Synopsis
Paroled from prison after serving time for a rape that he cannot recall, Denton Hake tries to rebuild his life, but when his new girlfriend is killed during one of his terrifying memory lapses, he must find out what they mean before it is too late
Reviews
YA. Screenwriter Baum's compelling first novel combines a murder mystery with early childhood trauma and out-of-body experience. As the story begins, Denton Hake is released from prison, having served his time for a rape he cannot believe he committed. While living with his brother and trying to start over, a new girlfriend is found murdered and Hake, the logical suspect, goes on trial for his life. He loses periods of time, a dissociation sometimes found in survivors of childhood trauma. His therapist tries to help him understand the lapses and their connection to his father's mysterious death, while a new wrinkle sets in. Now he can leave his body and witness events in other locations. Fearing for his sanity, he starts to believe that he might be violent while in these fugue states. The book is one of those "can't put it down" reads that will have great appeal to mystery lovers.?Carol DeAngelo, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Strong debut suspense novel set in Seattle. Did Denton Hake rob and rape Sandra Loyacano? He admits to the burglary, denies the rape, but is convicted of both anyway. Denton, however, is not your average burglar: He has a history of nonalcoholic blackouts, and for years has been having involuntary out-of-body episodes that reveal things he couldn't otherwise know. When he is granted parole, Denton moves in with his brother Elliot and is hired by Simon Lefcourt, a contractor with a soft spot for ex-cons. One day Denton is sent to the jewelry store that's run by Simon's daughter Gwen, a nymphomaniac who also has a special fondness for ex-cons. Business isn't good, Gwen tells Denton, and she can't keep up her insurance payments; then the store is burglarized. Denton immediately becomes a suspect. But Denton knows, though he can't prove, that Gwen robbed herself for the insurance on her inventory. Meanwhile, Denton sees lesbian shrink Randy Nelson, who believes his stories about out-of-body experiences. The OOBs began when Denton's father killed himself. Or did he? Denton supposedly discovered the body, although his recollection of events is hazy; there's also the possibility that Elliot had something to do with Dad's death. Things get even more tense between the brothers when Mimi, Elliot's alcoholic wife, threatens to leave him because his ``rapist'' brother lives over their garage. When Gwen is murdered, foggy Denton gets arrested, put on trial, and finally faces Death Row. What works here is the flat, immensely well-detailed storytelling, reminiscent of James M. Cain at his best, although the supernatural elements, at the same time, increasingly throw the plot off balance. Baum tries to have it both ways, heightening the supernatural while simultaneously offering a physical explanation for Denton's odd experiences, and he tries to float one too many subplots. Still, for much of its length a tough, original, and compelling debut, showing great promise. (Author tour) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
Denton Hake, fresh out of prison for a crime he's not sure he committed, quickly finds himself in trouble again when his new girlfriend is found murdered. Hake is prone to blackouts, during which he has out-of-body experiences, an affliction that only grows in intensity after he sustains a head injury. With the help of his therapist, Hake attempts to assert his innocence. First novelist Baum, a screenwriter, has created an endearing figure in the phlegmatic Hake, but the rest of the cast is curiously dry and unconvincing. Additionally, the denouement arrives without fanfare, and the novel seems to end prematurely. The mild paranormal elements may tempt The X-Files crowd, but only larger fiction collections need consider.?Mark Annichiarico, "Library Journal"
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Novels written by screenwriters often read like screenplays in prose form. Not so this rich and fascinating supernatural thriller by L.A. screenwriter Baum. With appeal for both fans of crime fiction and The Twilight Zone, it's a traditional mystery with a single supernatural premise: the shock of witnessing his father's suicide many years ago has left ex-con Denton Hake with the ability to separate his mind from his body at will. All else--the death of Hake's girlfriend, his arrest for her murder, and his discovery of the (genuinely surprising) truth--follows quite logically. Although the story clearly seems intended for the big screen (the out-of-body scenes, filmed by an imaginative director, could be compelling), the novel is nevertheless very satisfying. The idea of a man who solves crimes through out-of-body experiences is certainly unique, and, though it doesn't appear that Baum has a series in mind, another Denton Hake mystery would be most welcome. David Pitt
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