18 Seconds: A Novel (Sherry Moore Novels) [Mass Market Paperback]

George D. Shuman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 27, 2007 | Series: Sherry Moore Novels

In his gripping debut, George D. Shuman crafts a pulse-pounding, tension-filled thriller about two brave women -- one with uncanny psychic abilities -- who unite to catch a murderous madman...before he finds them first.

Thirty years after a deadly traffic accident landed Earl Sykes in prison, he is back on the streets of Wildwood, New Jersey -- and back for revenge. He is also feeding his perverse appetite for abducting young female victims -- the same crimes he committed years ago for which he was never caught.

Police lieutenant Kelly O'Shaughnessy is bewildered by the disappearance of several young women from the boardwalk -- crimes horrifyingly reminiscent of unsolved cases from the seventies. Reluctant to ask for help but desperate to stem the bloodshed, Kelly enlists investigative consultant Sherry Moore. Blind and beautiful, Sherry has the extraordinary ability to "see" the deceased's last eighteen seconds of memory by touching the corpse. As they join forces to discover the killer's identity, the women unwittingly become the hunted -- each step drawing them closer to the deadly clutches of a homicidal monster.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Beautiful, blind Sherry Moore is matter-of-fact when telling two police detectives about her agonizing gift—the ability to see the last 18 seconds of a dead person's life. It's not supernatural, in her telling; it's science imperfectly understood. It's also the defining characteristic of Sherry's life; orphaned and injured at a young age, she cannot say no to the bereft who want her help in solving gruesome crimes. Shuman is a 20-year veteran of the Washington, D.C., police force, and his debut novel mercilessly depicts the horror wrought by serial killer Earl Sykes, who specializes in young women out for a good time at the New Jersey shore. Narrative relief from a litany of horrific crimes comes when the scene shifts to Sherry's tender relationship with a married police detective, and to police lieutenant Kelly Lynch-O'Shaughnessy's marital struggles. While the large number of characters and cross-cutting of their perspectives leads to occasional confusion, the vividly drawn central figures and authoritative voice keep the reader grimly committed. 100,000 announced first printing.(Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Here's a high-concept thriller that, in places, could almost sink under the weight of its own premise. Sherry Moore is beautiful, blind, and psychic. But she doesn't read minds; Sherry's gift--although some might say it's more of a curse--is this: if she touches a dead person, she can see the last 18 seconds of that person's life. Naturally, this skill makes her very handy to the police, and when Lieutenant Kelly O'Shaughnessy is having trouble finding out who killed a young girl, the two women plunge headlong into an old case involving a vicious serial killer. Fans of the television series Medium should enjoy this novel's combination of parapsychology and real-world detective work, and it should also appeal to fans of twisted psychological thrillers (Jeffrey Deaver, say, or Thomas Harris). Unfortunately, Shuman, a veteran police officer, spends so much time justifying his premise that he tends to sound like he doesn't quite believe it himself. Sometimes you just have to let readers suspend their own disbelief. David Pitt
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Star; First edition (March 27, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743277171
• ISBN-13: 978-0743277174
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #738,449 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born in the Allegheny Mountains of Southwest PA. hard country--coal and steel country. In fact I worked in the Steel Mills as a teenager, last sticking rivets into the sides of what would become Candian railroad cars. When I was nineteen I drove to Washington DC and walked the streets looking for work, joined the Metropolitan Police Department and retired twenty years later as a Lieutenant. During that time I worked plainclothes investigating heroin trafficking in the DC northwest area and later investigated corruption in the DC Government.
In 1992 I got involved in the resort hotel industry on Long Island, New York, became a Human Resource Director for several years and later Director of Operations for a constortium of Luxury Hotels on the Island of Nantucket.
I now write full time in the Laurel Mountains of PA.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars debut novel, March 28, 2006

By 

Elizabeth Slater (North Florida) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: 18 Seconds: A Novel (Hardcover)

Another psychic story - this one featuring Sherry Moore - a blind woman who is able to `see' the last 18 seconds of a person's life by holding the hand of the person who has died. Sherry's past is an enigma, so no one knows why she can do this or how she lost her vision. Sherry's closest friend is a married police detective who has never asked for her help - until now. Sherry travels to help local police lieutenant Kelly - unasked - and things start to unravel - and come together - at the same time. The story is told in multiple perspectives, which can be disconcerting, but I felt it came together well. I enjoyed Shuman's debut novel as well as his imaginative storyline.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glad I Took A Chance, April 23, 2007

By 

Book Reviews Weekly - See all my reviews

This review is from: 18 Seconds: A Novel (Sherry Moore Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

I was in the drugstore and needed a new book and this was the only thing that looked interesting. I have to say I really like George's style of writing, and I read the book within a few days. 18 Seconds is a great story, and I look forward to reading future books by this author. I am always so glad when I have finished a book and feel like it was time well spent. Sherry is a very interesting character, and the "last gift" is really brilliant. Great Job George! Thanks, Jamie

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 18 Seconds is not just another thriller, April 2, 2006

By 

Picky Reader "Picky Reader" (Palm Springs, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 18 Seconds: A Novel (Hardcover)

I'll admit I was a bit skeptical when I first picked up the book 18 Seconds. I'm not a paranormal genre fan and while the parallel story lines in the first few chapters confused me, I was hooked early on. This is not your average first novel. It could only have been written by someone who understands human behavior both good and depraved. The blind Sherry Moore who can "see" what a deceased person saw in the last 18 seconds of their life is a refreshing new character. I also felt the character of lieutanant Kelly O'Shaughnessy to be extremely believable. Mr. Shuman's ability to weave story lines that make you think you know what will happen, but then leave the reader stunned is amazing. The ending is heartstopping and very realistic. This author knows people and knows how to make fictional characters from that knowledge. Terrific first novel.