Published in Canada in 1992, but not in the US until 1994, The Mysterium is Eric McCormack's third book. It lacks the scope of later novels such as First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women or Cloud, both of which I have read. It does deal with his favorite themes, however: the nature of the truth, mysterious events, Scotland (obvious but never named in this book), dreams, and the evil that men do. A reporter is called to a small village where the population is rapidly dying, but not before spending their last days talking almost nonstop (with weird variations, such as shouting or profanity). The reporter interviews the key players in the story--but does he have the truth at last? The pleasure here, as in most of McCormack's other work, isn't so much the destination as the journey. He is simply a superb writer, making every incident fascinating, and every page enticing. Once you read more than one of his works, you fall into his spell, as his books make frequent references to events in his other works. The "talking disease" of the village of Carrick will reappear, for instance. There's not much else to say without spoiling the pleasure. Just know that McCormack has one of the oddest and darkest imaginations you'll ever come across. As you read his works, you can't but wonder how many of the common traits his characters have may come from his own life. ( )

Is it something in the water? Why are the townspeople suddenly dieing? The true value of this book is the mind games it plays. ( )