After 766 pages I found The Passage a bit of an anti-climax. The premise was good with its biblical, horror, conspiracy theory mix but it took way too long to get to the point and then, when we got somewhere near there, some of the threads were abruptly tied off and others were left hanging. I hope the purpose of the book was not a precursor to a sequel. Where has the skill gone of fitting a good story into a single volume.

The story begins several years into the future. The US Army have developed a serum to extend human lifespan and create super soldiers. But guess what, it goes belly up leading to the spread of a virus throughout North America and, maybe, the rest of the world. I say, maybe the rest of the world, because we are never sure about how extensive the virus really is beyond North America.

Skip forward 100 years where the world (or at least North America) has been completely changed. The virus has done it's job and humanity, or what is left of it is decimated (using the correct dictionary meaning of the word), but starts its fight back after a young girl named Amy turns up. Amy is a mystery with unusual powers and an uncanny ability to influence people.

This story had potential and at times it excelled, there are sections of the book where you are drawn right in and turn the pages eager to follow the thread of the story but there are other sections that a too drawn out and long winded and meander along and leave you feeling flat. The book is sub-titled Something is coming but by the end of the book I was left wondering whether I'd missed it.

In summary, the story is based on a good premise and in parts makes enthralling reading, but unfortunately it ends with more of a whimper than a bang.