Stopgap

Liam Card presents a supernatural thriller in Stopgap. The narrative follows Luke Stevenson, a recently deceased spirit tasked with mentoring Safia, an angry teenage girl who died violently. This pairing creates a catastrophic situation for Luke because Safia possesses the rare ability to affect the living and end human lives. With good intentions, Luke becomes entangled in her mission to eliminate all violent crime. Safia prevents acts of violence before they happen. Her actions leave the world in states of joy, shock, panic, and confusion as the body count rises. The story examines whether she has made the world safer or merely more terrifying. When her plan undergoes a terrifying evolution, Luke must find a way to stop it. Billions of lives hang in the balance during this struggle. This book suits readers who enjoy ghost stories with moral ambiguity and high stakes. It draws on traditions of post-mortem existence and vigilante justice. The narrative does not suit those seeking lighthearted supernatural tales or clear-cut heroes. Card, a Canadian author, uses Dundurn Press to release this 2016 work. The story focuses on the psychological toll of mentorship and the unintended consequences of absolute justice. It remains a tense exploration of power and responsibility in the afterlife.