I didn't read the book, but the show is really good. It does everything right. I understood everything that was going on in the show so I'm not sure why others are saying they don't.. Episode 4 is when things start to pick up and yes it can be confusing because it's not about vampires but the idea behind the show is that there's these people that have these powers and the power can only be used via a "knife", so the bad guys knife is his wraith.. and Vics knife is her motorcycle and it allows her to cross a bridge and find anything that is missing, the cost of using the bridge though is a pain in her eye. Her friends knife is her scrabble bag and she can ask it any question and it will always give her a answer.. I don't think she really has a cost though for using the bag..