Shadow Child

Strange disappearances, brutal murders, animal mutilations and all manner of other macabre goings-on color this re-released 1987 gothic tale from Citro, who specializes in the occult--avowedly fictional (Dark Twilight) and otherwise (Passing Strange: True Tales of New England Hauntings and Horror). Here local newspaper oddities, diaries, letters and accounts of unsolved mysteries from the historical records of Vermont precede many of the chapters, adding to the authenticity of the chills as a Vermont family struggles in the grip of powers it can barely admit exist. The Whitcome family--Pamela, Clint and little Luke--welcome Pam's cousin, Eric, who is mourning the death of his wife. Seeking comfort from the cousin to whom he was close in childhood, he finds refuge from his grief in their loving home. But soon after his arrival, strange events occur that seem to have their roots in an ancient evil. Detached in its characterization, this strong novel handles the Whitcome family dynamics with dexterity. The detachment actually counterpoints the eerie events, making them even more bizarre and the horror more tangible. (Oct.)