Above Ground

Swift’s debut attempts to blend the pace and atmosphere of a thriller with just a hint of the fantastic. Navy SEAL Austin McCord is shot and falls unconscious; he wakes in a lavish London room surrounded by a small legion of sleeping strangers. The only familiar thing in the room is the picture of his twin sister, Angelique, on the bedside table. He feels like he’s been asleep for a day and is shocked to realize it’s been a decade; the discovery of a body in the hallway is just the beginning of Austin’s journey into the world of the shadowy, vampire-like Morvicti. Meanwhile, Austin’s sister, Dr. Angelique McCord-Remington, has buried herself in her job as a history professor since Austin was killed in combat. When he shows up on her doorstep 10 years after his ostensible death, she can’t help but believe his outlandish claims. The siblings have less than 48 hours to unravel centuries of secrets and hidden conspiracies, starting with who created that room full of sleeping people and put Austin in it, before a madman’s plans threaten all of humankind. The plot is rife with intrigue and fascinating twists, but occasionally hobbled by stilted dialogue and a jolting pace. (July)