Before I Wake

After an unthinkable tragedy happens, an unbelievable miracle begins. Three-year-old Sherry is the adored only child of Simon and Karen Barrett. When Sherry is critically injured in a hit- and-run accident, the fault lines in the Barrett's marriage begin to show. As her parents' marriage falls apart, it is discovered that Sherry-in her coma-like state-has miraculous healing powers. The guilt-stricken driver of the truck attempts suicide - but is unable to die. Henry Denton instead finds himself in a place of darkness, somewhere between this world and the next, invisible to all but a group of mysterious and downtrodden men. Haunted by his shame, Henry struggles to understand this mysterious limbo, and what he must do to free himself.

About the Author :
Robert J. Wiersema has been a bookseller for more than fifteen years. A journalist and reviewer who contributes regularly to many major Canadian publications, he lives in Victoria, British Columbia, with his family.

Review :
"A stunning debut . . .original, thought-provoking, and downright wonderful." -Michael Connelly, "New York"" Times" #1 bestselling author of "The Closers" and "Echo"" Park" "I wept over this book as I read it, and I'm still haunted by it . . . disturbingly powerful." -Gail Anderson-Dargatz, author of "A Recipe for Bees " "A literary supernatural thriller that grips the reader in a chokehold and doesn't let go until the very last line. . . . 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" "Through a tale that is both intimate and profound, Robert J. Wiersema reminds us there is magic in truth, and truth in the fantastic. An edge-of-your-seat debut that is "never" faint of heart." -Ami McKay, author of "The Birth House" "A wonder to behold. A deft fusion of intimate family story, suspense and religious exploration. One of those books you just don't put down until you've read to the last page. . . Magnificent." --"The Edmonton Journal" " " "Deceptively easy to read because it is so well written and so emotionally engaging. It will haunt you long after you've lent it to a friend. And lend it you will, because it is just too good not to share." --"National Post" ""Before I Wake" provocatively dances along the lines between faith and science, life and death." --Andrew Pyper, author of "Lost Girls" "Engrossing and carefully plotted . . . Wiersema's compassion and sympathy for his characters are genuine. . . he tellsa cracking good tale." --"Quill & Quire" ..."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