Moon

Routine psychic/horror yarn from a British veteran author of paperbacks such as Domain, Shrine, The Rats, The Fog, etc. The feebly depicted setting is one of the quasi-independent, British-owned Channel Islands off the coast of France. Computer expert Jon Childes is introducing computer courses into the island's swank private schools, and also dating the lovely Amy, a teacher at one of the gifts' schools and daughter of local bigwig Paul Sebire. Three years ago, Jon helped the mainland police solve a nasty murder case with his psychic abilities; but, afterward, hounded by the press and plunged into divorce, he fled to the island retreat. Now he's picking up transmissions from another ghoulish murderer (desecrated graves, unpleasant rituals, etc.) but cannot identify the perpetrator. Daddy Sebire suspiciously investigates Jon's background, gets the wrong impression, and orders Amy to stay away by threatening to destroy Jon's career. Jon's powers, working intermittently, sometimes manifest as seizures - Sebire unfortunately witnesses one episode - yet, due to a childhood trauma, Jon fears to fully investigate and use them. Meanwhile, the evildoer ("it": Jon considers it inhuman) grows stronger and bolder, becoming aware that Jon is tuning in. Sadistically, "it" tries to kidnap Jon's daughter (but mutilates the wrong girl), and finally arrives on the island in order to terrorize the girls at Jon's school. "It" starts a fire in which girls and teachers die horribly. So, with Amy's help, Jon at last nerves himself to confront "it." Competently wrought but unevocative and unscary work, with an overly timid hero whose psychic powers never get into gear, plus the usual gruesome mutilations and dire threats, and a windup clogged with symbolism. Horrid, sometimes, but far from horrific. (Kirkus Reviews)