares for. Fans of Stephen King’s 11/22/63 will find a lot to like. Agent: Barney Karpfinger, Karpfinger Agency.