Once again we have the "stranger in a strange land" motif. Ed Nelson, a reporter, finds himself, along with his dog, in a small town where there are strange goings on. If it were not for the dog chasing a cat and a little girl taking out a device and making the dog disappear, he would have gone his merry way. Unfortunately, his reporter instincts and his own stubbornness cast him into danger. He finds himself trapped in the town with his fate being determined by some sort of town council. Initially, he starts investigating and then later fears for his life. The hotel has no room; there is no restaurant; people act strangely and inhospitably; and a series of events confuse things further. There are some pitfalls in the plot. If these people are so protective of their town and their secrets, why not create a little better facade. It is their overall demeanor that attracts, rather than repels, the outsiders. The ending is also rather surprising because if they had the power they used, why couldn't they have employed it all along. Nevertheless, it is very interesting and engaging.
Review of Valley of the Shadow
