It wasn't the best thing I've ever read, but it did make me sleep with the light on, so I'm giving it 3 stars, and I haven't decided yet if I'll read more in the series. ( )

Teacher Jim Rook, who is trying to help a junior college class of under achievers, finds himself pitted against something only he can see, a dark figure known as The Smoke.. One of his students is affected and Rook finds himself trapped into helping a voodoo adept. Author Graham Masterton delivers a tight, enjoyable horror novel in which a man faces an evil force to save his class. I especially liked the way the class, despite their own problems, try to help out. The build-up and pay-off are excellent. Masterton's writing, as always is evocative and enticing for the horror aficionado. High marks for this debut series novel.

This is the first in the Rook series and as always this is horror at its best.

Back Cover Blurb:
As a child, Jim Rook nearly died of pneumonia, and as a result of this near-death experience he acquired the ability to see ghosts and other spirits. He has always found his talent disturbing, though, and makes no attempt to use it.
But when one of his high school students is arrested for murder, he is forced to act. He is convinced he saw Tee Jay's uncle at the scene of the murder, even thoug he appears to have a watertight alibi. It turns out that Uncle Umber has been using an out-of-body technique known as 'The Smoke' in order to kill people and commit other crimes - and so Jim is forced to use the same technique in order to challenge Umber. ( )