Marilyn's Mystery Reads

Imagine yourself on a plane from Hobart to Sydney, Australia.  You are sitting quietly, perhaps reading a book or watching the small screen on the back of the seat in front of you.  Suddenly a middle aged woman begins walking down the narrow aisle, pausing for a few moments at each row, saying something, and then moving on.  At first nothing seems amiss, but after she stops several times there’s a stir in the air as if something unpleasant is happening.

It takes a few minutes for people to realize the situation.  The woman is talking at the passengers, not to them.  As she moves down the aisle, people begin to understand her words.  “I expect catastrophic stroke.  Age seventy-two.”  “Heart disease.  Age eight-four.”  “Workplace accident.  Age forty-three.”  “Drowning.  Age seven.”

The woman making these predictions, later to become known as the “Death Lady,” had boarded the plane quietly, nobody noticing her.  But she and several of the travelers whose futures she predicts would shortly be known all over the country.

The passengers to whom the woman speaks react differently.  Not surprisingly, the ones whose deaths were predicted at more advanced ages were not unduly upset.  Eighty-four.  Ninety-three. Ninety-five.  Those predictions were okay.  But thirty-seven.  Forty-three.  Seven.  Not okay.

The flight attendants, all of whom are busy with unrelated tasks, aren’t aware of exactly what’s going on, but finally the cabin manager Alexa is alerted and is able to lead the woman back to her seat.  Her final comment is directed to Alexa.  “I expect self-harm—age…age..twenty-eight.”

The talking among the passengers continues until the plane lands.  There is a lot of conversation about psychic powers, their reliability or lack thereof.  But then the first death occurs, exactly as predicted, followed by two more.  It’s scary.

The novel is told in various voices.  We hear from Alexa; Ethan, a passenger who is told he will die at thirty (he’s twenty-nine); Paula, a young mother whose son is predicted to die by drowning at age seven; and several others.  We note their reactions to the predictions and wonder, what would we do in that situation?

We also hear from the woman who has become notorious.  Although she doesn’t say more to each individual than their age of death and the cause, she observes, “Fate won’t be fought,” which is hardly comforting for those whose death date is sooner rather than later.

Here One Moment, as well as being an outstanding mystery, is a novel that is truly thought-provoking.  It raises at least two questions.  First, do you believe in prophesies?  Second, if you do, how would you try to avoid yours, assuming it told of your early or imminent death?  Would you give up your favorite hobby, rock climbing, if you were told you’d die in a fall?  Would you never go in the water if it were foretold that you would drown?  Or would you dismiss the predictions and proceed with your life as if you’d never been told the date and manner of your demise?

Liane Moriarty continues her streak of excellent thrillers, novels with excellent plots and characters you care about.  You can read more about her at various sites on the web.

Check out the complete Marilyn’s Mystery Reads at her website.  In addition to book review posts, there are sections featuring Golden Oldies, Past Masters and Mistresses, and an About Marilyn column that features her opinions about everything to do with mystery novels.