Thisshortnovelthatistoldwithalmostfable-likesimplicity:MattHarperisafirst-timecounselorataboy'ssummercampwhenhewitnessesacasualbrutalitythatleadstomurder.Thebullying,gluttonousheadmanEdNolan(whohas"reducedCampPleasanttoamicrocosmoftheThirdReich")isportrayedasonestereotypethatthereaderisnotsorrytoseekilledoff.Instead,allofoursympathyisreservedforthepossiblesuspects:MervLoomis,thehomosexualcounselorNolanhumiliatesintoquitting;thetroubledten-year-oldTonyRocca;Nolan'smeekwife,Ellen;andseveralothers.Thesettingandtonehavethedistinctfeeloftheearly1950s,butacasualreferencetoactressCatherineDeneuveplacestheactioninthemid-60sorlater.Inotherhands,perhapsthisminimalistplotwouldbeinadequate,butMatheson,authorofSomewhereinTimeandHellHouseaswellasclassicTwilightZoneteleplays,hassuchacommandofhiscraftthatreadingthisbookispurepleasure.ThesimplewritingstylebringstomindHemingway."ItwasaWednesdaynightandthereweremoviesdowninthelodgesoIsentmyboysthereandstayedinthecabin,packingmytrunk."Occasionally,Mathesonwaxespoetic:"Ilaytherestaringatthewall,feelingmyheartthudslowlyinmychestlikethefistofadyingmanonthewallofhisprison."ReaderswillfindinMatheson'sbookadeeplyengagingstorywithaclearwritingstylethatisapleasuretoread.