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The Reformed Man: A Dystopian Sci-Fi Thriller
From the author of the bestselling thriller Baby Grand comes the heart-pounding story of a man who had no future. Little did he know, the future of humankind would be in his hands.
Rising tides. Rising temperatures. Rising fear.
Since the Great Shift killed millions worldwide twenty-five years ago, humankind has been bracing itself for a second cosmic catastrophe called the Great Purge, which is expected to extinguish most of what is left of civilization.
One of the only viable means of escape—and hope—comes from a program created by “The Great One,” Icelander Benedikt Rafnkelsson. His company, Future Comm, owns the rights to a time-travel portal, and Rafnkelsson is vowing to save a select number of young, healthy, high-achieving “Candidates” so that they can travel to the future and rebuild the human race.
Grady Smith has spent most of the last sixteen years preparing his brother, Kenny, for the Candidate program. Brilliant and athletic, Kenny is a local superstar. However, when Kenny fears he may fail a final health exam, he convinces Grady to secretly take the exam for him. That decision sets off a chain of events that puts the brothers on the wrong side of the law, and sends them hurtling into a future that looks nothing like what Rafnkelsson has promised.
Rising tides. Rising temperatures. Rising fear.
Since the Great Shift killed millions worldwide twenty-five years ago, humankind has been bracing itself for a second cosmic catastrophe called the Great Purge, which is expected to extinguish most of what is left of civilization.
One of the only viable means of escape—and hope—comes from a program created by “The Great One,” Icelander Benedikt Rafnkelsson. His company, Future Comm, owns the rights to a time-travel portal, and Rafnkelsson is vowing to save a select number of young, healthy, high-achieving “Candidates” so that they can travel to the future and rebuild the human race.
Grady Smith has spent most of the last sixteen years preparing his brother, Kenny, for the Candidate program. Brilliant and athletic, Kenny is a local superstar. However, when Kenny fears he may fail a final health exam, he convinces Grady to secretly take the exam for him. That decision sets off a chain of events that puts the brothers on the wrong side of the law, and sends them hurtling into a future that looks nothing like what Rafnkelsson has promised.
557 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 25, 2023
About the author
Dina Santorelli
17 books131 followersDina Santorelli is an award-winning author of heart-pounding thrillers and dark, twist-filled suspense. Twice voted one of Long Island’s best authors, she’s known for crafting gripping stories that keep readers turning pages late into the night.
Born in Brooklyn and raised in Middle Village, New York—a place bordered by cemeteries—Dina grew up surrounded by whispers of mystery, fueling a lifelong fascination with the darker side of storytelling. Now based on Long Island, she writes full-time, weaving tales of secrets, betrayal, and survival.
When she manages to step away from her desk, Dina enjoys traveling, cooking, baking, and spending time with her family and friends. She also wrestles daily with her fiercest rival: the New York Times Strands word game. For more information about Dina, visit her website at http://dinasantorelli.com.
Follow Dina on social media:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dinasantorell...
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dinasantorelli
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/dinasantorelli
Born in Brooklyn and raised in Middle Village, New York—a place bordered by cemeteries—Dina grew up surrounded by whispers of mystery, fueling a lifelong fascination with the darker side of storytelling. Now based on Long Island, she writes full-time, weaving tales of secrets, betrayal, and survival.
When she manages to step away from her desk, Dina enjoys traveling, cooking, baking, and spending time with her family and friends. She also wrestles daily with her fiercest rival: the New York Times Strands word game. For more information about Dina, visit her website at http://dinasantorelli.com.
Follow Dina on social media:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dinasantorell...
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dinasantorelli
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/dinasantorelli
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 26, 2023
This was really good! Going into it I didn't have high hopes but boy was I wrong! I really enjoyed all the characters and the concept. It had a "mad max" feel and a lot to mull over. And despite the size of the book it did not feel like a long read at all. The pace kept going and there wasn't any unnecessary content. This is a book I could definitely see becoming a movie
May 20, 2023
The best science fiction writers are careful listeners. They hear the song we’re singing — our worries about the world that will exist for our children given the certainty of climate change, the accelerated pace of technology, and the COVID-19 pandemic — and select a few melodies to incorporate into their own song. In the best minds, the result is a remix that takes samples from the present and creates something known but novel, imaginative but conceivable.
Dina Santorelli’s The Reformed Man opens with the interior monologue of a character well known from our present day: a young man who is bitter about the state of the world and his place in it. At the moment Benedikt decides to kill himself, a catastrophic cosmic event occurs. As we later learn, on that day, two black holes formed and created a chain reaction: the moon was thrown off its orbit and the earth’s axis changed by eight degrees. A massive die-off, severe and unpredictable weather events, rising sea levels, and regular, devastating outbreaks of disease followed. These events changed life on the planet forever and instilled a hopelessness in the survivors about what would happen next.
Fortunately, another outcome of what is known as “the Shift” is an ability to travel into the future through a limited number of portals, one of which is located in Kansas. Because Benedikt discovered the first one, he develops a program to use these portals to investigate the future, learn about human beings there, and harness this knowledge to change the fate of the miserable people left in the present.
Using multiple perspectives, including that of Benedikt “the Great One” himself, Santorelli explores all that could go wrong when a desperate population clings to a tiny scrap of hope, and when the power to shape the future rests in the hands of one man. Given that we are regularly confronting the very real evidence of climate change, pandemics, mental health crises, and the persistent presence of strong men in politics, The Reformed Man spins out a sci-fi version that feels plausible enough to give the reader goosebumps. This version of the future might be too much to bear if it weren’t for Santorelli’s well-drawn helpers, like the underestimated brother of one of the boys chosen as a “Candidate” to travel through a portal, and a man whose sister disappeared when she went looking for another way into the future. As in the present day, Santorelli gives us number-crunching, astute scientists and bureaucrats who are methodically easing the characters’ burdens behind the scenes. Santorelli’s skills as a thriller writer — she is the author of the Baby Grand Trilogy and a romantic thriller, In the Red — are on display here, too, with fast-paced fight scenes and anxiety-inducing tension, such as when my favorite character, Agnes, a ghostwriter sent to lionize Benedikt in his memoir, evades the thug sent to kill her.
The Reformed Man will draw you in with its familiar notes, but keep you dancing as the beat twists and turns.
Dina Santorelli’s The Reformed Man opens with the interior monologue of a character well known from our present day: a young man who is bitter about the state of the world and his place in it. At the moment Benedikt decides to kill himself, a catastrophic cosmic event occurs. As we later learn, on that day, two black holes formed and created a chain reaction: the moon was thrown off its orbit and the earth’s axis changed by eight degrees. A massive die-off, severe and unpredictable weather events, rising sea levels, and regular, devastating outbreaks of disease followed. These events changed life on the planet forever and instilled a hopelessness in the survivors about what would happen next.
Fortunately, another outcome of what is known as “the Shift” is an ability to travel into the future through a limited number of portals, one of which is located in Kansas. Because Benedikt discovered the first one, he develops a program to use these portals to investigate the future, learn about human beings there, and harness this knowledge to change the fate of the miserable people left in the present.
Using multiple perspectives, including that of Benedikt “the Great One” himself, Santorelli explores all that could go wrong when a desperate population clings to a tiny scrap of hope, and when the power to shape the future rests in the hands of one man. Given that we are regularly confronting the very real evidence of climate change, pandemics, mental health crises, and the persistent presence of strong men in politics, The Reformed Man spins out a sci-fi version that feels plausible enough to give the reader goosebumps. This version of the future might be too much to bear if it weren’t for Santorelli’s well-drawn helpers, like the underestimated brother of one of the boys chosen as a “Candidate” to travel through a portal, and a man whose sister disappeared when she went looking for another way into the future. As in the present day, Santorelli gives us number-crunching, astute scientists and bureaucrats who are methodically easing the characters’ burdens behind the scenes. Santorelli’s skills as a thriller writer — she is the author of the Baby Grand Trilogy and a romantic thriller, In the Red — are on display here, too, with fast-paced fight scenes and anxiety-inducing tension, such as when my favorite character, Agnes, a ghostwriter sent to lionize Benedikt in his memoir, evades the thug sent to kill her.
The Reformed Man will draw you in with its familiar notes, but keep you dancing as the beat twists and turns.
October 20, 2023
All I needed to hear was “dystopian sci-fi thriller” and I knew this book belonged on my TBR list. The short chapters, the unique characters, the plot twists…they all had me! It was a true dystopian, with the truly evil people in charge and the hopeful message throughout despite all the chaos. Plus, it was a good one because I was crying at the end 😭
I also really liked the message that we shouldn’t try to live for the future. We don’t know how much time we have on Earth, so we might as well live to the fullest. Instead of looking for a Time Machine to escape our troubles, let’s make our lives better today and make the most of what we have. Truthfully some of the resolutions were too easy (like how Grady got through the portal with all the security in place), but the author makes up for it later in the book.
The only critique I had was that there were a lot of typos! I’m not sure if I got an unedited copy but it just looked like some of the formatting was off. Some apostrophes were straight instead of curly, and some words that should’ve been in a different font (they were text messages) were in the normal font.
Very well done. I cannot wait to read more from Dina!
ALSO, for those who are triggered by certain elements, there is some cursing in the book (in my opinion, appropriately placed and not too excessive), sexual innuendos, and lots of gore. The gore, again in my opinion, was appropriate for the story, but if you’re sensitive to blood and guts and things like that, proceed with caution!
I also really liked the message that we shouldn’t try to live for the future. We don’t know how much time we have on Earth, so we might as well live to the fullest. Instead of looking for a Time Machine to escape our troubles, let’s make our lives better today and make the most of what we have. Truthfully some of the resolutions were too easy (like how Grady got through the portal with all the security in place), but the author makes up for it later in the book.
The only critique I had was that there were a lot of typos! I’m not sure if I got an unedited copy but it just looked like some of the formatting was off. Some apostrophes were straight instead of curly, and some words that should’ve been in a different font (they were text messages) were in the normal font.
Very well done. I cannot wait to read more from Dina!
ALSO, for those who are triggered by certain elements, there is some cursing in the book (in my opinion, appropriately placed and not too excessive), sexual innuendos, and lots of gore. The gore, again in my opinion, was appropriate for the story, but if you’re sensitive to blood and guts and things like that, proceed with caution!
January 13, 2026
This book absolutely delivers, and then some. This is, hands down, the best book I’ve read (or listened to) so far this year.
Set in a world still reeling from a global catastrophe known as the Great Shift, humanity now faces an even more terrifying threat: the coming Great Purge. The premise alone is chilling, but what really hooked me was how personal the story becomes. Grady Smith isn’t a hero with special skills or power, he’s just a man trying to protect his brother. One decision meant to help changes everything, sending both brothers into a future that’s far darker and more dangerous than promised.
The pacing is excellent, the tension constant, and the twists kept me completely invested. The future world is unsettling and believable, and the moral questions around survival, selection, and sacrifice really stick with you.
I listened to the audiobook, and Andrew Tell’s narration was fantastic. His delivery added so much intensity and emotion that I genuinely couldn’t stop listening. I found myself making excuses to keep it playing.
This book has officially put Dina Santorelli on my top ten favorite authors list, and I’ll absolutely be seeking out more of their work. If you love dystopian sci-fi with heart, suspense, and a powerful story behind it, don’t miss this one.
Set in a world still reeling from a global catastrophe known as the Great Shift, humanity now faces an even more terrifying threat: the coming Great Purge. The premise alone is chilling, but what really hooked me was how personal the story becomes. Grady Smith isn’t a hero with special skills or power, he’s just a man trying to protect his brother. One decision meant to help changes everything, sending both brothers into a future that’s far darker and more dangerous than promised.
The pacing is excellent, the tension constant, and the twists kept me completely invested. The future world is unsettling and believable, and the moral questions around survival, selection, and sacrifice really stick with you.
I listened to the audiobook, and Andrew Tell’s narration was fantastic. His delivery added so much intensity and emotion that I genuinely couldn’t stop listening. I found myself making excuses to keep it playing.
This book has officially put Dina Santorelli on my top ten favorite authors list, and I’ll absolutely be seeking out more of their work. If you love dystopian sci-fi with heart, suspense, and a powerful story behind it, don’t miss this one.
December 1, 2023
What an exciting read, with multiple twists and turns, sometimes brutal and visceral. Playing out against all too real and relatable backdrops, especially the recent pandemic, not to mention the scandalous dealings in politics, and humans when faced with monumental truths. With an ensemble "cast", the story revolves around a despondent man, ready to end his nothing life, when the unthinkable happens. A cosmic disaster occurs that causes The Shift, and the Earth is pitched into a violent tectonic upheaval. And soon, a black hole appears in which the man steps through, and into the future. Seeing what the future brings thousands of years later, so begins his quest to transform the world in order to "save humanity". A thrilling, exciting tale, riddled with lies, corruption, greed, power and the unrelenting drive humans have for survival. Brilliant!
October 26, 2023
Dina Santorelli was the last author I thought would write a sci-fi/dystopian novel. This latest novel shows that her writing talent easily crosses boundaries. She continues to craft stories with down to earth characters leading lives they don’t expect to lead. Her characters feel like real people with backgrounds and motivations that are easily understood. I love that all of her stories are fast-paced. She continues to be a master of stories with abrupt physical violence. The world she built is frightening because it is an extension of our current lives as much as it is about the scenario that leads to the dystopian future. I look forward to seeing what she writes next!
May 9, 2023
I've never been one to read sci-fi or dystopian thrillers, thinking I wouldn't enjoy it, but after reading The Reformed Man I now have a new genre to read! I don't want to give away anything but this book encompassed so much of what is going on/has gone on in our society in the last few years and I think that was part of the draw for me. I couldn't wait to see what would happen next and often found myself wanting to shake some of the characters and say-look at what's happening! Open your eyes! Yes I was totally drawn into this novel and am hoping there's a sequel.
December 4, 2024
Audiobook: This was my first experience with this author's work. I admired the complex worldbuilding. I was surprised by many of the twists and turns. I followed Grady's journey with bated breath, and my attention was kept by the almost non-stop action. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. I enjoyed Andrew Tell's narration and his performance enhanced the story's entertainment. I was given a copy of the audiobook. I volunteered, without financial gain, to post this review which reflected my honest opinions regarding this audiobook.
June 23, 2023
The Reformed Man is a wild futuristic ride!!
The prologue pulls you in immediately & doesn't let go!!
Dina's engaging writing style always leaves readers feeling deeply connected to her characters, good & bad, and is a trademark of her natural story telling talent!!
The only drawback is you are guaranteed to lose sleep page turning and to finish way too soon!!
Do yourself a favor and read this book!!
It is irrelevant if you are a sci fi junkie or not!!
It won't disappoint!!
The prologue pulls you in immediately & doesn't let go!!
Dina's engaging writing style always leaves readers feeling deeply connected to her characters, good & bad, and is a trademark of her natural story telling talent!!
The only drawback is you are guaranteed to lose sleep page turning and to finish way too soon!!
Do yourself a favor and read this book!!
It is irrelevant if you are a sci fi junkie or not!!
It won't disappoint!!
Read
August 1, 2023Mix elements of The Purge with a precursor for the Handmaid's Tale and you have a new setting with flowing dialogue that keeps the pages turning. The concept of manipulating pre-time and post-time opens up a fascinating array of possibilities and ethical dilemmas, enhancing the complexity of the (sinister) plot coupled with the undying spirit of individual(s) and humanity. Pre-time, post-time = it's all a good time in this dystopian time travel adventure.
August 3, 2025
Remarkable
When I was about a third of the way into this book, I decided it was sort of boring. I read on and in the end came away with the opinion that it was really very good. I can see influences of other books in it, but it does offer a unique twist on the human minds response to stress and disaster.
When I was about a third of the way into this book, I decided it was sort of boring. I read on and in the end came away with the opinion that it was really very good. I can see influences of other books in it, but it does offer a unique twist on the human minds response to stress and disaster.
June 14, 2023
a fantastic story
I love sci-fi and consider this to be in that genre. I had trouble putting it down, but on the other hand didn’t want to read too fast and end the adventure. Loved the characters and their interactions with each other.
I love sci-fi and consider this to be in that genre. I had trouble putting it down, but on the other hand didn’t want to read too fast and end the adventure. Loved the characters and their interactions with each other.
October 22, 2023
Amazing!!! I loved this book. It had me hooked from the very first line until the very end. And it kept me wanting more. Not your typical psychological thriller in a great way. I highly recommend you read this book! 🤩😊❤️
June 10, 2025
Interesting story, unusual. Took me a while to get into it but I enjoyed it. The end felt a bit rushed, especially compared to the pace of the rest of the book. I will be looking at the author’s other works,
July 8, 2023
Don't be fooled by the page count, it goes quick.
Dina Santorelli writes a fast-paced page-turner that will leave you wanting more. Great book!!
Dina Santorelli writes a fast-paced page-turner that will leave you wanting more. Great book!!
March 22, 2026
met the author at a local event didn't think I would like the book but really enjoyed it Lot
September 5, 2026
I lost interest in waiting for to turn a corner to “OK”. I’m usually more patient: DNF 65%
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews