A Witch in Time

Simmons concludes his HalfLife Chronicles (after Dead Easy, which many readers assumed was the series ending) with a snappy, snarky, and surprisingly emotional grand finale that blends characters from weird fiction, gothic tales, and mythology into one fun, if crowded, universe. Christopher Cséjthe has seen it all since becoming a half-vampire and opening After Dark Investigations. After losing everyone he loves more than once, he’s suffering deep depression. But when an attack nearly kills him, Chris wakes up in a strange alternate present to discover he has become unstuck in time and chosen to serve as bodyguard for a coven of witches. Their mission: to protect the world from the chain-reaction of devastation unleashed by the detonation of the atomic bomb spawned by the Manhattan Project in 1945. But will this newest escapade save Chris from his own personal hell, or unleash armageddon? Though the tone is light and comically cynical, Simmons doesn’t downplay the gravity of the history in his tale, making this a tense and gripping story that is sure to please series fans. (Apr.)