Child of Shadows

The author of Fury opens his new novel with a bizarre and grisly murder set in the dank catacombs beneath New York City's Grand Central Station. The victim is a young boy whose heart has been torn from his chest--and the police discover another boy lurking in the shadows. He is Adam, an odd-looking, bald-headed mute who lives in the network of tunnels which links the subway system; he scrounges for food among rats and garbage. Melissa, a social worker discouraged by the ineffectiveness of the system, goes so far as to quit her job and whisk Adam away to the supposed safety of a small rural community. A herd of sheep is slaughtered; soon bodies start dropping all over town. The boy proves to be the bearer of many unusual and disturbing talents. The real interest of this compelling story lies not only in the twists and turns of the plot but in the exploration of Melissa's psychological history. Her motives and fears are realistically depicted, giving the action conviction and immediacy. (Oct.)