Synopses & Reviews
Investigative consultant Sherry Moore is blind and stunningly beautiful, with the extraordinary ability to "see" the deceased's last eighteen seconds of memory by touching the corpse. At age five, she was found near death on the steps of a city hospital. A head injury had left her without sight and prevented her from remembering her past. When Sherry discovers she does have sight -- sight that transcends death -- she learns to use her gift to help others solve mysteries that only she can tap into.
Serial killer Earl Sykes was never caught for his vicious murders. Instead, a deadly traffic accident landed him in prison. Now, almost thirty years later, he returns to the seaside town of Wildwood, New Jersey -- and to abducting young female victims from desolate areas of the boardwalk for his gruesome games.
Wildwood police lieutenant Kelly O'Shaughnessy is stymied over the disappearance of young women from the boardwalk -- crimes horrifyingly reminiscent of unsolved cases from the seventies. When an old man's untimely death leads Sherry Moore to Wildwood, O'Shaughnessy's desperation to stem the bloodshed forces her to accept Sherry's help, but not without consequence. As the two women join forces to discover the killer's identity, they unwittingly become the hunted, marching deeper with every step into the monster's lair.
A law enforcement veteran himself, Shuman packs a realistic style and authentic investigative detail into this taut tale filled with pulse-pounding tension that will send readers right to the edge.
Review
"This book's crackling sense of menace pulls you in from the first page and delivers grandly as the characters come together in an explosive finale. Fast-paced, compulsively readable, possessed of an intriguing premise,
18 Seconds is a slick debut by an ex-cop who knows his way around police procedure and writes strong female characters."
-- Denise Hamilton, author of Savage Garden and Last Lullaby
Review
"With a brilliant concept, truly human characters, and a 'Sixth Sense' sensibility,
18 Seconds is terrifyingly authentic. Sherry Moore is a memorable heroine who promises to have many more adventures ahead of her."
-- Brad Meltzer, author of The Zero Game and The Tenth Justice
Review
"In this dramatic, highly imaginative first novel, George D. Shuman delivers an explosive thriller -- brutally authentic in detail and absorbing from beginning to end."
-- Robert K. Tanenbaum, author of Absolute Rage and Fury
Review
"18 Seconds moves like a bat out of hell. Even better, Sherry Moore is remarkably original -- complex and real despite her strange gift. George D. Shuman has delivered the goods -- fascinating characters, nonstop storytelling, and an explosive ending. Bravo!"
-- Robert Crais, author of The Forgotten Man and The Two Minute Rule
Review
"One of the best premises to sail down the thriller pipeline in years. At turns lyrical, horrifying, and -- dare I say -- poignant,
18 Seconds takes an ingenious notion and spins it into a killer yarn. In Sherry Moore, Shuman has created a unique, compelling heroine. An impressive debut!"
-- Gregg Hurwitz, author of The Program and Troubleshooter
Review
"In twenty-eight years of law enforcement I never believed in psychics, but then I read George Shuman's
18 Seconds. This convincing, perfectly paced novel gathers its seemingly unrelated characters and lets them march inexorably toward a final intersection. Although you'll want to, you won't be able to look away."
-- Paul Lindsay, author of The Big Scam and The Führer's Reserve
Synopsis
Sherry Moore, a beautiful, blind psychic, has the extraordinary ability to 'see' the last eighteen seconds of a murder victim's life by touching the corpse. She uses her gift to help others solve mysteries only she can tap into. Serial killer Earl Sykes never got caught for his vicious murders. Instead, it was a deadly auto accident that landed him in prison. Now, years later, he is free and hungry for revenge. Setting his sights on Lieutenant Kelly O'Shaunisy, the daughter of his captor, he returns to his seaside hometown of Wildwood, New Jersey -- and to his gruesome, murderous ways.
When Lieutenant O'Shaunisy begins to investigate the disappearance of young women from desolate areas of the boardwalk, she encounters frustrating dead-end clues and more deaths. Her desperation leads her to accept Sherry's help, but not without consequences. Together, the two women set out to discover the identity of the killer and become entangled in a dangerous web that could cost them their lives. With two memorable heroines, pulse-pounding suspense, and twists that will keep readers guessing until the last pages, 18 Seconds introduces a powerful writing talent to the suspense scene.
About the Author
George Shuman is a twenty-year veteran of the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police force. This is his first novel.