DAYDREAMERS

In Hamilton’s novel, people harboring psychic abilities intercede when their Caribbean islandhome is in peril.

Eleven-year-old Sean Matthews’ family celebrates when he passes his high school entrance exam. The boy, who lives on the island of Acia Maj, has proven himself skilled at math and chess. But he has another talent that’s perhaps not so obvious: Sean is able to sense something is wrong before learning that his maternal grandfather David Kennington has gone missing. When he hears David’s voice in his dream, he guides authorities to where his grandfather is. It turns out that David, a renowned investigative journalist, also has a psychic ability—or, as Sean’s Uncle Tony puts it, “mumbo-jumbo.” David suspects that someone is bringing guns onto Acia Maj, causing the murder rate to surge on the relatively small island. The culprits may be the CIA, or possibly the political opposition, as an election is coming up. In any case, an unexpected violent act indicates that someone is either threatening David or trying to take him out. As the local police aren’t very accommodating, David looks into identifying the villains himself. He’s not alone: David’s investigation soon involves his lifelong friend, Deputy Prime Minister JP Cade, as well as Slender-man, a mysterious figure for whom David’s wife, Magaret, barely hides her distrust. Sean’s in the mix, too, even if it takes him away from studying (“I don’t mind missing some school,” he assures everyone). David will need all the help he can get to stop whoever is planning to “destabilise” Acia Maj.

Hamilton’s story, which seems to take place in the 1970s, initially centers around Sean as the boy saves a friend from a potentially fatal accident and easily outwits a “three-card-man” at the bus stop. The narrative suddenly but smoothly pivots to focus on David, who comes with an engaging backstory, including his meet-cute with Margaret and scoring a well-paying job when he and his growing family needed it most. Sean essentially becomes a supporting character; as such, there’s no development of or adjustment to his newfound paranormal skill, which he simply realizes he has and willingly accepts. The author’s straightforward prose delivers scenes with dialogue that pops and keeps the story moving. These scenes often involve Sean’s extended family, with aunts, uncles, and beaucoup cousins; they’re easy to like, especially with 6-year-old triplets on hand. Hamilton’s descriptions are sparse, with the cast and settings getting the barest of details (or sometimes none at all). Nevertheless, several visuals make an impression, including the “pandemonium” of 10 grandchildren rushing to get to school in the morning and the Slender-man keeping tabs on certain individuals while perched on an apartment rooftop. There’s a good deal of suspense, too, with attacks that are very clearly meant to kill.

A warm, relatable, and unforgettable family headlines this diverting paranormal political thriller.