In 1960, Galina, Arizona was a typical border town until a strange atmospheric event led to an even weirder plague. As the town’s citizens developed unusual symptoms and it spread through nearly every family, the townspeople became paranoid and racism led to violence, ripping the town apart.
In 2020, Professor Colin Ayres has been doing years of research while writing a book about Galina. He believes the town experienced mass hysteria since there was no indication the mysterious symptoms or illness spread outside of town. In the course of interviewing survivors and their descendants he meets Alonzo, a grandson of one of the town’s citizens. When Alonzo starts experiencing the very same symptoms that showed up in Galina 60 years ago, Colin is dumbfounded. As he puts his research in high gear to help Alonzo, he finds more and more people are also experiencing the symptoms. The only connection these people have keep leading Colin back to Galina. What the hell is going on here and what the hell happened there in 1960? Colin needs answers and needs them now.
Holy shit. This is quite a ride! It has alternating POVs with Anza in 1960 and Colin, Alonzo, and a woman named Sonia, all in 2020.The underlying story is sci-fi, but what it really boils down to is a mystery. And suspense. I can’t emphasize enough how much of a mystery this book is. Reading it is an agonizing process. And I mean that in a good way. Because I was right there with the characters trying to figure out what the hell was going on and not only in the past. But now there’s the present, too! Just, what the hell?! The slow deterioration of Galina is so painful to watch. Not to mention the people who are infected. The disease is so incredibly weird, too. I was on the edge of my seat, just waiting for it all to be revealed. And what a revelation it is! The characters are great, the writing is smooth, and the mystery is a head scratching hellofa stumper. Don’t pass this up!
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