Joe has a secret, a life size doll called Sandra, that he bought to share his apartment with. One night, a lightning strike means it becomes possessed by a spirit that manages to animate the doll. To Joe’s surprise, it appears the spirit is there to try and improve Joe’s life. Sharing the secret with his friend Alex and his co-worker Anna, Joe sets about trying to improve himself. However, the secret is discovered by his cousin, who seeks to turn it to his own advantage by selling the story to a local reporter. The reporter pulls out all the stops to show to the world including kidnapping Joe’s niece. Joe finds that he has to decide whether to save his niece or try and keep the secret hidden from the world.

In principle, it’s a great idea with all sorts of possibilities. Unfortunately, it is the slowest paced book I have read and it took me two attempts to get through it. The sentences are almost monosyllabic as they are written, and are broken down into simplistic english. The characters in the story are described likewise and their dialogue matches the tone of the novel. It feels like wading through treacle as you go from page to page waiting for something to happen. A fair part of the novel is expositional as it tries to explain its world view and how the characters view it, but it comes across more as the author proselytising than the characters in discussion.

The story does have a couple of interesting parts in it. The main antagonist is well driven and described with how he wants to release the story to the world and the lengths they are prepared to go to. The ending is also well set up and carried out with aplomb, and was by far the most interesting set piece described. However, it is such a shame that you have to struggle through the entire rest of the book just to get to that point.

All in all, this is not a good book, even if it is about being good with only a couple of minor points to try and redeem it.