Before I Wake

Tragedy can strike at any time. In a single moment of distraction, in one instant’s miscalculation. One gorgeous spring day, three-year-old Sherry Barrett is injured in a hit-and-run accident. Her devastated parents, Simon and Karen, wait by her bedside, hoping for a miracle. Told that she will never recover, they agree to remove her from life support. And then the miracle occurs. Sherry doesn’t die. But neither does she wake. Meanwhile, Henry Denton, who was driving the truck that nearly killed Sherry, attempts suicide. Unable to die, he finds himself in a place of darkness, somewhere between this world and the next. Haunted by his own guilt, Henry struggles to understand this limbo, and what he must do to free himself. Under the pressure of caring for their child, Simon and Karen’s marriage is pushed to the point of collapse. And then pushed even further by the undeniable fact that their little girl, trapped in her living death, has become a healer. 'A stunning debut. Robert Wiersema’s novel is original, thought-provoking and downright wonderful' Michael Connelly 'The kind of storytelling instincts that make you care about the answer to the one question that really counts: What happens next?' Andrew Pyper

About the Author :
Robert J. Wiersema is a bookseller and reviewer, who contributes regularly to the Vancouver Sun, the Globe and Mail, the Ottawa Citizen and numerous other newspapers. Wiersema is also the event coordinator for Bolen Books. He lives in Victoria, B.C., with his wife and son.

Review :
"[An] intriguing supernatural thriller in which a sudden tragedy befalls a family and strange, wondrous events take place in its wake . . ."--"Seattle"" Post-Intelligencer""Wiersema provides a deep thriller that will keep his audience wondering until the revelatory final confrontation." --"The Midwest Book Review" "Wiersema threads the supernatural throughout a novel grounded in domestic conflict and tragedy . . Intriguing." --"NY Daily News" "An intelligent, contemplative supernatural thriller replete with well-rounded characters, artless dialogue and a plot that, while imbued with the unexplained, develops organically, revealing its secrets at just the right pace . . . an engrossing story of flawed but genuinely good people who must bear up under the stress of loss, betrayal, unwarranted miracles and unconventional spiritual warfare . . . an engaging, emotionally resonant read." --"Publisher's Weekly" ""Before I Wake" is a stunning debut. Robert Wiersema's novel is original, thought-provoking and downright wonderful." --Michael Connelly, "New York"" Times" #1 bestselling author of "The Closers" "Riveting. . . grips the reader in a chokehold on page one and doesn't let go until the very last line. . . . Wiersema's story is utterly fearless, right to the very end. It never shies away or backs down from its questioning of faith, theology, morality and mystery. . . a unique, spellbinding, and ultimately uplifting gem." --"The Globe and Mail" """"Before I Wake" provocatively dances along the lines between faith and science, life and death." --Andrew Pyper, author of "Lost Girls" and "The Wildfire Season" "Robert Wiersema . . . has written an accomplished first novel, the sort of book veteran novelists might well envy. . . . Before I Wake is deceptively easy to read because it is so well written and so emotionally engaging. It is not, however, an easily forgotten book. It will haunt you long after you've lent it to a friend. And lend it you will, because it is too good not to share." -"National Post" "We go along for this unusual ride - that takes us to purgatory and awakens images of the inquisition - because we trust Wiersema's consummate skill: a talent that makes him one of our most promising and original voices." -"The Gazette" (Montreal) .,."rivetting debut novel...Wiersema has crafted a literary, supernatural thriller that grips the reader in a chokehold on page one and doesn't let go until the very last line...Before I Wake is a classic thriller: creepy in all the right places and deliciously suspenseful. Beyond that, it has great emotional depth and resonance." -"The Globe and Mail" "Before I Wake is a stunning debut. Robert Wiersema's novel is original, thought-provoking and downright wonderful." -Michael Connelly, author of The Closers" "and The Lincoln Lawyer "Through a tale that is both intimate and profound, Robert J. Wiersema reminds us there is magic in truth, and truth in the fantastic. Before I Wake is an edge-of-your-seat debut that is "never" faint of heart." -Ami McKay, author of The Birth House" " "I wept over this book as I read it, and I'm still haunted by it. Wiersema's compassion for us all shines through in writing that is vivid and very often disturbingly powerful. He is a beautiful writer, and this is a beautifulbook." -Gail Anderson-Dargatz, author of The Cure for Death by Lightning, A Recipe for Bees" "and A Rhinestone Button" " "I read this book in less than three days, over the Christmas holidays with a house full of family and friends, and every time I had to put it down, I found myself compiling lists of people for whom I wanted to buy it. It captured me from the opening page and kept me going, wanting more, because it is a wonderful story, superbly told. The tight, tersely written chapters with their constantly changing points of view had me totally enthralled, because the characters are all utterly believable; every one of them rings true, with no miscues. A wonderful novel from a storyteller who knows what being a master of the craft entails." -Jack Whyte, author of the Dream of Eagles series "Inventively told using cinematic jump cuts and fantastical interventions, Before I Wake provocatively dances along the lines between faith and science, life and death. Robert Wiersema's first novel shows a writer possessed with the kind of storytelling instincts that make you care about the answer to the one question that really counts: What happens next?" -Andrew Pyper, author of The Wildfire Season " Robert Wiersema . . . has written an accomplished first novel, the sort of book veteran novelists might well envy. . . . Before I Wake is deceptively easy to read because it is so well written and so emotionally engaging. It is not, however, an easily forgotten book. It will haunt you long after you've lent it to a friend. And lend it you will, because it is too good not to share." - "National Post" " We go along for this unusual ride - that takes us to purgatory and awakens images of the inquisition - because we trust Wiersema's consummate skill: a talent that makes him one of our most promising and original voices." - "The Gazette" (Montreal) " ... rivetting debut novel... Wiersema has crafted a literary, supernatural thriller that grips the reader in a chokehold on page one and doesn't let go until the very last line... Before I Wake is a classic thriller: creepy in all the right places and deliciously suspenseful. Beyond that, it has great emotional depth and resonance." - "The Globe and Mail" " Before I Wake is a stunning debut. Robert Wiersema's novel is original, thought-provoking and downright wonderful." - Michael Connelly, author of The Closers" "and The Lincoln Lawyer " Through a tale that is both intimate and profound, Robert J. Wiersema reminds us there is magic in truth, and truth in the fantastic. Before I Wake is an edge-of-your-seat debut that is "never" faint of heart." - Ami McKay, author of The Birth House" " " I wept over this book as I read it, and I'm still haunted by it.Wiersema's compassion for us all shines through in writing that is vivid and very often disturbingly powerful. He is a beautiful writer, and this is a beautiful book." - Gail Anderson-Dargatz, author of The Cure for Death by Lightning, A Recipe for Bees" "and A Rhinestone Button" " " I read this book in less than three days, over the Christmas holidays with a house full of family and friends, and every time I had to put it down, I found myself compiling lists of people for whom I wanted to buy it. It captured me from the opening page and kept me going, wanting more, because it is a wonderful story, superbly told. The tight, tersely written chapters with their constantly changing points of view had me totally enthralled, because the characters are all utterly believable; every one of them rings true, with no miscues. A wonderful novel from a storyteller who knows what being a master of the craft entails." - Jack Whyte, author of the Dream of Eagles series " Inventively told using cinematic jump cuts and fantastical interventions, Before I Wake provocatively dances along the lines between faith and science, life and death. Robert Wiersema's first novel shows a writer possessed with the kind of storytelling instincts that make you care about the answer to the one question that really counts: What happens next?" - Andrew Pyper, author of The Wildfire Season ..."rivetting debut novel...Wiersema has crafted a literary, supernatural thriller that grips the reader in a chokehold on page one and doesn't let go until the very last line...Before I Wake is a classic thriller: creepy in all the right places and deliciously suspenseful. Beyond that, it has great emotional depth and resonance." -"The Globe and Mail" "Before I Wake is a stunning debut. Robert Wiersema's novel is original, thought-provoking and downright wonderful." -Michael Connelly, author of The Closers" "and The Lincoln Lawyer "Through a tale that is both intimate and profound, Robert J. Wiersema reminds us there is magic in truth, and truth in the fantastic. Before I Wake is an edge-of-your-seat debut that is "never" faint of heart." -Ami McKay, author of The Birth House" " "I wept over this book as I read it, and I'm still haunted by it. Wiersema's compassion for us all shines through in writing that is vivid and very often disturbingly powerful. He is a beautiful writer, and this is a beautiful book." -Gail Anderson-Dargatz, author of The Cure for Death by Lightning, A Recipe for Bees" "and A Rhinestone Button" " "I read this book in less than three days, over the Christmas holidays with a house full of family and friends, and every time I had to put it down, I found myself compiling lists of people for whom I wanted to buy it. It captured me from the opening page and kept me going, wanting more, because it is a wonderful story, superbly told. The tight, tersely written chapters with their constantly changing points of view had me totally enthralled, because the characters are all utterly believable; every one of them rings true, with no miscues. Awonderful novel from a storyteller who knows what being a master of the craft entails." -Jack Whyte, author of the Dream of Eagles series "Inventively told using cinematic jump cuts and fantastical interventions, Before I Wake provocatively dances along the lines between faith and science, life and death. Robert Wiersema's first novel shows a writer possessed with the kind of storytelling instincts that make you care about the answer to the one question that really counts: What happens next?" -Andrew Pyper, author of The Wildfire Season "From the Hardcover edition." "Before I Wake is a stunning debut. Robert Wiersema's novel is original, thought-provoking and downright wonderful." -Michael Connelly, author of The Closers" "and The Lincoln Lawyer "Through a tale that is both intimate and profound, Robert J. Wiersema reminds us there is magic in truth, and truth in the fantastic. Before I Wake is an edge-of-your-seat debut that is "never" faint of heart." -Ami McKay, author of The Birth House" " "I wept over this book as I read it, and I'm still haunted by it. Wiersema's compassion for us all shines through in writing that is vivid and very often disturbingly powerful. He is a beautiful writer, and this is a beautiful book." -Gail Anderson-Dargatz, author of The Cure for Death by Lightning, A Recipe for Bees" "and A Rhinestone Button" " "I read this book in less than three days, over the Christmas holidays with a house full of family and friends, and every time I had to put it down, I found myself compiling lists of people for whom I wanted to buy it. It captured me from the opening page and kept me going, wanting more, because it is a wonderful story, superbly told. The tight, tersely written chapters with their constantly changing points of view had me totally enthralled, because the characters are all utterly believable; every one of them rings true, with no miscues. A wonderful novel from a storyteller who knows what being a master of the craft entails." -Jack Whyte, author of the Dream of Eagles series "Inventively told using cinematic jump cuts and fantastical interventions, Before I Wake provocatively dances along the lines between faith and science, life and death. Robert Wiersema's first novel shows a writerpossessed with the kind of storytelling instincts that make you care about the answer to the one question that really counts: What happens next?" -Andrew Pyper, author of The Wildfire Season "I wept over this book as I read it, and I'm still haunted by it. Wiersema's compassion for us all shines through in writing that is vivid and very often disturbingly powerful. He is a beautiful writer, and this is a beautiful book." -Gail Anderson-Dargatz, author of The Cure for Death by Lightning, A Recipe for Bees" "and A Rhinestone Button" " "I read this book in less than three days, over the Christmas holidays with a house full of family and friends, and every time I had to put it down, I found myself compiling lists of people for whom I wanted to buy it. It captured me from the opening page and kept me going, wanting more, because it is a wonderful story, superbly told. The tight, tersely written chapters with their constantly changing points of view had me totally enthralled, because the characters are all utterly believable; every one of them rings true, with no miscues. A wonderful novel from a storyteller who knows what being a master of the craft entails." -Jack Whyte, author of the Dream of Eagles series "Inventively told using cinematic jump cuts and fantastical interventions, Before I Wake provocatively dances along the lines between faith and science, life and death. Robert Wiersema's first novel shows a writer possessed with the kind of storytelling instincts that make you care about the answer to the one question that really counts: What happens next?" -Andrew Pyper, author of The Wildfire Season