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Mira Chambers #2
Hindsight
A terrific new contemporary fantasy series with a crime twist, where layers of history become visible ... military secrets, human mutation and the nature of madness.
'a rare and special tale!' AUREALIS XPRESS on DIAMOND EYES, winner of the Norma K Hemming Award 2011
Mira Chambers has an infallible gift for solving mysteries ... but using it comes with a price.Determined to regain her independence after ten years in orphanages and asylums, Mira leaps at the chance to help her friend, Bennet Chiron, an enigmatic ex-con who risked his life to save hers. Mira plans to investigate the murder-robbery that put him behind bars for six years in the hope of clearing his name. But people are turning up dead under bizarre circumstances, and Mira discovers that she's being hunted by two old adversaries.
Layers of secrets are about to be ripped apart ... is Mira the only one with a steep price to pay?
'a rare and special tale!' AUREALIS XPRESS on DIAMOND EYES, winner of the Norma K Hemming Award 2011
Mira Chambers has an infallible gift for solving mysteries ... but using it comes with a price.Determined to regain her independence after ten years in orphanages and asylums, Mira leaps at the chance to help her friend, Bennet Chiron, an enigmatic ex-con who risked his life to save hers. Mira plans to investigate the murder-robbery that put him behind bars for six years in the hope of clearing his name. But people are turning up dead under bizarre circumstances, and Mira discovers that she's being hunted by two old adversaries.
Layers of secrets are about to be ripped apart ... is Mira the only one with a steep price to pay?
544 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2011
1 person is currently reading
431 people want to read
About the author
A.A. Bell
3 books159 followersWINNER of the Prestigious 2011 Norma K Hemming Award for Excellence in Science Fiction and Fantasy Themes (of race, gender, class, sexuality, disability etc) for DIAMOND EYES.
FIRST Writer to Win the Award TWICE! (Second time for Hindsight, in 2012)
An earlier draft of DIAMOND EYES also won HIGHLY COMMENDED in the 2009 FAW Jim Hamilton Awards for an unpublished manuscript in any genre.
FIRST Writer to Win the Award TWICE! (Second time for Hindsight, in 2012)
An earlier draft of DIAMOND EYES also won HIGHLY COMMENDED in the 2009 FAW Jim Hamilton Awards for an unpublished manuscript in any genre.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 8, 2011
I love books that really beat up the heroes, and wow, this book really puts them through their paces. I'm so glad my partner managed to get an advanced review copy... :)
January 19, 2013
Mira Chambers has the ability to see the past. While more of a curse than a gift, this robs her of seeing the present day, which in part, resulted in her incapacitation at an asylum. Sprouting off the fantastical doesn’t generally warrant a rationale minded person’s sympathy or attention. However, in DIAMOND EYES, a couple of scientists saw potential as did the military and when Mira was analysed further, her worth was realised and life compromised.
HINDSIGHT picks up right where DIAMOND EYES left off, so reading the preceding book is a must to understand what’s going on in HINDSIGHT. It’s a vasty different novel from DIAMOND EYES in that Mira’s confidence is well on the way to being fully fledged (certainty in the later stages of HINDSIGHT) and the military component is paramount to the plot, characterisation of Mira, Ben, Gabby and Lockman (as the main characters), and accounts for the majority of the action. For Mira – being perceived as a military weapon is a change from being perceived as a crazy woman who needs to be constantly medicated.
I enjoyed the pairing of Mira and Lockman – he’s almost and anti-Ben type. Everything that Ben’s not yet all that Mira wants in a way. It’s their continued relationship which adds further drama to scenes where life and death plays are made on behalf of either character.
To define HINDSIGHT into a single genre is a difficult thing. While there are elements of the fantastical, thriller, crime, and romance the story itself doesn’t really conform to a single label. The varying degrees of fiction that comprise this tale ensure it maintains a freshness throughout despite some over-the-top and perhaps unnecessary dialogue from Mira (a minor gripe). I did find that HINDSIGHT took a little while to get moving – after 100 or so pages I was left scratching my head as to where author A.A. Bell was taking Mira and Ben – before long my question was answered and soon enough all core characters experience violence up close and personal.
Mira is a unique character and she continues to grow on me the more I read of her. In DIAMOND EYES we saw her as a hopelessly misunderstood young women begging for someone to believe her. In HINDSIGHT she’s grown in confidence, responsibility and has an inner strength akin to a Marine (a slight exaggeration but one that’s justified imo – read the book you’ll know what I mean). I look forward to reading more of her story in Leopard Dreaming, the next book in the series.
HINDSIGHT picks up right where DIAMOND EYES left off, so reading the preceding book is a must to understand what’s going on in HINDSIGHT. It’s a vasty different novel from DIAMOND EYES in that Mira’s confidence is well on the way to being fully fledged (certainty in the later stages of HINDSIGHT) and the military component is paramount to the plot, characterisation of Mira, Ben, Gabby and Lockman (as the main characters), and accounts for the majority of the action. For Mira – being perceived as a military weapon is a change from being perceived as a crazy woman who needs to be constantly medicated.
I enjoyed the pairing of Mira and Lockman – he’s almost and anti-Ben type. Everything that Ben’s not yet all that Mira wants in a way. It’s their continued relationship which adds further drama to scenes where life and death plays are made on behalf of either character.
To define HINDSIGHT into a single genre is a difficult thing. While there are elements of the fantastical, thriller, crime, and romance the story itself doesn’t really conform to a single label. The varying degrees of fiction that comprise this tale ensure it maintains a freshness throughout despite some over-the-top and perhaps unnecessary dialogue from Mira (a minor gripe). I did find that HINDSIGHT took a little while to get moving – after 100 or so pages I was left scratching my head as to where author A.A. Bell was taking Mira and Ben – before long my question was answered and soon enough all core characters experience violence up close and personal.
Mira is a unique character and she continues to grow on me the more I read of her. In DIAMOND EYES we saw her as a hopelessly misunderstood young women begging for someone to believe her. In HINDSIGHT she’s grown in confidence, responsibility and has an inner strength akin to a Marine (a slight exaggeration but one that’s justified imo – read the book you’ll know what I mean). I look forward to reading more of her story in Leopard Dreaming, the next book in the series.
May 17, 2019
Hindsight by A.A. Bell
I read Diamond Eyes- the first of the trilogy of this story and fell in love with Mira and all her quirky ways. So naturally its inevitable that I read Hindsight.
The intensity of this novel just blew me away. Granted I'm not one to read a whole lot of suspense thrillers. I've enjoyed such greats as Six Days of the Condor by James Grady. Shimbumi by Trevanian and many but not all of Ludlum's Jason Bourne novels.
I'm not a great fan of novels that use violence as a sort of jar mechanism to pull people out of their comfort zone although it's really difficult to write good thrillers without that element. What I appreciate is the artist who paints the characters successfully around that element.
You could say that this series is Science Fiction but I think that's a very small portion of the mix of genre's we have here. Mira's story reads almost like paranormal romance although the science is well woven into the story to give it less of the mystical feel. Her story is also one intense ride into suspense and mystery.
Now after admitting that I'm not the expert on suspense and thrillers I have to say that A.A. Bell does a magnificent job of using the violence in the story to weave in the hints for the various motivations of many of the characters. For Mira everyone is suspect in their motives and allegiances and I felt that even in the grisly elements portrayed that there were insights that logically lead up to each successive revelation as the story built to its climax.
Taking up from Diamond Eyes Mira Chambers is still institutionalized at Serenity and living with the memories that keep reminding her of her part in Ben's (Bennet Chiron) suffering. Ben is recuperating and attempting to gain freedom for Mira by becoming her guardian. The catch is that his past life and prison time make that nearly impossible. Through some tenuous arraignment Ben seems to achieve that with the help of the institutions matron Madonna Sanchez.
The story opens with a murder one that Mira comes across while jogging- one that she can't easily share with anyone because it happened days ago because Mira sees things that are in the past because of her Diamond Eyes that are sensitive to slow light.
I must confess that when I picked up Diamond Eyes I was thinking oh great a suspense thriller mystery with a blind sleuth that can see into the past. She has a side-kick Ben who has saved her from the institute and now works with her to solve cases.
That's not what I got- but I'm not disappointed; I really do love these books the way they are.
Mira is about to be thrust back into the world of intrigue this time dredging up Ben's past and the reason he went to prison. She's going to have to undergo the changes that will occur while she detoxes from the chemicals that the institute has used to control her; and, she has to deal with her feeling for Ben and her fear that she will cause him harm again. She'll also have to deal with her nemesis Colonel Kitching who wants to have her Diamond Eyes and the ever invasive General Garland who also would like to use Mira's talent and her eyes. Not to mention her-Moriarty like rival- the elderly Fredarick 'Leopard' who can hear voices from the future and is also a client at Serenity who is in love with Madonna Sanchez and views Mira's existence as a threat to Madonna. Fredarick is also related to Colonel Kitching.
This doesn't even cover having to deal with Ben's overbearing mother Mel and a few ex-girlfriends. Then add in an over protective lance corporal Lockman who seems to be anything from a bodyguard to a black ops both frightening and somehow appealing to Mira and you have an extra blend to an already troubled romance.
Mira herself is an intriguing character who has spent over 10 years in an institution and has to deal with assimilating a lot of technical advances while she herself is a biological wonder that sometimes surpasses all of that development.
There are many gems of narrative that come out of this and her perception of her talent.
[quote]`I was thinking about time,' she confessed, `... about how pointless it is trying to fight it or change to suit it, because we're already caught up in it, like a tide, and we're just the fish. Close your eyes and you might even feel it, the breeze traveling through time like a current, taking our scents and memories with it.'[/quote]
Bell, A A (2011-06-01). Hindsight (Kindle Locations 1714-1717). HarperCollins Publishers. Kindle Edition.
And a lot of humor such as the time Mel fixes Ben and Mira a romantic dinner that seems a bit over spiced.
[quote]At least she still had fond memories of the meal before she'd taken her first bite; so romantic on the beachside patio.[/quote]
Bell, A A (2011-06-01). Hindsight (Kindle Locations 2397-2398). HarperCollins Publishers. Kindle Edition.
This story has several onion like layers to the plot. There are all sorts of twists and turns that once it gets going roll the story down a long and almost endless hill of action, suspense and gore that makes this 'not for the faint of heart'; though I was surprised that it never left that bad taste that always begs the question "why is that even there?"
Everything is well placed and timed in this story and even if the reader doesn't feel they need a score card to keep track of all the threads; its a marvel to watch A.A. Bell unfold all of them.
I recommend this to any fans of suspense and mystery -most Science fiction lovers should find something to take away and even Para normal Romance lovers will find a spot for Mira and her Diamond Eyes.
Definitely read Diamond Eyes before Hindsight if you haven't because after you do you'll have to buy the rest of the trilogy to finish the rest of Mira's story. Each book gets better.
The next book is Leopard Dreaming and I've already put it in my kindle.
J.L. Dobias
I read Diamond Eyes- the first of the trilogy of this story and fell in love with Mira and all her quirky ways. So naturally its inevitable that I read Hindsight.
The intensity of this novel just blew me away. Granted I'm not one to read a whole lot of suspense thrillers. I've enjoyed such greats as Six Days of the Condor by James Grady. Shimbumi by Trevanian and many but not all of Ludlum's Jason Bourne novels.
I'm not a great fan of novels that use violence as a sort of jar mechanism to pull people out of their comfort zone although it's really difficult to write good thrillers without that element. What I appreciate is the artist who paints the characters successfully around that element.
You could say that this series is Science Fiction but I think that's a very small portion of the mix of genre's we have here. Mira's story reads almost like paranormal romance although the science is well woven into the story to give it less of the mystical feel. Her story is also one intense ride into suspense and mystery.
Now after admitting that I'm not the expert on suspense and thrillers I have to say that A.A. Bell does a magnificent job of using the violence in the story to weave in the hints for the various motivations of many of the characters. For Mira everyone is suspect in their motives and allegiances and I felt that even in the grisly elements portrayed that there were insights that logically lead up to each successive revelation as the story built to its climax.
Taking up from Diamond Eyes Mira Chambers is still institutionalized at Serenity and living with the memories that keep reminding her of her part in Ben's (Bennet Chiron) suffering. Ben is recuperating and attempting to gain freedom for Mira by becoming her guardian. The catch is that his past life and prison time make that nearly impossible. Through some tenuous arraignment Ben seems to achieve that with the help of the institutions matron Madonna Sanchez.
The story opens with a murder one that Mira comes across while jogging- one that she can't easily share with anyone because it happened days ago because Mira sees things that are in the past because of her Diamond Eyes that are sensitive to slow light.
I must confess that when I picked up Diamond Eyes I was thinking oh great a suspense thriller mystery with a blind sleuth that can see into the past. She has a side-kick Ben who has saved her from the institute and now works with her to solve cases.
That's not what I got- but I'm not disappointed; I really do love these books the way they are.
Mira is about to be thrust back into the world of intrigue this time dredging up Ben's past and the reason he went to prison. She's going to have to undergo the changes that will occur while she detoxes from the chemicals that the institute has used to control her; and, she has to deal with her feeling for Ben and her fear that she will cause him harm again. She'll also have to deal with her nemesis Colonel Kitching who wants to have her Diamond Eyes and the ever invasive General Garland who also would like to use Mira's talent and her eyes. Not to mention her-Moriarty like rival- the elderly Fredarick 'Leopard' who can hear voices from the future and is also a client at Serenity who is in love with Madonna Sanchez and views Mira's existence as a threat to Madonna. Fredarick is also related to Colonel Kitching.
This doesn't even cover having to deal with Ben's overbearing mother Mel and a few ex-girlfriends. Then add in an over protective lance corporal Lockman who seems to be anything from a bodyguard to a black ops both frightening and somehow appealing to Mira and you have an extra blend to an already troubled romance.
Mira herself is an intriguing character who has spent over 10 years in an institution and has to deal with assimilating a lot of technical advances while she herself is a biological wonder that sometimes surpasses all of that development.
There are many gems of narrative that come out of this and her perception of her talent.
[quote]`I was thinking about time,' she confessed, `... about how pointless it is trying to fight it or change to suit it, because we're already caught up in it, like a tide, and we're just the fish. Close your eyes and you might even feel it, the breeze traveling through time like a current, taking our scents and memories with it.'[/quote]
Bell, A A (2011-06-01). Hindsight (Kindle Locations 1714-1717). HarperCollins Publishers. Kindle Edition.
And a lot of humor such as the time Mel fixes Ben and Mira a romantic dinner that seems a bit over spiced.
[quote]At least she still had fond memories of the meal before she'd taken her first bite; so romantic on the beachside patio.[/quote]
Bell, A A (2011-06-01). Hindsight (Kindle Locations 2397-2398). HarperCollins Publishers. Kindle Edition.
This story has several onion like layers to the plot. There are all sorts of twists and turns that once it gets going roll the story down a long and almost endless hill of action, suspense and gore that makes this 'not for the faint of heart'; though I was surprised that it never left that bad taste that always begs the question "why is that even there?"
Everything is well placed and timed in this story and even if the reader doesn't feel they need a score card to keep track of all the threads; its a marvel to watch A.A. Bell unfold all of them.
I recommend this to any fans of suspense and mystery -most Science fiction lovers should find something to take away and even Para normal Romance lovers will find a spot for Mira and her Diamond Eyes.
Definitely read Diamond Eyes before Hindsight if you haven't because after you do you'll have to buy the rest of the trilogy to finish the rest of Mira's story. Each book gets better.
The next book is Leopard Dreaming and I've already put it in my kindle.
J.L. Dobias
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May 8, 2011Please disregard this review. I'm biased, but the system was giving me trouble and wouldn't let me upload the book without entering one.
November 22, 2012
It was different but in a good way
May 14, 2017
The second book in the series didn't quite grip me as much as the first. The first one was such a thrill to read and uncovered so many interesting new ideas, but this one relies heavily on the dynamics of Mira's relationships. The first book had me falling for Ben but this novel makes me hate him a little bit. He's an absolute nuisance and it's easy to shift attention and support to Adam. Mira's still a lot of fun, though.
I enjoyed reading it enough to buy the third book in the series, but not enough that I've actually read that third book in the 5ish years I've had it. I'd like to soon, but I've forgotten enough that I'll probably be lost without a re-read first.
I enjoyed reading it enough to buy the third book in the series, but not enough that I've actually read that third book in the 5ish years I've had it. I'd like to soon, but I've forgotten enough that I'll probably be lost without a re-read first.
September 28, 2022
I loved this book even more than the last! I feel even worse for Mira now than I did before though. I was hoping she and Ben would get together but all he seemed to keep doing was push her away and lie to her and (unintentionally?) treat her like she can't take care of herself at all. He refused to admit to her how he really feels and instead kept his distance not even realizing how much she wanted him to do the opposite. He is the most frustrating character for me. Then he goes and gets posessive and jealous when Lockman starts to show an interest in her. Seriously? If you don't want to actually try to build a relationship with her as more than just friends you need to let her know so she stops longing for more from you and back the eff off. You can't have it both ways! Love her or let her go! Friggin' asshat. Besides, I think Lockman would be much better for Mira! But she is still longing for Ben even after he rejects her. He shouldn't have been surprised that she would fall for someone else. He refused to persue any kind of a romantic relationship with her thinking it would be better for the both of them when all it did was hurt them and seperate them. Then he has the audacity to ignore her and no longer want anything to do with her because he saw Mira and Lockman kissing. Yes I know he put his life on the line and got beaten half to death only to witness that after everything he went through to protect her but... Bro. You refused to step up so let her go so she can be happy with a man who doesn't treat her like she's broken. Mira+Adam forever!!
Okay I'm done ranting. For now... I really hope Mira and Lockman actually get together in the next book. They'd be the perfect couple! Agh. I totally love these books. <3
Okay I'm done ranting. For now... I really hope Mira and Lockman actually get together in the next book. They'd be the perfect couple! Agh. I totally love these books. <3
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2016
This is my first book reviewed as part of the Australian Women Writer's Challenge for 2014. I've reviewed this over at my blog The Conversationalist: Hindsight by A.A. Bell (Book 2 in the Mira Chambers series).
October 4, 2011
I had a hard time getting into the book but I ended up liking it :)
October 14, 2011
Not as good as the first book but still very readable.
August 9, 2014
a lot of descriptions, i got bored a lot of times...
and the love triangle... ugh! i hate it!!!!
and the love triangle... ugh! i hate it!!!!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews