NIGHT TERROR

Telepathy, telekinesis and the ability to communicate with the dead figure prominently in this unsettling and overwrought visit to small-town Maine. Arcos is the last place one would expect to find turmoil, but Sheriff Virgil Milche, whose wife is slowly dying from cancer, isn't surprised by much anymore. He is, however, obsessed with two unsolved kidnappings. The most recent is the snatching of Audrey and Richard Bock's nine-year-old son, Zach. Audrey insists Zach is alive and even claims that she can hear him calling out to her. But when she starts experiencing night terrors and visions, she begins to fear for her sanity. In order to find her son's kidnapper, Audrey must utilize her newfound "talents" and come to terms with some long-suppressed memories. Virgil, meanwhile, has to accept that there may be life beyond the physical world before he can solve the case. Like most fictional towns, Arcos is inhabited by quirky characters who harbor dark secrets, but it's the complexity of these personalities that make this such an engaging read. Though some of the story's paranormal aspects are hard to swallow and McGrew's (Cold Heart) villain lacks dimension (as well as a believable motive), fans of Kay Hooper and Linda Howard will readily dig into this fantastic tale. (Mar. 4)