The GOT Book Club

[random]

Doing quite well in finding some decent Sci-Fi recently, next one to get done is The 28th Gate by Christopher Dimond.




Blurb

Set in a far distant future, The 28th Gate is a series of tales that will appeal of fans who like space marines, space fleets, and military hard science fiction. The series consists of eight volumes spread across four seasons telling the story of Hunter’s struggles against the AAA corporation that created him. Each volume contains six episodic novelettes each with the action, character, and plotting of a complete story all crammed into an espresso-like package, while each season chronicles a different arc in the overall epic.


Bit different this one, rather than one long story that flows along, each chapter is a story in its own right. However they do form part of the overall story arc rather than being pure standalone stories. Maybe I am not explaining this very well, if you do read the book maybe you could explain it for others better than I have.
It's not the sort of thing I normally bother with as I tend to shy away from story collections as opposed to what I would call a normal book. That said, this was a very good read, plenty of action and to be honest things moved so quickly in each chapter that they could have been twice the length and it would still have been good. Hero is a bounty hunter / salvage expert, and meets plenty of interesting characters and tech on his travels.

It's not a book that you need to think about or get too deep into, just decent storytelling that will give you something to pass the time. Some of the scrapes hero finds himself in are quite unusual and there are new situations that you probably have not experienced before, you will however need to suspend belief in certain parts. Good writer, nothing to complain about with his style, the stories engage you and I just wanted each chapter to be 20 or so pages longer, they could certainly stand with some fleshing out. The chapters seemed a bit rushed in my opinion. I guess if they were previously published (?) as novelettes there was maybe a word count limit. Practically all the reviews for this book call it a fun and interesting read, got to say I agree with all this for sure.


Reviews

a fun ride! I really enjoyed this. Its fast paced, I love the characters, and there is something unique about how the story is told. A couple of laughs and some nice action in there as well. I really enjoyed the world building that was accomplished in such a short time. Its a story that could go on for awhile because there are little mysteries tucked away among the action.
I can't wait for the next instalment of the 28th Gate to come out - and I'm surprised by that. The world building is good, but doesn't stray to far from a standard futuristic dystopia. The characters are fun and evolve with the story, but do so very slowly and occasionally revert to worn-out SciFi tropes. The plot is gripping and full of well placed twists, but also suffers from a number of gaping plot holes and each chapter feels almost completely independent.
I was pleasantly surprised with this book. It wound up being a really fun science-fiction adventure book. You aren't necessarily given a complete picture of the world, but there is enough to make it interesting
Great read, just think of the six million dollar man doing fist full of dollars in outer space. Makes for a most enjoyable ride


This is free on Kindle unlimited and the next one in the series is less than a pound. There are 8 in the series and I will definitely be giving book #2 a go at some point to see if it is as good as this one

I do like this pricing model as the author has confidence that by giving away the first book you will purchase the rest in the series. He is probably correct to be fair.

For free this is a no brainer to get hold of if you like sci-fi

 

[random]

back to a bit of noir, just finished The Cut by George Pelecanos



Pelecanos wrote and was involved in the TV show The Wire, so being a big fan of that I wanted to see what one of his books was like

Blurb

Spero Lucas has a new line of work. Since he returned home to Washington, D.C. after serving in Iraq, he has been doing special investigations for a defense attorney. He's good at it, and he has carved out a niche: recovering stolen property, no questions asked. His cut is forty percent.
A high-profile crime boss who has heard of Lucas's speciality hires him to find out who has been stealing from his operation. It's the biggest job Spero has ever been offered, and he quickly gets a sense of what's going on. But before he can close in on what's been taken, he tangles with a world of men whose amorality and violence leave him reeling. Is any cut worth your family, your lover, your life?


The first thing that jumped out at me was the hero's payment of 40% that's taken straight from the Travis McGee tales by John McDonald.
Spero (hero) works for an attorney, but also takes on other jobs as a side gig. There is a drug dealing client who needs someone to recover some goods and find the thief. The attorney makes the introduction and leaves it to hero, as what is going down is illegal.
The story starts well enough then slows right down, to compound this we are given a lot of needless information about family which bring absolutely nothing to the table. I suppose is in there for character building. It wasn't until I finished the book that I realised there was no need for all that guff.
Apart from the padding this was a straightforward story, you know how it goes and how it ends. There are a couple of major plot holes and these reduced my enthusiasm for this book further still.
I am sure I will have forgotten all about one this in a few days time. I like noir/crime/thrillers but this was just boring and nothing at all stood out to raise it to a higher level.


The reviews I read before giving this a go were a mixed bag, but in the main they were positive and so I took the plunge.

Reviews
I am not sure if I should put both positive and negative reviews in these posts to give more balance, what do you think ?
at the moment I am just putting the reviews I agree with...

I think I expected something more literary, so I was disappointed by the stock characters and all the paragraphs full of boring (to me) details.
I'm either getting much smarter or George is getting more predictable. (Yeah, I'll have to go with the second theory too...) The book held few surprises for me, and I could smell it a mile away when someone was about to get a bullet in the brain.
After a couple or a few or however many dramatic novels with a bit of a crime edge George Pelecanos is returning to the more formulaic detective type form of his earlier novels
Just okay. Not a page-turner as I expected. Didn't particularly care for Spero Lucas, the investigator, or the outcome of the case. Read like a script at times. I'm a fan of The Wire-- like many people-- so this was disappointing


Kindle is £4 - paperback £7

If you like these type of books then it is cheap enough and will keep you occupied for a while, just don't expect anything out of the ordinary.
There is a book #2 in this series but I will give that a swerve for sure.

My recommendation would be that you get the first Travis McGee book by the previously mentioned John D McDonald, which is a superior tale and about the same price

 

[degsy]

back to a bit of noir, just finished The Cut by George Pelecanos

View attachment 117334

Pelecanos wrote and was involved in the TV show The Wire, so being a big fan of that I wanted to see what one of his books was like

Blurb

Spero Lucas has a new line of work. Since he returned home to Washington, D.C. after serving in Iraq, he has been doing special investigations for a defense attorney. He's good at it, and he has carved out a niche: recovering stolen property, no questions asked. His cut is forty percent.
A high-profile crime boss who has heard of Lucas's speciality hires him to find out who has been stealing from his operation. It's the biggest job Spero has ever been offered, and he quickly gets a sense of what's going on. But before he can close in on what's been taken, he tangles with a world of men whose amorality and violence leave him reeling. Is any cut worth your family, your lover, your life?


The first thing that jumped out at me was the hero's payment of 40% that's taken straight from the Travis McGee tales by John McDonald...

Consider me warned off

...My recommendation would be that you get the first Travis McGee book by the previously mentioned John D McDonald, which is a superior tale and about the same price

Sound advice to anybody.
Been there, done that, just started re-reading them for the 3rd(?) time

 

[random]

Next book is Recursion by Blake Crouch



I had previously read another book by Blake Crouch called Dark Matter which was an exceptional read and if you like thrillers with an original storyline it is one you should definitely look out for (I will do a review on that one after a re-read at some point in the future). So I was pleased to get my hands on this by the same author.

Blurb

That's what NYC cop Barry Sutton is learning, as he investigates the devastating phenomenon the media has dubbed False Memory Syndrome—a mysterious affliction that drives its victims mad with memories of a life they never lived.
As Barry searches for the truth, he comes face to face with an opponent more terrifying than any disease—a force that attacks not just our minds, but the very fabric of the past. And as its effects begin to unmake the world as we know it, only he and Helena, working together, will stand a chance at defeating it.
But how can they make a stand when reality itself is shifting and crumbling all around them?
At once a relentless page turner and an intricate science-fiction puzzlebox about time, identity, and memory.



Recursion: The book itself is in five parts each part is titled book 1, 2 etc. I am reviewing up to the end of book one, which is about 30% of the whole volume

Where to start ....... ermmmm..... ok...... ha.....I am struggling ffs..... let's give it a go......

The book has two timelines, a detective who is trying to investigate something called false memory syndrome, and an earlier timeline on how it came into existence. This earlier timeline is following the story of the scientist that invented it. These two stories are interwoven as the book progresses.
This isn't a violent book, hero isn't going round bettering everyone, well not so far.
I would class it as maybe a sci-fi psychological thriller, but probably not. The problem I have is that I cannot classify it in any sort of genre that I think it really fits into. Reminds me slightly about parts of Total Recall and parts of The Matrix. Sort of.......

Once every few years after watching a film or reading a book I sit there thinking wtf just happened, what did I just see/read.
I remember having that same feeling after watching Donnie Darko for the 1st time, well I just got that feeling again. Cannot describe it in any other way.

I want to go back and re-read book one right now, but I need to clear the brain and go back to it some other time and once I have completed the rest of this.
So far the book is awesome and I still have the remaining 4 books (sections ?) to complete. I will get round to them eventually. Sorry that my review doesn't help much, but at the moment its the best I can give you.

Reviews

I will put a few in here because I haven't provided you much to go on, so please read them.


Imagine you woke up one morning and discovered that your entire life - your job, your kids, your friends, all your experiences - wasn't real. It still feels real. You remember it vividly. But you also suddenly remember another life; your real life. And you are told that the life you remember is a result of FMS (False Memory Syndrome)
Wowzer! What a story, Blake Crouch is a king of story writers, creating fine details that draw you in and snare you as if you're really there.
Fantastic characters, thrilling, complex plot line and compelling story that leaves you racing to the end and then sorry that you did because then it's all over!
Besides all that amazingness Mr Crouch explores fascinating science and physics and leaves you questioning and thoughtful about our place in the Universe, and about the passage of time itself, in fact does time even exist?
I’m suffering from brain cells bleeding and explosion of my last standing grey cells, what the hell I just read and who am I ?
The first half sets up the rest of the book and it is crucial to read carefully and try to understand the very simple quantum physics necessary to travel around in time. LOL
Blake Crouch's latest science fiction thriller is a complex mind messing of a thought provoking read. It is intense, time shifting and asks profound questions of identity, memory, and what it is that makes us human. Just be prepared to find yourself buffeted all over the place.
What in the actual heck just happened?!
This was some crazy s--t.
me: wtf…..
me: [at dinner] wtf…
me: [trying to sleep] wtf….
me: [in the bathroom] wtf….
me: [breathing] WTF



Lol, yeah, no doubt about it, all these reviewers think the same as me about this book.

99p for the kindle, £7 for the paperback. No brainer.

You want to question everything you think you know, then spend your money on this.

 

[Philw]

Next book is Recursion by Blake Crouch

View attachment 117452

I had previously read another book by Blake Crouch called Dark Matter which was an exceptional read and if you like thrillers with an original storyline it is one you should definitely look out for (I will do a review on that one after a re-read at some point in the future). So I was pleased to get my hands on this by the same author.

Blurb

That's what NYC cop Barry Sutton is learning, as he investigates the devastating phenomenon the media has dubbed False Memory Syndrome—a mysterious affliction that drives its victims mad with memories of a life they never lived.
As Barry searches for the truth, he comes face to face with an opponent more terrifying than any disease—a force that attacks not just our minds, but the very fabric of the past. And as its effects begin to unmake the world as we know it, only he and Helena, working together, will stand a chance at defeating it.
But how can they make a stand when reality itself is shifting and crumbling all around them?
At once a relentless page turner and an intricate science-fiction puzzlebox about time, identity, and memory.



Recursion: The book itself is in five parts each part is titled book 1, 2 etc. I am reviewing up to the end of book one, which is about 30% of the whole volume

Where to start ....... ermmmm..... ok...... ha.....I am struggling ffs..... let's give it a go......

The book has two timelines, a detective who is trying to investigate something called false memory syndrome, and an earlier timeline on how it came into existence. This earlier timeline is following the story of the scientist that invented it. These two stories are interwoven as the book progresses.
This isn't a violent book, hero isn't going round bettering everyone, well not so far.
I would class it as maybe a sci-fi psychological thriller, but probably not. The problem I have is that I cannot classify it in any sort of genre that I think it really fits into. Reminds me slightly about parts of Total Recall and parts of The Matrix. Sort of.......

Once every few years after watching a film or reading a book I sit there thinking wtf just happened, what did I just see/read.
I remember having that same feeling after watching Donnie Darko for the 1st time, well I just got that feeling again. Cannot describe it in any other way.

I want to go back and re-read book one right now, but I need to clear the brain and go back to it some other time and once I have completed the rest of this.
So far the book is awesome and I still have the remaining 4 books (sections ?) to complete. I will get round to them eventually. Sorry that my review doesn't help much, but at the moment its the best I can give you.

Reviews

I will put a few in here because I haven't provided you much to go on, so please read them.


Imagine you woke up one morning and discovered that your entire life - your job, your kids, your friends, all your experiences - wasn't real. It still feels real. You remember it vividly. But you also suddenly remember another life; your real life. And you are told that the life you remember is a result of FMS (False Memory Syndrome)
Wowzer! What a story, Blake Crouch is a king of story writers, creating fine details that draw you in and snare you as if you're really there.
Fantastic characters, thrilling, complex plot line and compelling story that leaves you racing to the end and then sorry that you did because then it's all over!
Besides all that amazingness Mr Crouch explores fascinating science and physics and leaves you questioning and thoughtful about our place in the Universe, and about the passage of time itself, in fact does time even exist?
I’m suffering from brain cells bleeding and explosion of my last standing grey cells, what the hell I just read and who am I ?
The first half sets up the rest of the book and it is crucial to read carefully and try to understand the very simple quantum physics necessary to travel around in time. LOL
Blake Crouch's latest science fiction thriller is a complex mind messing of a thought provoking read. It is intense, time shifting and asks profound questions of identity, memory, and what it is that makes us human. Just be prepared to find yourself buffeted all over the place.
What in the actual heck just happened?!
This was some crazy s--t.
me: wtf…..
me: [at dinner] wtf…
me: [trying to sleep] wtf….
me: [in the bathroom] wtf….
me: [breathing] WTF



Lol, yeah, no doubt about it, all these reviewers think the same as me about this book.

99p for the kindle, £7 for the paperback. No brainer.

You want to question everything you think you know, then spend your money on this.

Bought

 

[random]

Bought

Please post a review once you have read it mate, I really struggled to put an accurate one together for this book

 

[Philw]

Please post a review once you have read it mate, I really struggled to put an accurate one together for this book

Haha, I will try, but my reading list is long!! Just started Terry Pratchett's last Discworld book, so maybe after that

 

[random]

After the last book I decided to go back to a more straightforward read, so have just finished One Way by SJ Morden



Blurb

Frank Kittridge is serving life for murdering his son's drug dealer, so when he's offered a deal by Xenosystems Operations - the corporation that owns the prison - he takes it.
He's been selected to help build the first permanent base on Mars. Unfortunately, his crewmates are just as guilty of their crimes as he is.
As the convicts set to work on the frozen wastes of Mars, the accidents multiply.
Until Frank begins to suspect they might not be accidents at all . . .

I was expecting something to pass the time without getting too involved in using my brain and imagination, unfortunately, this was not the case.
The first 20% (ish) of the book is providing the backstory and introducing the main characters that will be going to Mars to set up a base station. Interspersed with the story are excerpts of memos and conversations from the bosses showing how they want to cut corners to make more profit. As the story progresses you can see the impact these money-saving schemes have on the mission.
There are the occasional descriptions of claustrophobia as well as the constant fear that any small accident will result in death and destruction. That and there might be a killer amongst the crew......
Some parts of the story were obvious to me, but that aside, the story dragged me in.

I actually looked at some images of Mars halfway through reading the book, to get a better idea of the habitat the characters constructed.




Reviews

The book is described as sci-fi meets murder mystery. Personally, I think it's just sci-fi. The other side of the story comes quite late in the day and you will be expecting it. It is also (to my mind) quite obvious what is happening so not really a mystery to the reader.
Morden’s debut has some serious vibes that call The Martian to mind, complete with having to make long treks across Mars to gather resources that they need to survive, with some murder mystery and corporate conspiracy is thrown into the mix for good measure.
It’s “The Martian” meets “And Then There Were None” in this sci-fi thriller that hits a number of right notes but not quite enough of them to merit being compared to either of those two novels.
I loved The Martian, but I loved One Way even more. The author knows a lot about what could be done to live on Mars and what could go wrong. And the crime novel inside this SF is intriguing too
Though certain big events and twists might be predictable for readers familiar with the genres, the writing itself and the reveals of said twists make for an enjoyable and engaging read.
There have been a lot of novels set on Mars in recent years, some good, some bad - One Way is one of the good ones.


This is #1 in a two book series, but it can be left at the conclusion of this one, it does not end on a cliffhanger.

£4 for ebook and £6 for paperback

There are a lot worse books out there for the money, if this piques your interest at all then I would recommend giving it a go. For about a fiver I think its very good value indeed.

 

[random]

And just completed Army of One by Alistair Brown



Blurb

Joe Beck is a private eye, but not the typical type. He's unlicensed. His office is his cell phone. The gun he carries is unregistered, its serial number is filed off, and his methods are out with the law. At a huge 6'5" tall with a hulking 275lb frame packed with rock-solid muscle, he's big, he's bad and he's about as hard as they come - and he's never been one to shy away from a fight.
A model cop sent down for a crime he didn't commit, he's out of jail and he's gone renegade. He's become America's Unlicensed Private Detective - a man who drifts around, roaming the length and breadth of America righting wrongs and reaping riches whilst serving up his own hard brand of vigilante justice.

Decent story, nothing wrong with the pacing or the writing at all. The only issue is that this is another Jack Reacher book in all but name. Substitute Joe for Jack and you are sorted.
That said, it's not complete plagiarism, I think this book is a lot more violent and graphic than a Lee Child book. The hero finds himself in some very dangerous situations but somehow manages to escape by brutally finishing off those that want to do him harm. There are situations in which the danger is a little too exaggerated in my opinion.
And that is the general theme throughout this tale, some investigative work coupled with a lot of violence. Storytelling not up to the highest of standards, but as a beginning author, he has done a more than decent job writing this.

Reviews

A fantastic paced thriller. Great action. Great characters and a great story!
A bit like a Jack Reacher except the main character is more sophisticated. Well worth reading.
A whole lot like Lee Child's Jack Reacher. Terrific characters, good story and a great private detective as a main character. A real easy, enjoyable read.
As an older person I have to use a benchmark to gauge good or bad in a book... I use Jack Reacher as mine. So, compared to Lee Childs man, this guy is harder, more ruthless, less depth and thick.
A bit predictable. A bit of a rip off of Jack Reacher but enjoyable none the less. Maverick ex cop wrongly convicted single handed takes down organised crime gang and gets the girl.
Okay it's a Reacher rip off but no ones cares as long as it grips you.


So there you have it, everyone seems to think the same. If you like the Jack Reacher stories then you will enjoy this one providing you can mentally separate the two.

free on Kindle unlimited or £2 to purchase.

Fans of the genre should give it a go, easy decision to make. There are also another couple of books in the series if you liked this one.

 

[random]

finished The Fool's Run by John Sandford



Blurb

Kidd is a computer whiz, artist, and professional criminal. LuEllen is his lover, and his favorite partner in crime. Their playing field in on the cutting edge of high-tech corporate warfare. This time they've been hired by a defense industry corporation to destroy its business rival through computer sabotage. If Kidd and LuEllen can pull it off, they'll reap millions. It's the sting of a lifetime. One false move and it's a lifetime sentence.


I like Sandford as a writer and the Lucas Davenport series he wrote is something you should look out for. As this appeared to be the start of another series from him I wanted to give it a go.
The first thing to bear in mind is that it was written in 1989 so you have to adjust your knowledge of technology today back to what it was like then. I do not normally have a problem with books set in older times, so that was not a big concern to me when I started the book. That said, if I was reading it when it was first published then I might be a bit more enthusiastic about this book. When it was written I suspect it was a techno-thriller that captivated readers that wanted to learn more about the technology available in those days.
There wasn't anything particularly bad about the writing style, but the author has certainly done a lot better. I just had this feeling as I was reading it that he was going through the motions. The characters did nothing for me, and I should really have bailed out at the 30% mark rather than waste my time finishing the book. I should have liked it more than I did, thriller, tech, con game, espionage, ticks all the boxes for me apart from the one that really mattered. Was it any good ? It looks like this was one of his first books so that might explain why his later books are a vast improvement on this.

Reviews

Not a bad story, well written but not a "sitting on the edge of my seat" like I do with most other Sanford books
This book was so boring, I had a hard time finishing it.
I prefer Davenport over Kidd
This story's main problem is that it is significantly outdated IT wise which detracts from the thrust of the whole thing. Whilst it is an easy 'plane' read and has some of Mr. Sandford's trademark elements, in the end, it is not a satisfying experience as old hat technology merely underpins a flimsy story that suffers from both predictability, and at some points, extreme stretches of incredulity!
Stick with the Prey Series which are in a different league from this unremarkable rendition of a very old theme saddled with even older IT elements.


Strangely enough, these reviews and my own view on the book were in the minority, most reviews were complimenting both the writing and the story. If you are thinking of getting this then I would suggest you look at as many reviews as possible before the purchase. Even better have a look at the authors Prey' series, a big step up from this.

At £6 for the kindle version & £16 for a paperback, it is a whole lot of money for what I think is a below-average book

 

[verreauxi]

finished The Fool's Run by John Sandford

View attachment 117842

Blurb

Kidd is a computer whiz, artist, and professional criminal. LuEllen is his lover, and his favorite partner in crime. Their playing field in on the cutting edge of high-tech corporate warfare. This time they've been hired by a defense industry corporation to destroy its business rival through computer sabotage. If Kidd and LuEllen can pull it off, they'll reap millions. It's the sting of a lifetime. One false move and it's a lifetime sentence.


I like Sandford as a writer and the Lucas Davenport series he wrote is something you should look out for. As this appeared to be the start of another series from him I wanted to give it a go.
The first thing to bear in mind is that it was written in 1989 so you have to adjust your knowledge of technology today back to what it was like then. I do not normally have a problem with books set in older times, so that was not a big concern to me when I started the book. That said, if I was reading it when it was first published then I might be a bit more enthusiastic about this book. When it was written I suspect it was a techno-thriller that captivated readers that wanted to learn more about the technology available in those days.
There wasn't anything particularly bad about the writing style, but the author has certainly done a lot better. I just had this feeling as I was reading it that he was going through the motions. The characters did nothing for me, and I should really have bailed out at the 30% mark rather than waste my time finishing the book. I should have liked it more than I did, thriller, tech, con game, espionage, ticks all the boxes for me apart from the one that really mattered. Was it any good ? It looks like this was one of his first books so that might explain why his later books are a vast improvement on this.

Reviews

Not a bad story, well written but not a "sitting on the edge of my seat" like I do with most other Sanford books
This book was so boring, I had a hard time finishing it.
I prefer Davenport over Kidd
This story's main problem is that it is significantly outdated IT wise which detracts from the thrust of the whole thing. Whilst it is an easy 'plane' read and has some of Mr. Sandford's trademark elements, in the end, it is not a satisfying experience as old hat technology merely underpins a flimsy story that suffers from both predictability, and at some points, extreme stretches of incredulity!
Stick with the Prey Series which are in a different league from this unremarkable rendition of a very old theme saddled with even older IT elements.


Strangely enough, these reviews and my own view on the book were in the minority, most reviews were complimenting both the writing and the story. If you are thinking of getting this then I would suggest you look at as many reviews as possible before the purchase. Even better have a look at the authors Prey' series, a big step up from this.

At £6 for the kindle version & £16 for a paperback, it is a whole lot of money for what I think is a below-average book

I many of the Sanford "Prey" series stuff back in college. Good easy reads. Haven't read one in about 20 years or so, but always thought they were decent page-turners.

 

[verreauxi]

Next book is Recursion by Blake Crouch

View attachment 117452

I had previously read another book by Blake Crouch called Dark Matter which was an exceptional read and if you like thrillers with an original storyline it is one you should definitely look out for (I will do a review on that one after a re-read at some point in the future). So I was pleased to get my hands on this by the same author.

Blurb

That's what NYC cop Barry Sutton is learning, as he investigates the devastating phenomenon the media has dubbed False Memory Syndrome—a mysterious affliction that drives its victims mad with memories of a life they never lived.
As Barry searches for the truth, he comes face to face with an opponent more terrifying than any disease—a force that attacks not just our minds, but the very fabric of the past. And as its effects begin to unmake the world as we know it, only he and Helena, working together, will stand a chance at defeating it.
But how can they make a stand when reality itself is shifting and crumbling all around them?
At once a relentless page turner and an intricate science-fiction puzzlebox about time, identity, and memory.



Recursion: The book itself is in five parts each part is titled book 1, 2 etc. I am reviewing up to the end of book one, which is about 30% of the whole volume

Where to start ....... ermmmm..... ok...... ha.....I am struggling ffs..... let's give it a go......

The book has two timelines, a detective who is trying to investigate something called false memory syndrome, and an earlier timeline on how it came into existence. This earlier timeline is following the story of the scientist that invented it. These two stories are interwoven as the book progresses.
This isn't a violent book, hero isn't going round bettering everyone, well not so far.
I would class it as maybe a sci-fi psychological thriller, but probably not. The problem I have is that I cannot classify it in any sort of genre that I think it really fits into. Reminds me slightly about parts of Total Recall and parts of The Matrix. Sort of.......

Once every few years after watching a film or reading a book I sit there thinking wtf just happened, what did I just see/read.
I remember having that same feeling after watching Donnie Darko for the 1st time, well I just got that feeling again. Cannot describe it in any other way.

I want to go back and re-read book one right now, but I need to clear the brain and go back to it some other time and once I have completed the rest of this.
So far the book is awesome and I still have the remaining 4 books (sections ?) to complete. I will get round to them eventually. Sorry that my review doesn't help much, but at the moment its the best I can give you.

Reviews

I will put a few in here because I haven't provided you much to go on, so please read them.


Imagine you woke up one morning and discovered that your entire life - your job, your kids, your friends, all your experiences - wasn't real. It still feels real. You remember it vividly. But you also suddenly remember another life; your real life. And you are told that the life you remember is a result of FMS (False Memory Syndrome)
Wowzer! What a story, Blake Crouch is a king of story writers, creating fine details that draw you in and snare you as if you're really there.
Fantastic characters, thrilling, complex plot line and compelling story that leaves you racing to the end and then sorry that you did because then it's all over!
Besides all that amazingness Mr Crouch explores fascinating science and physics and leaves you questioning and thoughtful about our place in the Universe, and about the passage of time itself, in fact does time even exist?
I’m suffering from brain cells bleeding and explosion of my last standing grey cells, what the hell I just read and who am I ?
The first half sets up the rest of the book and it is crucial to read carefully and try to understand the very simple quantum physics necessary to travel around in time. LOL
Blake Crouch's latest science fiction thriller is a complex mind messing of a thought provoking read. It is intense, time shifting and asks profound questions of identity, memory, and what it is that makes us human. Just be prepared to find yourself buffeted all over the place.
What in the actual heck just happened?!
This was some crazy s--t.
me: wtf…..
me: [at dinner] wtf…
me: [trying to sleep] wtf….
me: [in the bathroom] wtf….
me: [breathing] WTF



Lol, yeah, no doubt about it, all these reviewers think the same as me about this book.

99p for the kindle, £7 for the paperback. No brainer.

You want to question everything you think you know, then spend your money on this.

The Kindle version here in the USA costs 13$

 

[Old Blue 2]

Excellent series on the Battle of Britain. Have every volume.

 

[random]

Still attacking thrillers at the moment, this time it is The Protector by Mike Lunnon-Wood



Blurb

Titus Quayle was the best MI6 ever had – an operative of exceptional and lethal ability. But they burned him, abandoned him, and left him for dead.
Holly Morton is the daughter of the spymaster who first recognized Quayle’s potential and the key to unlocking a global conspiracy her father died trying to bring down.
To uncover the truth, Quayle must keep her safe from the threat of a powerful enemy in a globe-trotting race against time.
Nowhere is safe.


The story starts off slow enough, with plenty of character building and a back story. Our retired hero is living abroad with the daughter of his deceased mentor. Some investigation is occurring back at the HQ when those involved start getting aced in quick order. The attention then turns to the hero, and he is thrust into a situation where both he and the daughter are caught in the cross-hairs. And as with similar tales, they do not know who to trust or why they are marked.
If the story continued at the pace it was during the first 35-40% it would have been a very good book indeed. Unfortunately, the author decided to turn it from Tinker Tailor (Alec Guinness) into a steroid-induced cross between Bourne, Bond, and Poirot. As the action progresses it gets more incredulous and simply spoiled what could have been an outstanding book. There was nothing wrong with the pace or the writing, just the invincibility of the hero in the second half of the tale.
Upon looking at more reviews, from what I can gather this was one of his early works but was published 12 years after the author's death. I think it might have been completed by a different writer and if that is the case then I can pretty much guess at the point the new guy took over.

Reviews

First-class thriller bringing a recovering British secret agent back into the game of political skullduggery across the world
A great read and very hard to put down. The book was really well written and involved many interesting characters. It was an intelligent and thought-provoking story from start to finish
Disjointed and jumps around a lot but stuck with it and it was reasonable but I would not read again
A little formulaic but totally entertaining and worth the time
Thoroughly enjoyable. Believable plot. Great characters and a satisfying ending.
Smashing read


Reviewers disagree with me it seems !


Free on kindle unlimited and £12 for the paperback.

It's definately not worth the £12.

If you like thrillers then it will kill some time, but nothing exceptional about this at all imo.

 

[Efcjake]

I've started The Wheel of Time series. Most of the way through the first book and it has completely sucked me in. I am looking forward to the Amazon series coming soon.