It began as a game she played with her father in early childhood when he taught her to hone her natural talent for perceiving the dead.
It became a cruel trick when her father abandoned his family and left Autumn alone with an ability no one else could understand.
It evolved into a curse when no one around her believed her stories of the lingering dead.
Finally it settled upon her back as the cross she bore through life. She seeks to minimize the disruptive force of spirits who can't perceive her, but who bring chaos and horror to her life on a daily basis.
However, when she draws a portrait of a ghost whom all her classmates know and whom they believe to still be alive, Autumn is drawn into a mystery unlike any she's ever come across.
Will her ghostvision be her salvation?
Or will it be the death of her?
Ghostvision is a novel in four parts.
Professional Reviews
Horror as Monsters; Monsters as People
A great beginning, accomplishing all those things a great beginning should. Thomas introduces his primary character Autumn and gives us a veiled peek at her awful, awful life. The look is surface only right now, but promises a bucketload of nitty-gritty that our senses might find difficult to handle. Even while hinting at darker revelations to come, the story gives us enough light that we can see how dingy our surroundings really are. There's Autumn's loveable buffoon of a boyfriend who may or may not be first cousin to Hannibal Lecter. There's Autumn's demented and socially squirm-inducing grandpa. There's Toby the Pure and Innocent Christian who is so brainwashed by his faith that his life is devoid of color. And there's sweet Spring, Autumn's little sister, who is so sweet and so wonderful that you just KNOW something horrible will happen to her. Creepy ghosts, creepy live people, a possible murder and hints of assorted other crimes, Ghostvision delivers horror from all corners. Can't wait for the next installment.
He gets you to like and even love his characters
Dick Thomas draws you in. He gets you to like and even love his characters. They are the people next door, the pretty girl in the school hallway, they are like you and me with real problems and believable stories. Then, he brings in the horror, and you find that the worst things in life are not the supernatural scary things, but the terrible deeds that human beings do to each other. Thomas reminds me of an early King, strong characters and doesn't pull punches. Trust me, once you start, you won't put it down. Then you'll be like me, eagerly awaiting the next one.
Good start, great character.
At first I wasn't entirely taken in by Autumn (the main character), finding her almost too self-assured to be a believable teenager. However as the story progressed and the author deftly rounded her out, I found myself not only sympathizing with her, but quite liking her. Given that this appears to be Mr. Thomas' first novel, his creation of the most interesting teenage heroine I've come across in at least five years is all the more impressive.
Since this is just the first installment, praise or criticism of the story arc might be a bit premature, but so far the set up is both well written and effectively suspenseful. So much so that I'm slightly annoyed I can't immediately read the next chapter.
An outstanding debut.
In the end they'll all be dancin'--all them ones that didn't die.... Dance with me in the shadows amidst the lightning and the thunder, and all that nu-cu-lar debris. See the big bang from the other side, and then open that cellar door. Go down into
