Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Amy Girl by Bari Wood

 

(pb; 1987)

From the back cover

“Eight-year-old sweet and irresistible Amy is an orphan. Reach out to her with warmth and she’ll love you. But cross her and she’ll destroy you.

“It begins with a cold yet intimate breeze, like a shiver of fear. A whisper of death. And as it swirls into the innocent mind of beautiful young Amy Kaslov, she becomes the master of a terrifying power: Amy can make people do things very much against their will. She can make strange and violent things happen. Even death.

“Someone must save Amy from her awesomely destructive power. . . someone must uncover the evil secret that hides behind her beautiful young face.”

 

Review

Set in 1973, Amy is a solid, if sometimes chatty, thriller that sidesteps the cliches of its psychic child/monster subgenre, with characters that are relatable (warts and all), a mostly well-paced and suspense-build-up storyline, and an effective climax and denouement that are distinctive and character-true. This is a good read by an excellent writer, not Wood’s best work but often unputdownable, especially in its last third.

For her best works, check out: Twins (1977, with Jack Geasland); The Tribe (1981); and Lightsource (1984).

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