Guest Review - "Tamper "

Guest Review by Chris Saunders

Roger and Whit are young fans of the unexplained mystery genre and self-described "paranormal investigators." Tamper follows Roger, Whit, and a smal circle of friends from childhood to young adulthood; from summer treasure hunts and dark autumnal secrets, through Whit's estrangement and drug-induced psychosis, to the island of Malta, where, according to an actual 1940 National Geographic article, a field trip of children and their teacher disappeared while exploring the underground tunnels of the Hypogeum catacombs and were never seen again. Tamper was the word used by real-life pulp writer Richard Shaver, who caused a controversey among the readers of Amazing Stories Magazine in the 1940s when he claimed that underground mutants were tormenting his mind with invisible rays, "tampering" with his brain.

This is an interesting novel that delves into the world of a young man named Whit, his explorations of the paranormal, and his gradual dissociation with the world around him.  It takes its name from the stories of Richard Shaver, a writer for Amazing Stories Magazine.  There are tie-ins with Shaver's stories and the controversy surrounding them, as well as a variety of real-world elements such as the mysteries surrounding the Hypogeum catacombs in Malta.  The story takes somewhat the form of reminiscences, shifting in focus on various points in Whit's life.  It's an intense story that leaves you many clues, but still keeps you guessing right up to the end.  The transposition between the paranormal and the mundane, and how one can be percieved as the other, lead to some rather unique insights into the human psyche. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a mystery or suspense novel, as well as those who have an interest in the workings of the human mind.