Robert Nielsen is brother to Chris Nielsen. Robert receives the manuscript of his brother's death and afterlife experiences written by a psychic who spends six months transcribing his words. Robert is unsure about the validity of the manuscript, but the very facts and intimate knowledge that the psychic includes in the manuscript speak to an element of truth. He is addressed several times throughout the novel. At the end of the story, Robert reflects that if even a little bit of Chris's story is true, that all must look at their lives very, very carefully.