What do you think?
Rate this book
Mind Burn
Minority Report meets Ready Player One as a new investigator hunts down a dangerous criminal capable of high-jacking and controlling cybernetic implants. When your new employer tasks you with investigating the first successful mass shooting in twelve years, it’s understandable to be nervous. Fortunately, detective-in-training Cowan Soto has a Personal Brain Assistant -- a cybernetic implant -- that allows him to firewall pesky emotions like worry and guilt and redact memories of bullet-riddled corpses. Unfortunately, Cowan soon learns it was his suspect’s PBA which allowed a ruthless hacker to puppet her into a shooting rampage. Aided by a veteran investigator, a brilliant CFO, a nihilistic cybercriminal, and the best waifu madam in Kearny Mesa, Cowan must wade through a gauntlet of homicidal professional gamers, the Russian mafia, and the board of OneWorld to bring this ruthless puppetmaster to justice. All the while, the brand new detective is concealing the fact that he’s the exact type of criminal OneWorld has hired him to a loose circuit -- a human unbound by behavioral modification protocols. Grab your copy today and experience this breakneck technothriller from USA Today bestselling author Rhett C. Bruno and T. E. Bakutis. It’s perfect for fans of Douglas E Richards, Richard K. Morgan, and William Gibson. Full of action, mystery, and loads of cybernetic future-tech, Mind Burn explores the very question of what it means to be free.
464 pages, Hardcover
First published November 14, 2023
98 people are currently reading
2635 people want to read
About the author
Rhett C. Bruno
70 books649 followersRhett is happy to hear from his fans and can be reached at rcbruno44@outlook.com. Please subscribe to his newsletter for exclusive access to updates about his work and the opportunity to receive limited content and ARCs.
http://rhettbruno.com/newsletter/. Or join his facebook reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Rhett...
Rhett Bruno grew up in Hauppauge, New York, and studied at the Syracuse University School of Architecture where he graduated cum laude.
He has been writing since he can remember, scribbling down what he thought were epic short stories when he was young to show to his parents. When he reached high school he decided to take that a step further and write the “Isinda Trilogy”. After the encouragement of his favorite English teacher he decided to self-publish the “Isinda Trilogy” so that the people closest to him could enjoy his early work.
While studying architecture Rhett continued to write as much as he could, but finding the time during the brutal curriculum proved difficult. It wasn’t until he was a senior that he decided to finally pursue his passion for Science Fiction. After rededicating himself to reading works of the Science Fiction author’s he always loved, (Frank Herbert, Timothy Zahn, Heinlein, etc.) he began writing “The Circuit: Executor Rising”, The first part of what he hopes will be a successful Adult Science Fiction Series.
Since then Rhett has been hired by an Architecture firm in Mount Kisco, NY. But that hasn’t stopped him from continuing to work on “The Circuit” and all of the other stories bouncing around in his head. He is also currently studying at the New School to earn a Certificate in Screenwriting in the hopes of one day writing for TV or Video Games.
http://rhettbruno.com/newsletter/. Or join his facebook reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Rhett...
Rhett Bruno grew up in Hauppauge, New York, and studied at the Syracuse University School of Architecture where he graduated cum laude.
He has been writing since he can remember, scribbling down what he thought were epic short stories when he was young to show to his parents. When he reached high school he decided to take that a step further and write the “Isinda Trilogy”. After the encouragement of his favorite English teacher he decided to self-publish the “Isinda Trilogy” so that the people closest to him could enjoy his early work.
While studying architecture Rhett continued to write as much as he could, but finding the time during the brutal curriculum proved difficult. It wasn’t until he was a senior that he decided to finally pursue his passion for Science Fiction. After rededicating himself to reading works of the Science Fiction author’s he always loved, (Frank Herbert, Timothy Zahn, Heinlein, etc.) he began writing “The Circuit: Executor Rising”, The first part of what he hopes will be a successful Adult Science Fiction Series.
Since then Rhett has been hired by an Architecture firm in Mount Kisco, NY. But that hasn’t stopped him from continuing to work on “The Circuit” and all of the other stories bouncing around in his head. He is also currently studying at the New School to earn a Certificate in Screenwriting in the hopes of one day writing for TV or Video Games.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
November 14, 2023
In the future, America finds a way to solve most problems of unhappiness, boredom, and criminal activity. Virtual reality and brain implants seem to control impulses or let the impulses fly in an imaginary space, keeping people safe. However, some crimes still happen. Mind Burn by T. E. Bakutis and Rhett Bruno is the story of two futuristic detectives who utilize advanced tech methods to solve those crimes to which they are assigned. I loved this “Law and Order” set many years from now and the special characters within it. The novel is voiced in the point of view of several different characters, but mostly by the two detectives who are partners on their first case. The writing is descriptive, as it should be in a highly detailed technological situation. You do not have to be an IT grad to read this book, the science is well explained. However it flows at a great pace, keeping the reader engaged. As clues stop surfacing on one case, another crime happens, making the partners seem realistically overworked and real. The Mission Impossible type ending is a bit long and explosive but does tie up the crime. Mind Burn is a science fiction police procedural with great world building including laws and government offices so different from today. I am hoping that a series begins with all the crew, brain augmentation and relationships created in this novel. I suggest for those who like Blake Crouch. Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone publishing for a free earc in return for an honest review.
December 27, 2024
This book felt like a thought experiment on how successful a book could be if the author self-sabotaged himself at every opportunity.
Before I go any further, I want to preface by saying that I respect the author for sitting down and putting the proverbial pen to paper. It’s a daunting task that Rhett Bruno accomplished, and that’s deserving of praise. That being said, I also believe in helpful constructive criticism.
In reading this book, most of my issues with it can be summed up in three different categories.
1. Show and Tell. This book had a huge problem with oversharing and telling us way too much information rather than showing us that same information being played out in the world experienced by the characters. Because of this, there’s hardly any air of mystery in a book that revolves around solving a mystery. For example, in one of the first chapters, we’re introduced to an important person of Cowan’s past, Ellen, through his memories. Rather than letting us sit and wonder what happened between the two of them, he immediately tells us a sentence or paragraph later that he betrayed her. Then, she is mentioned, in what seems like, every single chapter from Cowan’s POV chapters. But it’s not just character elements but also major points of the plot that are just told to us instead of shown. Multiple times throughout the book, Galileo mentions how the OMH is failing to censor the horrific killings and murders going on and people are starting to notice. But, at no point throughout the book, are we shown any evidence of this. “Closed circuits” aren’t rioting or protesting. Those with PBAs aren’t shown being uneasy or questioning what’s going on. The world continues to remain the same through the eyes of the characters despite what Galileo is saying is happening. There’s no storytelling that happens within the environment and through the world at large through the eyes of the characters. And speaking of characters…
2. Characters and their motivations. The characters in this book do not grow at all through the conflicts they’re confronted with in the story. At the end of the story, all of the characters are the same as they were at the beginning. But, at the same time, their characterization seems totally off at times. For instance, at one point in the story Cowan reunites with a mind burned Ellen. All throughout the story, he’s been characterized as a calm, collected and cool-headed. When he meets Ellen, he internally dictates to himself that he’s happy to have his heart crushed as long as Ellen is alive and happy with her new fiancé, then immediately starts trying to rekindle her memories and reignite their old flame. Sonne also has some questionable character moments. At a point in the story when she has her memories erased and altered, Cowan shows up, almost ruins her business and life, and, despite the fact that her most meaningful memories of him have been wiped, she still tries to stand up for him and comfort him? When she’s described as really only trusting her sister, Kate? There were more moments like this throughout the book that felt like it was written more for the reader’s knowledge rather than the character’s.
Lastly, and most importantly, the self-sabotaging (or the pacing). This book is littered with concepts of good ideas that are ruined because of the pacing and what the author chooses to share with us. Towards the climax of the book, Galileo reveals to Cowan that OneWorld is using the PBAs to basically mind control people which makes Cowan ask an important question. Is a safe world without free will world better than free world with violent crime? Philosophical questions and science fiction go hand in hand, and this is a great question…that Cowan thinks on for 2 paragraphs before deciding his answer. 2 paragraphs! Which begs the question: if the main character doesn’t have to wrestle with the question, why should I?! Not only that, but in the same chapter, Galileo paints himself as a revolutionary. He sets himself up as a potentially complex, amoral character who is doing evil things, so that his noble goal of true free will could be given to all….before three chapters later, during his pov, he mentions he just wants to rule oneworld and, by extension, the whole world. He rids himself of all complexity and moral ambiguity to turn into the mustache-twirling villain he was in the earlier parts of the book.
The final conflict of the book didn’t feel like it had any stakes and even after everything is resolved, you realize that with or without the heroes’ success, nothing would have changed. Which, when written well, works. Unfortunately for me, however, it did not.
I think this had the potential to be a great book, but after reading it, I think the decisions made on the pacing and story sequences caused the book to fall flat and fumble on the execution of all of its interesting concepts.
This review is just my opinion though, so feel free to disagree. If these don’t really sound like issues you would mind, then by all means, give it a read.
tl;dr
The author has a problem with telling us everything rather than showing it through the description of what’s happening in the world around him, and this problem persists to the interesting concepts he creates which end up falling flat and being poorly executed in consequence.
Before I go any further, I want to preface by saying that I respect the author for sitting down and putting the proverbial pen to paper. It’s a daunting task that Rhett Bruno accomplished, and that’s deserving of praise. That being said, I also believe in helpful constructive criticism.
In reading this book, most of my issues with it can be summed up in three different categories.
1. Show and Tell. This book had a huge problem with oversharing and telling us way too much information rather than showing us that same information being played out in the world experienced by the characters. Because of this, there’s hardly any air of mystery in a book that revolves around solving a mystery. For example, in one of the first chapters, we’re introduced to an important person of Cowan’s past, Ellen, through his memories. Rather than letting us sit and wonder what happened between the two of them, he immediately tells us a sentence or paragraph later that he betrayed her. Then, she is mentioned, in what seems like, every single chapter from Cowan’s POV chapters. But it’s not just character elements but also major points of the plot that are just told to us instead of shown. Multiple times throughout the book, Galileo mentions how the OMH is failing to censor the horrific killings and murders going on and people are starting to notice. But, at no point throughout the book, are we shown any evidence of this. “Closed circuits” aren’t rioting or protesting. Those with PBAs aren’t shown being uneasy or questioning what’s going on. The world continues to remain the same through the eyes of the characters despite what Galileo is saying is happening. There’s no storytelling that happens within the environment and through the world at large through the eyes of the characters. And speaking of characters…
2. Characters and their motivations. The characters in this book do not grow at all through the conflicts they’re confronted with in the story. At the end of the story, all of the characters are the same as they were at the beginning. But, at the same time, their characterization seems totally off at times. For instance, at one point in the story Cowan reunites with a mind burned Ellen. All throughout the story, he’s been characterized as a calm, collected and cool-headed. When he meets Ellen, he internally dictates to himself that he’s happy to have his heart crushed as long as Ellen is alive and happy with her new fiancé, then immediately starts trying to rekindle her memories and reignite their old flame. Sonne also has some questionable character moments. At a point in the story when she has her memories erased and altered, Cowan shows up, almost ruins her business and life, and, despite the fact that her most meaningful memories of him have been wiped, she still tries to stand up for him and comfort him? When she’s described as really only trusting her sister, Kate? There were more moments like this throughout the book that felt like it was written more for the reader’s knowledge rather than the character’s.
Lastly, and most importantly, the self-sabotaging (or the pacing). This book is littered with concepts of good ideas that are ruined because of the pacing and what the author chooses to share with us. Towards the climax of the book, Galileo reveals to Cowan that OneWorld is using the PBAs to basically mind control people which makes Cowan ask an important question. Is a safe world without free will world better than free world with violent crime? Philosophical questions and science fiction go hand in hand, and this is a great question…that Cowan thinks on for 2 paragraphs before deciding his answer. 2 paragraphs! Which begs the question: if the main character doesn’t have to wrestle with the question, why should I?! Not only that, but in the same chapter, Galileo paints himself as a revolutionary. He sets himself up as a potentially complex, amoral character who is doing evil things, so that his noble goal of true free will could be given to all….before three chapters later, during his pov, he mentions he just wants to rule oneworld and, by extension, the whole world. He rids himself of all complexity and moral ambiguity to turn into the mustache-twirling villain he was in the earlier parts of the book.
The final conflict of the book didn’t feel like it had any stakes and even after everything is resolved, you realize that with or without the heroes’ success, nothing would have changed. Which, when written well, works. Unfortunately for me, however, it did not.
I think this had the potential to be a great book, but after reading it, I think the decisions made on the pacing and story sequences caused the book to fall flat and fumble on the execution of all of its interesting concepts.
This review is just my opinion though, so feel free to disagree. If these don’t really sound like issues you would mind, then by all means, give it a read.
tl;dr
The author has a problem with telling us everything rather than showing it through the description of what’s happening in the world around him, and this problem persists to the interesting concepts he creates which end up falling flat and being poorly executed in consequence.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2024
This book was SUPER interesting and I loved the concept of it. I was fully immersed in the world for the entire read.
But the characters fell a bit flat for me, (hence the lower rating, it had a strong potential for 4 stars). There was just no depth to the characters and you didn´t really get to know them very well.
But Oh my gosh??? The idea of having a chip inplanted in your brain that makes you go online? And all the concepts around that that were explored in the book? AMAZING, for this alone it could almost get up to 4 stars. Also it just doesn´t seem like such a far away future hehe.
You can tell the writers have really thought that part of the book through and honestly I could read a book about the main character just exploring different places and scenarios, kind of like short stories.
There was no real plot-twist, I got the gist of the story quite quickly, but I am intrigues as to if there will be a second book. I´m pretty sure I would read it :)
But the characters fell a bit flat for me, (hence the lower rating, it had a strong potential for 4 stars). There was just no depth to the characters and you didn´t really get to know them very well.
But Oh my gosh??? The idea of having a chip inplanted in your brain that makes you go online? And all the concepts around that that were explored in the book? AMAZING, for this alone it could almost get up to 4 stars. Also it just doesn´t seem like such a far away future hehe.
You can tell the writers have really thought that part of the book through and honestly I could read a book about the main character just exploring different places and scenarios, kind of like short stories.
There was no real plot-twist, I got the gist of the story quite quickly, but I am intrigues as to if there will be a second book. I´m pretty sure I would read it :)
April 6, 2024
Sometimes reading something on a whim will yield great experiences...
I started Mind Burn on a whim after being bored and wanting some light reading. Previously I had been disappointed by the cyberpunk genre after trying Neuromancer. But now this is a modern take on what is seen as a stale concept and made to be really fun.
We follow the story of detective Cowan Soto of the Cybercrimes Investigation Division (CID) who tracks hackers, crackers and any other cyberelements who may hack into the networks of their world. Now that would usually mean spending time on a desk sniffing networks and reading code, but their world got the equivalent of Neuralink all over so hackers can cause all sort of mayhem beyond simple theft or trickery. From making robots go rogue and murder people, to changing memories, their world is far more dangerous and cybersecurity is far more important.
Cowan goes along with senior detective Jeb Forrester to solve some of the most interesting cases I've seen in a fun mix between detective story and cyberpunk dystopia with some difficult choices taken along the way and dubious morality. Also lots of techno lingo is thrown around which are up to date with our world's and the characters seem fun and vibrant, along with snarky in a way that is entertaining to read rather than a chore.
I also enjoyed how it delves into the life of hackers, not only the harmful kind but also white hats and other hackers and even researchers who delve into the gray areas of the law in pursuit of further knowledge and how it can be used to help as much as it can be used to harm.
Now for negatives I only found the character of Puck a bit clashing with the environment set by the author and there were some clichés but overall I really enjoyed the dark past he gave to Cowan Soto and the difficult choices he along with all the other characters had to do in order to solve the main mystery.
Definitely something I would enjoy to read more of.
I started Mind Burn on a whim after being bored and wanting some light reading. Previously I had been disappointed by the cyberpunk genre after trying Neuromancer. But now this is a modern take on what is seen as a stale concept and made to be really fun.
We follow the story of detective Cowan Soto of the Cybercrimes Investigation Division (CID) who tracks hackers, crackers and any other cyberelements who may hack into the networks of their world. Now that would usually mean spending time on a desk sniffing networks and reading code, but their world got the equivalent of Neuralink all over so hackers can cause all sort of mayhem beyond simple theft or trickery. From making robots go rogue and murder people, to changing memories, their world is far more dangerous and cybersecurity is far more important.
Cowan goes along with senior detective Jeb Forrester to solve some of the most interesting cases I've seen in a fun mix between detective story and cyberpunk dystopia with some difficult choices taken along the way and dubious morality. Also lots of techno lingo is thrown around which are up to date with our world's and the characters seem fun and vibrant, along with snarky in a way that is entertaining to read rather than a chore.
I also enjoyed how it delves into the life of hackers, not only the harmful kind but also white hats and other hackers and even researchers who delve into the gray areas of the law in pursuit of further knowledge and how it can be used to help as much as it can be used to harm.
Now for negatives I only found the character of Puck a bit clashing with the environment set by the author and there were some clichés but overall I really enjoyed the dark past he gave to Cowan Soto and the difficult choices he along with all the other characters had to do in order to solve the main mystery.
Definitely something I would enjoy to read more of.
May 28, 2024
It started off a little choppy, but then turned into a heist type story.
January 14, 2024
This exceeded my cautious expectations.
I have always been fascinated with cyberpunk, especially since I played the Shadowrun games. I have tried various books including classics like Neuromancer but never enjoyed them because the writing just wasn't good enough in my opinion.
One complain that I have always had with the genre was that the writers use too many made up words. They get so lost in the mumbo jumbo jargon and the deliberate obfuscation that they lose sight of the most important part i.e. telling a good story.
This was different. This was outstanding. This was easy to follow and yet had enough technical details. It was gripping from the first page and exhilarating from start to finish.
It was everything I could ask from the genre or any book to be honest.
I think I've discovered 2 new favorite authors.
What an excellent book to start a new year!
I have always been fascinated with cyberpunk, especially since I played the Shadowrun games. I have tried various books including classics like Neuromancer but never enjoyed them because the writing just wasn't good enough in my opinion.
One complain that I have always had with the genre was that the writers use too many made up words. They get so lost in the mumbo jumbo jargon and the deliberate obfuscation that they lose sight of the most important part i.e. telling a good story.
This was different. This was outstanding. This was easy to follow and yet had enough technical details. It was gripping from the first page and exhilarating from start to finish.
It was everything I could ask from the genre or any book to be honest.
I think I've discovered 2 new favorite authors.
What an excellent book to start a new year!
March 15, 2024
Well written with a novel storyline that was well thought out and presented.
February 29, 2024
Soft sci-fi, dealing with social re-construction. Turned out to have some kinks. Expected to have AR and VR 30 years ago. Characters developed sufficiently for this concept. Oneworld has 5 members in charge, instead of however many we have in our corporatocracy. Thankfully, we have had pleasureboxes for ages, calling them books.
January 26, 2024
two of my favourite authors at their best
I think this book is perfect mix of cop mystery and sci fi put together. It is a close thing to call this book the best stand alone book by both authors considering rhett also wrote the roach but it's that good.
I hope others enjoy this to and while it love more books in this universe I think it's best as a standalone it makes it unique and I don't think any sequels could top this .
I think this book is perfect mix of cop mystery and sci fi put together. It is a close thing to call this book the best stand alone book by both authors considering rhett also wrote the roach but it's that good.
I hope others enjoy this to and while it love more books in this universe I think it's best as a standalone it makes it unique and I don't think any sequels could top this .
January 8, 2024
Clever Near Future Parable
This is a fun and smart read. A bit of a parable about freedom and how we volunteer to give freedom for safety and pleasure.
This is a fun and smart read. A bit of a parable about freedom and how we volunteer to give freedom for safety and pleasure.
November 17, 2023
( Format : Audiobook )
"Plain waffles and a green kale shake."
In his all consuming search to find his long time missing girl friend, Cowan Soto leaves his job with One World to become a detective, hoping that way to be able to gain access to the arrest files. But less than two weeks into his training, he and the veteran teaching him are sent to investigate the first mass killing committed in twelve years.
Massacres like this didn't , any more. It is a near future time of cybernetics, with all but a few traditionalists fitted with a traceable PBA, personal brain assistant, which gave them access to a more comfortable world and alternate realities, dulling the unpleasant sides of life. But as the investigation proceeds, it becomes obvious to Cowan and his partner that this was far more than a mere shooting: something was seriously wrong.
With very little personal knowledge of cybernetics or altered, alternative consciousness possible nowadays, the super fast transition between states in this story at first confused me. Then the whole roller coaster ride caught me up in its surge and carried me through its fast changing perceptions to the final conclusion. Throughout, the narrator, Eduardo Ballerini, was.excellent, voice clear, well modulated and paced, fully immersed in the story line.
Some of the descriptions are vivid, colourful: and with the very fast paced and unusual story line, this Techno thriller would be perfect material for a future big screen film.
"Plain waffles and a green kale shake."
In his all consuming search to find his long time missing girl friend, Cowan Soto leaves his job with One World to become a detective, hoping that way to be able to gain access to the arrest files. But less than two weeks into his training, he and the veteran teaching him are sent to investigate the first mass killing committed in twelve years.
Massacres like this didn't , any more. It is a near future time of cybernetics, with all but a few traditionalists fitted with a traceable PBA, personal brain assistant, which gave them access to a more comfortable world and alternate realities, dulling the unpleasant sides of life. But as the investigation proceeds, it becomes obvious to Cowan and his partner that this was far more than a mere shooting: something was seriously wrong.
With very little personal knowledge of cybernetics or altered, alternative consciousness possible nowadays, the super fast transition between states in this story at first confused me. Then the whole roller coaster ride caught me up in its surge and carried me through its fast changing perceptions to the final conclusion. Throughout, the narrator, Eduardo Ballerini, was.excellent, voice clear, well modulated and paced, fully immersed in the story line.
Some of the descriptions are vivid, colourful: and with the very fast paced and unusual story line, this Techno thriller would be perfect material for a future big screen film.
December 24, 2023
Q:Cowan knew how it felt to lose someone you loved. Someone irreplaceable. A hole would open up inside them, deep and raw and cold. ... He needed to get Ellen back, even if she wasn’t really Ellen anymore. (c)
The world today does inspire this kind of reading. Doom and gloom and seriouslty? Whenever I interact with SOME people I imagine they do smth like this:
Q:
“I don’t need my partner regurgitating the scene report,” Forrester said. “I need you thinking for yourself, drawing your own conclusions.”
“I can do that.” ... “What do you want to know?”
“How you think. First, I want you to forget the last thirty minutes. I don’t want what you read in the scene report to influence your conclusions, so you’re doing this blind.”
Cowan flipped to his head desk—a floating screen he could see when he closed his eyes and focused on the virtual world created by his PBA—and reviewed his memory timeline for the day. He selected the thirty-minute stretch leading to the present, a long ride in a low-slung autocar, and placed a temporary block on that period of time. Finally, he saved his changes.
When Cowan opened his eyes again, he no longer remembered what he’d read on the drive over. He didn’t even remember the ride. He simply knew he was standing at a crime scene, with Detective Forrester, staring at a killer named Sheila Fisher.
“What now?” he asked. He knew he was supposed to ask for instructions now, though he didn’t quite remember why.
(c) LOL! I could swear I've seen people follow precisely this routine. Ok, I won't swear but it's extremely likely.
Q: “Why do they eat that stuff?” he asked.
“They don’t have PBAs to make everything taste like bacon.” (c)
Q: “Her victims are all around you, kid,” Forrester said quietly. “Did you disable your mental health filters?” (c)
The world today does inspire this kind of reading. Doom and gloom and seriouslty? Whenever I interact with SOME people I imagine they do smth like this:
Q:
“I don’t need my partner regurgitating the scene report,” Forrester said. “I need you thinking for yourself, drawing your own conclusions.”
“I can do that.” ... “What do you want to know?”
“How you think. First, I want you to forget the last thirty minutes. I don’t want what you read in the scene report to influence your conclusions, so you’re doing this blind.”
Cowan flipped to his head desk—a floating screen he could see when he closed his eyes and focused on the virtual world created by his PBA—and reviewed his memory timeline for the day. He selected the thirty-minute stretch leading to the present, a long ride in a low-slung autocar, and placed a temporary block on that period of time. Finally, he saved his changes.
When Cowan opened his eyes again, he no longer remembered what he’d read on the drive over. He didn’t even remember the ride. He simply knew he was standing at a crime scene, with Detective Forrester, staring at a killer named Sheila Fisher.
“What now?” he asked. He knew he was supposed to ask for instructions now, though he didn’t quite remember why.
(c) LOL! I could swear I've seen people follow precisely this routine. Ok, I won't swear but it's extremely likely.
Q: “Why do they eat that stuff?” he asked.
“They don’t have PBAs to make everything taste like bacon.” (c)
Q: “Her victims are all around you, kid,” Forrester said quietly. “Did you disable your mental health filters?” (c)
October 26, 2023
3.5 stars (rounded to 4). I'm not usually into sci-fi, but this was entertaining from start to finish since it has a thriller tone to it. If you liked "Ready Player One," you might like this.
The plot is unique and is made for a Blockbuster movie. This futuristic world is engrossing, the imagery is vivid, there's enough mystery and new information sprinkled throughout, and the author poses much more interesting "Is tech evil even if it was made for good?" hypotheticals than "Black Mirror" does.
There's not much character development or nuanced personality explorations, but that didn't bother me as this isn't that type of book.
The reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because the pacing was go-go-go — there was constant action, which was exciting, but wore down on me after an hour of reading each time. There was no relief, just one action sequence to the next. This made the book feel dense, and I had to chunk out my reading sessions into short sessions over the course of a couple months. That's why I'm torn; while I did love the plot, my progress was so slow that it was hard to stay excited about reading it. The frequent acronyms for every type of bureau or fictional tech phenomenon quickly got tiring and felt unintentionally campy.
Overall, though, I'd recommend this book! Definitely memorable.
The plot is unique and is made for a Blockbuster movie. This futuristic world is engrossing, the imagery is vivid, there's enough mystery and new information sprinkled throughout, and the author poses much more interesting "Is tech evil even if it was made for good?" hypotheticals than "Black Mirror" does.
There's not much character development or nuanced personality explorations, but that didn't bother me as this isn't that type of book.
The reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because the pacing was go-go-go — there was constant action, which was exciting, but wore down on me after an hour of reading each time. There was no relief, just one action sequence to the next. This made the book feel dense, and I had to chunk out my reading sessions into short sessions over the course of a couple months. That's why I'm torn; while I did love the plot, my progress was so slow that it was hard to stay excited about reading it. The frequent acronyms for every type of bureau or fictional tech phenomenon quickly got tiring and felt unintentionally campy.
Overall, though, I'd recommend this book! Definitely memorable.
March 21, 2025
Some of it is a bit too brutal for my taste. But otherwise very good writing, action driven and well paced plot with good characters.
A cool cyberpunk mood, not necessarily original in any specific detail, but a well combined to a complete world.
Despite the influence and style of a shooting computer game on much of it, I've enjoyed the rest of it. Maybe actual rating would be 3.5.
Seeing two authors on a book is always a hesitation, but it mostly worked here seamlessly.
The gritty dark future, the world is mind controlled through brain implants that allow people to control their own mind like a computer, but allows a cabal to rule the world. The detectives solving crimes that lead them to investigate the highest rank. And yet it's not the simpler version of a mind controlled world being bad, but one that Cowan ends up accepts as worth the compromise. And though maybe Galileo aim was right, the means didn't justify the end. The fact that Cowan lets go of Ellen knowing she is happy is a nice touch of mature writing, the fact that he is immediately in the arms of Sonne, slightly less so.
A cool cyberpunk mood, not necessarily original in any specific detail, but a well combined to a complete world.
Despite the influence and style of a shooting computer game on much of it, I've enjoyed the rest of it. Maybe actual rating would be 3.5.
Seeing two authors on a book is always a hesitation, but it mostly worked here seamlessly.
The gritty dark future, the world is mind controlled through brain implants that allow people to control their own mind like a computer, but allows a cabal to rule the world. The detectives solving crimes that lead them to investigate the highest rank. And yet it's not the simpler version of a mind controlled world being bad, but one that Cowan ends up accepts as worth the compromise. And though maybe Galileo aim was right, the means didn't justify the end. The fact that Cowan lets go of Ellen knowing she is happy is a nice touch of mature writing, the fact that he is immediately in the arms of Sonne, slightly less so.
November 11, 2024
I'm not a 100% Luddite, I am wearing a blood sugar sensor as I write this, but the set up for the plot of the future where everyone has a chip in their head, is a no go, that is lamely addressed at the end of the plot. As in we could control precisely people's violent tendencies and eliminate them with a chip and ends justifies the means, and so on... I couldn't get into it. Also, the last independent country in the world in the story, is Switzerland, and then Helsinki is mentioned? Being Finnish, I know Helsinki is in Finland- maybe Switzerland conquered all the countries until Finland, but this is note explained, and thus leaves an impression of faulty facts. Felt like an neuralink ad.
November 2, 2024
This was entertaining enough, and easy to read. The ending completely baffled me though.
It appears that the moral of the story is that pervasive mine-controlling algorithms that destroy free will are good, because without them people will kill each other? The main character finds out that the mega corporation that runs the brain computers that everyone has have been secretly implanting ideas to control people's beliefs and shift policy. The protagonist ultimately decides not to blow the whistle, and to let them erase his memory. I feel like an opportunity for some subtlety was missed here, but I guess it's the author's prerogative.
It appears that the moral of the story is that pervasive mine-controlling algorithms that destroy free will are good, because without them people will kill each other? The main character finds out that the mega corporation that runs the brain computers that everyone has have been secretly implanting ideas to control people's beliefs and shift policy. The protagonist ultimately decides not to blow the whistle, and to let them erase his memory. I feel like an opportunity for some subtlety was missed here, but I guess it's the author's prerogative.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2023
Mind Burn is a science fiction police procedural with great world building! It has enough twisty turns to keep you guessing all the way through the book! In case that's not enough it'll make you want to learn how to be an IT coder without having to figure out what's goin on and skipping all the classroom histrionics... it absolutely breaks down what's happening in layman's terms.
And Man. Ohhhh Man that ending!!! I did not see that! You could've knocked me down with a feather!
And Man. Ohhhh Man that ending!!! I did not see that! You could've knocked me down with a feather!
April 22, 2025
This was a fast-paced science-fiction/cyberpunk police procedural in a near future dystopian society. It was a little choppy to read at the beginning, but definitely picked up as it went on, and by the end it had me really hooked!
**I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
**I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
December 9, 2023
It’s pretty good book in that I liked the concept. I am a fan of cyberpunk and this novel scratches that itch. My one issue with this book is that they write about women like a 14 year old boy. But other than that a pretty solid story.
December 31, 2023
Mind burn was a great sci-fi police thriller. I picked it up because of one of the authors, Rhett C. Bruno, and the narrator, Edoardo Ballerini. T. E. Bakutis is new to me. This did not disappoint! I'd love to see this as a series.
January 14, 2024
An excellent techno thriller with elements of sci-fi, set in the future. It's fast paced, action packed and futuristic elements are intriguing.
The detectives are fleshed out and likeable
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
The detectives are fleshed out and likeable
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
April 10, 2024
I read this while on vacation and it was the perfect quick read. It moved quickly, had great characters and kept the intensity up throughout the story. Honestly, I could not put it down! I felt like I was deep inside some dystoptian future where people's minds are controlled by vast corporations who manipulate them. Wait. . .is this me or the hive-mind talking? You will just have to read it and find out!
December 13, 2023
Excellent a near future tech mystery / thriller. A little long in parts but a great read with fun and believable technology
January 10, 2024
A fantastic non stop adventure
Wow!
If you like non stop action, twists and turns in a world which seems frighteningly possible, this is the book for you!
Wow!
If you like non stop action, twists and turns in a world which seems frighteningly possible, this is the book for you!
January 21, 2024
Thought provoking.
January 24, 2024
That was good. Really good. Nothing terribly new necessarily but classic cyberpunk tropes packaged together in a very readable and engaging story. There aren’t many of those out there. Well done.
Read
February 5, 2024A good easy reading scif, very aligned with the shadowrun viewpoint but complete out of universe. Strangley not that dystoopian.
May 14, 2024
It was a quick, easy read.
November 4, 2024
It's not an awful book. It just felt pointless. The concept or the idea of the world is great. But the main plot?? So cliché and boring.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews