Leap point Book

Society is on the downturn. Increasing numbers of people under age 65 are tuning in to the latest craze, a virtual reality game that has them forgetting work, friends, and personal care.

Guru, Zachariah, is reaping riches from this game, which he has named Nir, short for Nirvana.

Abby McCrae, antique shop owner, suspects that her daughter, Vittoria, died because of this game. Was she murdered? With the help of a detective, Abby seeks answers to her daughter's demise, only to discover other unsettling news. The game seems to originate from nonhuman aliens who are using it as a Trojan horse.

Jaguar, a mysterious shaman, appears and chooses Abby to save civilization, at the possible cost of her life.

The beginning confused me. I wasn't sure if Zachariah was an alien or an earthling. I got the initial impression the story was taking place on a far planet. Eventually I realized Zachariah is human and the story is set on Earth. On occasion I was challenged to remember the many characters who are introduced. It helps that these characters are distinct, one from one another. The leading characters are well developed, so we understand their strengths and failings, and we can understand how they change. We don't learn so much about Jaguar, but enough to satisfy our curiosity. After all, he must remain mysterious, therefore intriguing. Several of the characters are strong enough and likable enough that a writer of lesser ability might have allowed them to upstage the protagonist. At the story's end, we have a sense of continuity. Our protagonist is stronger and somehow more alive. We feel she can jump into more adventures.

Kenyon wrote this novel in the 1990s and set it in 2014. One year removed from the setting date, the reader can see how accurate or inaccurate the author is in describing technology, slang, and fashion. But never mind the dates. This is a gripping story that you'll want to read to the end.