Sacrifice

By John Farris

            This book starts out with a tragedy; Greg Walker is shot in the head while jogging.  Miraculously, he survives.  After recovering in the hospital for a time, he moves back home with his wife and daughter.  Somewhat abruptly, the novel takes a turn and we find out that Greg is actually a rare being who is blessed with the secret to longevity.  However, this longevity comes with a sacrifice.

            The book is a bit different, in that it is told from the first person perspective of 3 different characters.  The main character is Greg Walker, and the story begins with Greg taking a stray bullet while going for a jog.  This disastrous head wound lays him up in the hospital, and he miraculously shows signs of recovery.  Greg makes amazing strides in recovery, and is able to go back home to his wife Caroline and daughter Sharissa.  The family dynamic is introduced, and it is obvious that Sharissa is Daddy’s little girl.  Like any father, Greg is concerned with the developing intimacy between Sharissa and her boyfriend Bobby Driscoll.  Things are getting serious and Greg starts following the couple to make sure that Sharissa isn’t compromising her virtues.  After Greg confronts Bobby, the story starts out on an odd path.  Later, Greg and Caroline are out to eat and he is accosted by a strange woman who insists that Greg is her astranged husband.  After several additional family tragedies, the action picks up and Greg disappears with Sharissa to South America.

            Sergeant Butterbaugh is a police officer who is initially assigned to Greg Walker’s case when he is shot.  He begins to form a relationship with the family, especially Sharissa.  He soon becomes highly suspicious of what is going on with the Walker family, and follows them when they leave the country.  He realizes that there is more to Greg Walker, and he might have an ancient and ominous secret.

            Overall the book was well written and I found the characters to be agreeable.  However, this book fell apart after the first 150 pages.  It started off in an unusual way and you wondered how Greg was going to recover from his injuries.  Within the span of a few chapters, the whole story shifts direction.  The shift itself is interesting, but the story eventually devolves into a predictable apex and conclusion.  I enjoyed reading it and still enjoy the writing of John Farris, but this book was a very poor example of his ability to craft a good story.  Give Farris a chance, but not on this novel.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 Bunsen Burners

Up Next: Treasure Box by Orson Scott Card