Every Labor Day, father (Patrick) and son (Sam) would go to the drive in to watch the last movie of the summer. Before they can settle down with their food and enjoy the movie however, Sam goes missing. It’s the Sandman.

This beginning to the book ties you in as you have a name of the person you are looking for. Who is this “Sandman”? Why does he want Sam? How does Patrick know it’s the “Sandman”?

We then get taken back to 4 years before and how it all began. Patrick, failed writer, joins a writing group known as the “Kensington Circle”. It’s a small group of wanna-be writers and none of them really holds his attention. Except for one. Angela. A shy, quiet woman who shares a haunting story called “The Sandman”. Patrick is so mesmerized by her story he secretly records it.

Patrick isn’t the only one taken by the story, everyone in the group is enthralled. Then it so happens a serial killer emerges on the streets of Toronto, re-enacting the same scenes from Angela’s story, Patrick (and other members of the group) is worried that there might be a serial killer in the writing group. However, once the group stops meeting, the killings stop.

That is until somehow “The Sandman” story gets published and the killings start again. I don’t want to give away too much of this book, as there are many twists and turns that will constantly keep you at the edge of your seat.

This book is a gem. It has been a while that I have wanted to put everything on hold just to sit and read through the day. This is an easy read that yanks any of your ideas of who “The Sandman” is after every couple of pages. Excellently written.