In Between

In this too-short but sweet fantasy novella, MacAvoy (the Lens of the World trilogy) slips into the dreamy Asian-flavored world of Pacific coast painter, psychic and martial artist Ewen Young. Not long after Ewen receives a warning from two Chinese thugs wanting to collect on his uncle’s massive gambling debts, a mysterious man called John Chow kills his uncle and then shoots Ewen, wounding his heart. While recovering in the hospital, Ewen travels to the “in-between,” a psychically created realm where he helps the troubled patients of his psychiatrist twin sister and foresees Chow’s death. Det. Rick Petersen, impressed by his abilities, encourages Ewen to repeatedly brave the scary trip between worlds to learn more about Chow’s motives. Ewen’s story is ripe for more in-depth treatment, but there’s still plenty of good stuff in this slim package. (Sept.)