I wish to thank NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for this entertaining and imaginative ebook in return for an honest review. This was an easy, mainly fast-paced read with intriguing characters. It contained some thought-provoking concepts involving religious beliefs or the lack of them, free will, the imminent destruction of the world, sacrifice, and overcoming fear.

Jim, a private investigator, is hired to find a gorilla that was stolen from the zoo. He is down on his luck and needs this job offered by a wealthy movie producer. We learn that there has been a theft of animals worldwide. Darryl is a young Black boy who loves playing baseball with the mostly older, bigger neighbourhood boys. He has a few skills but is not very good at the game. He is often picked last for these informal games, but this is his favourite part of his day. At night he is overcome by fears. Hidden in his closet, he keeps a list naming each thing that scares him. When he is no longer afraid of an item, he scratches it off but adds new ones to his ever-lengthening list.

Sitting alone in the stands watching the boys play is an older man, Vintner. He was a former financier and a baseball fan. He sees a lot of promise in young Darryl, befriends him, and gives him advice on how to improve his game. He begins to regard him as the son he never had. After taking the overjoyed Darryl to a Big League game, his mother is angry. She finds Vintner's behaviour creepy and is suspicious of his motives towards her son. She warns him to have no contact with Darryl.

Vintner is not what he seems. He believes God has commanded him to be a new-age Noah while He destroys our sinful planet. Towards this purpose, Vintner has been stealing a wide variety of animals and hiding them in a maze of tunnels under the New York subway system. Homeless people live in the dark underground tunnels and have formed a family to assist and protect each other. They may be part of the plan to survive and build a better world after this one is destroyed.

The lives of Jim, Vintner, and Darryl connect, but their beliefs, motivations, and intentions diverge. Near the conclusion, Darryl is given a task that puts him in a dangerous and frightening position. The tension and suspense are heightened. If he survives, will his list of fears diminish or be increased?
The author, Trevor Shane, is talented, and I hope he writes further original and imaginative stories. 3.5 stars raised to 4.