Bisentient

by Patrick O'Connor

Cameraman Mason Plater gets a fill-in job on a documentary at a mental hospital. An inexplicable incident there triggers disturbing dreams. Molly James, a young intern, tries to help him unravel what’s happening to him.

In the US a charismatic leader of a new church becomes a rising star in politics. For cult de-programmer Erik Nordstrom the church is not what it seems. Why is a church building a strange machine in a disused military base in the Rocky mountains?

The UK Home Secretary struggles with his loyalties, as a government minister but also as a member of a clandestine global organisation sworn to protect humanity, but from what? A centuries old threat that is too dangerous to reveal. Why is a secret Home Office department desperate to implant coma patients with experimental devices? Two young technicians decide to find out.

Plater discovers his world has changed. He finds himself drawn into a race against time to prevent the sinister church and its leader completing their machine. He finds help and a common cause with others from unexpected sources. Time is short, as the church leader increases his power and an ancient order of occultists set out to kill Plater.

451 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 19, 2023

About the author

A retired cybersecurity specialist who originally studied Physics at University. His work took him to three continents and he lived in the US for ten years.
He writes regularly for the British Computer Society. As a young man had an interest in the supernatural and was a keen chess player. Once employed by an airline he has travelled widely and driven the length of Route 66.
Forever wedded to his boyhood football club, Chelsea, he enjoys nothing more than a glass of Jamesons and the company of good friends. He lives in Ealing with his partner and has two grown children.

Reviews

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't Wait to Read the Next Book

It took a while for me to get into this story, but when it finally got interesting, it REALLY captured my interest! Imaginative story.

[Joshua Frodsham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall I thought Patrick O’Connor’s writing was straightforward and readable. The prose isn’t flowery, but it really suits a thriller. There are plenty of vivid descriptions when needed (like the hospital setting), but mostly it’s brisk. The dialogue felt natural in casual moments. Mason’s conversations with Molly or even an annoyed nurse felt realistic enough, though I didn’t find it outstanding or witty; it just got the job done. Structurally, the book hops around a bit (for example chapter two suddenly follows Zach’s perspective), which kept the pace moving. The chapters tend to end on mini cliffhangers, so I kept wanting to click “next chapter”. I did have to get used to some technical jargon around brain machines and secret experiments, there’s a lot of explanation about things like brain scans and weird implants. Sometimes it felt like info, dumping, but it matched the staccato, investigative tone. One cool aspect was how cinematic it felt; scenes cut from a creepy hospital to a church cult rally feel very movie like. The book is also very long (over 450 pages
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), so I worried it’d drag, but surprisingly O’Connor’s tight plotting makes it flow quickly. A Publishers Weekly review even notes the fast pace and how it stays gripping despite the length
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. I’d say the writing is effective rather than elegant, it serves the story well. A couple of times I noticed small awkward lines or exposition, but they didn’t ruin the experience. It reads more like a draft of a movie script than a literary novel, which works in a GOOD way for this story. In the end, the skillful hooking (and the “take you with each cliffhanger” chapter endings) kept me turning pages. So, I’d rate the style as solid, maybe not award winning, but it enhances the story rather than getting in the way, and that’s what counts for me in a fast paced thriller.

[Anna Greta · Rating 5 out of 5]

The science fiction ideas in this book are really cool, probably what I’ll remember most. The notion that coma patients might still be awake somehow, and even communicating across labs, is fascinating. I loved the mystery of consciousness it explores. There’s a scene where a doctor explains that some vegetative patients could have “potential for cognition” at all times
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, and that set the stage for everything bizarre that follows. Then you have Zach’s lab, which uncovers brainwave patterns reacting to each other, as if the coma patients are linked by some hidden signal. It’s like telepathy through a machine, and it gave me actual chills. Throw in the idea of aliens pulling the strings via an alternate reality (“the Realm”) and suddenly this feels like X-Files meets a medical thriller. I also enjoyed the conspiracy aspects, like that secret government department trying to implant devices in comatose brains, which Mason and Zach stumble onto. That added a gritty realism. The best part was how plausible it felt, given the fictional science. None of it is so out-there that you can’t imagine someone researching it. And I liked the twist that some of these black projects are hidden under the guise of religion or politics. One reviewer even calls it an “alien invasion sci-fi with mystery and thriller elements”
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, which is spot-on. The weird tech and ancient cult lore blending together keeps your mind buzzing. The ideas don’t all get totally explained, the author wisely leaves some mystery (for example, how exactly the “Realm” works is left a little vague), but it’s satisfying enough. If you like books that make you ponder “what if?”, this one definitely delivers on the speculation front.

[Austin Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the creepy vibe of Bisentient. From the start the description of Lievesham Hall sets you on edge, it’s “a curious amalgam of Victorian grandeur and suppressed menace” like a Gothic asylum come to life. You can feel the chill of the stone corridors and old arching windows as Mason Plater walks through. The hospital’s “Dead Zone” ward is especially effective. The author even hints that something odd is going on when a comatose patient “seems to move” little details like that made the place feel haunted and real. There were moments when I felt like I was right there on the ward with Mason, noticing the eerie silence and the flowers on every sterile bed. The contrast between the Victorian sections of the building and the sleek modern labs is handled well it’s subtle but unsettling. I found myself picturing shadowy figures pacing the halls, like the book suggests “starched nurses…echoing like tourists in a cathedral”
The tone throughout is haunted and unhurried, which kept me immersed. It reminded me of the scariest, lowest, soundtrack moments of a horror film. All in all, the setting is hands-down my favorite thing about the book, it delivers that spooky, atmospheric creepiness that really stuck with me. I’d call it a “lost hospital thriller” at heart, in the best way possible.

[Daniel Marvelous · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping sci-fi mystery with a shadowy global twist

BISENTIENT starts off with an eerie, slow burn and quickly evolves into a layered and high-stakes thriller that kept me turning the pages. Patrick O'Connor weaves together multiple plotlines across continents from disturbing dreams and secret experiments to political intrigue and ancient threats into a single suspense-filled narrative.

Mason Plater is an unexpectedly relatable protagonist. As a cameraman suddenly thrust into an unraveling mystery, his confusion and determination mirror the reader's experience. I really enjoyed the contrast between his storyline and the chilling developments involving the US church and its strange machine. The scenes with the secretive UK department experimenting on coma patients added another level of unease that kept me hooked.

What stood out was the way the story blended science fiction with conspiracy, politics, and ancient danger without becoming too complex. The pacing built steadily and the final chapters delivered real intensity.

Some parts felt a bit rushed or left me with unanswered questions, but that is understandable for the first book in a series. If you enjoy global conspiracies, secret organizations, and the feeling that something unseen is shaping events, this is a strong and intriguing start.

I will definitely be reading the next book in The Realm series.

[Antonio Luciano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t think I’ve ever been so emotionally invested in a thriller. From the very first scene I was on edge, and the story only got more intense. I literally felt my heart race when Mason Plater first experiences those bizarre dreams in the psychiatric ward,it gave me chills. The author really makes you care about the characters. I felt genuine empathy for Mason as he grapples with confusion and fear, and I even got teary-eyed over Gail’s story (the coma patient who appears in his dreams. There were moments of genuine sadness, like when the fate of certain characters seemed so grim. At the same time the book kept me in awe: the dream world sequences were described so vividly I sat up in wonder each time they appeared. By the end, I was completely caught up in the struggle, it truly was “simply un-put-downable”
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It’s like watching a movie in my mind; one moment I was holding my breath in terror, and the next I was marveling at something beautiful. All told, I finished this book with a satisfied smile and a racing pulse. Bisentient left me feeling a mix of empathy, fear, and wonder in all the best ways.

[Amelia Edward · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really drawn to Mason Plater as a lead. He’s not an action superhero, he’s just a knowledgeable cameraman who finds himself in way over his head and that makes him relatable. His voice is often wry and slightly sarcastic, which I liked (for example, he has some funny banter with young Molly the intern). But he’s also brave and kind-hearted, especially when he grows worried about Gail. Gail Hartston is a fascinating character, even though she starts the story completely unconscious. I loved how slowly their connection develops. At first Mason thinks Gail just opened her eyes by mistake, but soon he meets her “awake” on a beach and realizes something supernatural is at work

[Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

What stands out most is how seamlessly multiple plotlines are woven together. Mason Plater’s disturbing experiences, the politically charged rise of a charismatic church leader in the US, and the covert operations unfolding in the UK government all feel distinct yet intimately connected. Each storyline adds another layer of suspense, and by the time they begin intersecting, the stakes feel enormous. O’Connor’s pacing is razor sharp slow enough to build tension, fast enough to keep the pages turning. This is a brilliantly constructed conspiracy thriller with just the right amount of supernatural intrigue.

[Avid Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

The antagonistic forces in the story are equally fascinating. The mysterious church and its calculated rise to political influence feel chilling and disturbingly realistic. The mystery surrounding the strange machine in the Rockies is handled with expert suspense, slowly revealing just enough to keep the reader desperate for answers. Add in the hidden government department experimenting on coma patients, and you have a story that feels massive but never overwhelming. O’Connor has crafted a world filled with shadowy organizations, ancient threats, and technology that feels just close enough to reality to be terrifying.

[Khalifa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised by how quickly Bisentient grabbed my attention. Even with multiple storylines, the pacing stays tight and engaging. Mason Plater’s experience in the mental hospital is creepy and intriguing, and watching him unravel a plot far bigger than himself is incredibly satisfying. The political side of the story especially the rising church movement adds real-world weight. And the government secrecy in the UK? Fascinating and frightening. Everything builds toward a tense final stretch that I devoured. If you enjoy thrillers that mix sci-fi, conspiracy, and supernatural elements, this one hits all the right notes.

[Florence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bisentient reads like a film waiting to happen. The opening at the mental hospital had me hooked immediately unsettling, mysterious, and perfectly paced. Mason Plater’s journey from cameraman to reluctant hero feels believable, especially as the strange dreams start to blur into reality. I loved how each storyline US politics, cult manipulation, shadowy UK departments slowly converges into something massive. The build toward the church’s secret machine is incredibly suspenseful. By the final chapters, I was racing through pages. This is a story packed with tension, threat, and atmosphere. Absolutely cinematic in scope.

[Elijah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The storyline of BISENTIENT: The Realm Series brings together multiple layers of genre fiction, combining elements of thriller, conspiracy, sci-fi, and the supernatural. The core plot seems to revolve around a mysterious incident at a mental hospital, triggering strange dreams for the protagonist, Mason Plater. This immediately creates an air of mystery that draws readers in, as unexplained phenomena often serve as a hook. But then it escalates: the book introduces a cult-like church, a charismatic leader with political ambitions, and a secret government department involved in something sinister involving coma patients.

[Klever · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bisentient is one of those rare books that pulls you in slowly, then refuses to let go. From the eerie opening in the mental hospital to the complex political undercurrents and the chilling rise of a charismatic church leader, every thread feels intentional and masterfully paced. The way the narrative shifts between countries, institutions, and hidden agendas gives the story a cinematic scope without ever losing emotional depth. Mason Plater is an unexpectedly compelling protagonist, and watching him unravel the mystery of what’s happening to him is both unsettling and strangely hopeful.

[Veralune · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I appreciated most about Bisentient is how intelligently it’s constructed. Patrick O’Connor doesn’t rush the reveals; instead, he lets each storyline simmer until the connections start to click. Mason’s visions, Erik’s suspicions about the church, the strange tech experiments in the UK they all feel like separate mysteries until suddenly they don’t. The gradual unveiling of the centuries-old threat adds real depth. It’s a slow burn at times, but in the best possible way thoughtful, eerie, and rewarding. By the end, I admired how meticulously everything fit together.

[Stella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bisentient is bold and unapologetically ambitious. The stakes escalate quickly from strange dreams to political power plays to a hidden organization trying to stop an ancient danger. Mason Plater becomes the unlikely center of it all, and his desperation feels raw and real. The cult leader’s rise is frighteningly believable, and the mysterious machine in the Rockies adds a strong sci-fi edge. Meanwhile, the government subplot brings a chilling sense of realism. Everything builds toward a frantic, high-energy climax that left me breathless. This is a thriller that dares to go big and succeeds.

[Sylvie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bisentient stands out immediately because it doesn’t rely on familiar tropes.
The author blends psychology, conspiracy, science fiction, and political tension in a way that feels genuinely fresh.
The strange incident at the mental hospital hooks you fast, and the dreams that follow create a growing sense of mystery.
Every chapter adds another layer to the world, making you realize there’s something much bigger going on beneath the surface.
It’s rare to find a sci-fi premise this intriguing and so confidently executed.

[I Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mason begins as an ordinary cameraman just doing a job, which makes his transformation extremely believable. His confusion, fear, and determination are written with a realism that makes him instantly relatable.The dreams he suffers are described so vividly that you experience the unease alongside him.
His dynamic with Molly adds emotional depth and gives the story a grounded human element.
He’s the kind of protagonist you root for because he never asked for any of this but rises to the challenge anyway.

[Fabain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alongside Mason, there’s Molly James, the young intern who tries to help him understand the strange occurrences around him. She appears to be a logical, empathetic character, perhaps someone who brings a sense of clarity to Mason’s otherwise chaotic world. Then, there’s Erik Nordstrom, the cult de-programmer, whose role adds depth to the story. As someone who actively works against cults, his knowledge and skills likely make him a key player in uncovering the truth about the mysterious church and its goals.

[Holden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bisentient is an absolutely gripping debut to The Realm Series. From the very first chapter, the atmosphere is thick with mystery, and Patrick O’Connor wastes no time pulling the reader into a world where reality, power, and perception begin to blur. The opening sequence in the mental hospital is unsettling in the best way, creating an immediate sense of dread and curiosity that continues to build throughout the book.

[Elliot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every twist feels earned, and every revelation deepens the overarching mystery rather than simply shocking the reader. By the halfway point, the story hits a relentless momentum, tightening its grip with each chapter. The looming threat of the church’s machine and the desperation surrounding the experimental implants create a sense of urgency that makes the book impossible to put down. The final sections are intense, cinematic, and satisfyingly complex.

[Harry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel stands out for its ambition and its execution. The writing is sharp, immersive, and atmospheric, with vividly drawn settings from the chilling corridors of the mental hospital to the secretive halls of government offices and the remote, ominous military base in the Rockies.
Mason Plater’s evolution is handled with remarkable care, making the reader feel every moment of confusion, terror, and determination as he becomes entangled in forces far beyond his understanding.

[Moana · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I kept reading, the multiple threads began unfolding with such precision that I found myself completely invested in each one. The storyline with the charismatic church leader in the US felt disturbingly believable, and the way his influence grows politically made me uncomfortable in the best possible way that this could really happen kind of discomfort. The whole time, I kept wanting to know what the machine was, why it mattered, and how it connected to Mason’s experiences.

[Talia Mariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how Molly James’s character grounded the story. Her attempts to help Mason unravel what’s happening to him felt authentic and added emotional weight. In parallel, the storyline in the US with the charismatic church leader was incredibly unsettling because of how believable it felt. Erik Nordstrom’s perspective as a cult de-programmer gave me chills his suspicion about the machine being built in the Rockies was one of the book’s most suspenseful threads.

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

BISENTIENT completely surprised me in the best way. From the moment Mason Plater steps into the mental hospital, the tension never lets go.
The mix of political intrigue, occult history, and sci-fi mystery kept me turning pages long after midnight.
Every storyline ties together in a clever way that made me say, Wow, I didn’t see that coming.” I finished the last chapter wanting to dive straight into the next book in the series.

[Phibie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly didn’t expect this story to be so immersive. The author blends supernatural elements with real-world politics so smoothly that everything feels believable. Mason’s journey from confusion to discovering a hidden global threat pulled me in completely.The characters feel real, and their motivations make the stakes even higher. If you enjoy thrillers with layers of mystery and danger, you’ll love this book.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such an atmospheric and gripping read.The mental hospital scenes alone hooked me, but the story expands into something much bigger and darker. I loved how the different subplots from the church’s strange machine to the secret Home Office department slowly connect. It gave me the feeling that something huge was always lurking behind the curtain. I’m genuinely excited to see where the next book takes these characters.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those rare books that feels cinematic. Every scene is vivid, especially the eerie hospital moments and the mystery surrounding the machine in the Rockies. I found myself deeply invested in both the main characters and the side characters. The pacing is tight, the twists are smart, and the suspense never fades. I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys supernatural thrillers with intelligence and heart.

[David Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first chapter in the mental hospital, this book radiates tension. Mason’s descent into strange dreams and shifting reality kept me on edge the entire time. I love stories where ordinary people get swept into extraordinary dangers, and this one nails that trope. The political and occult threads tie together in such a satisfying way. By the end, I felt like I’d been on a full-scale adventure without leaving my couch.

[Dylan Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a long-time reader of conspiracy fiction, and BISENTIENT gave me everything I want: shadow organisations, hidden technology, secret agendas, and morally conflicted leaders. But what really surprised me was the emotional core. Mason and Molly’s dynamic added warmth to an otherwise dark story. The pacing felt carefully balanced fast enough to thrill, slow enough to build dread. It’s a book that stays in your head long after you finish.

[Lucas Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

What impressed me most was how confidently the author handles multiple perspectives without losing clarity. Each storyline whether in the UK, the US, or inside the mysterious church felt essential to the puzzle. The strange machine being built in the Rockies was such an eerie, unforgettable concept. This book blends sci-fi, suspense, and occult elements in a way that feels both ambitious and refreshingly original. I can’t wait to see where the series goes next.