A Flutter in the Window

by Brandon Spacey

When Shawn Stedwin takes a new job in a new city, she believes she's found a great fit in a great company. But after a six-month monitoring period by her boss, Sameer Singh, she is invited to join him on a secret project in the hidden half of the building's fourth floor. His mission is to find a way to bring someone back from the dead.

Using a mixture of nanotechnology and biology, Singh thinks they can reawaken a cadaver's personality. If he’s right, the subject will be able to open his eyes, observe his surroundings and even speak to them about it. But in dealing with the dead, there are many unknowns.

This is the story of a woman's journey through fear and coming to terms with her own past. She must lean on the shoulders of her new boyfriend and her new friend to get through the turmoil. But good things don’t always last. And these two separate parts of her life - friendships and working with the dead - might just end up converging.

510 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 8, 2022

About the author

Brandon has almost always been a writer. Since grade school, when teachers would assign book reports and creative writing essays, he has always loved to express himself with the written word. That still holds today. He has filled journals with poetry and prose, written hundreds of short stories and even wrote on several popular weblogs for many years. It is the one avenue in which he finds complete freedom for the release of emotional tension - including just the need to create.

Now in his middle-age years, he mostly focuses on his novels. The universe he has created over the span of his books is at once sweetly malleable and perfectly cozy: there's nowhere he won't take his characters. But it is also consistent. No one book contradicts any other - and some characters cross the boundaries from book to book, making it a homely and familiar place for his readers

Be it a dive to the depths of the Challenger Deep in a cold steel sphere or a brief visit with a recently deceased but reawakened cadaver, his characters are comfortable finding - or creating, if necessary - the science to make it happen. And Brandon feels right at home letting them tell their stories.

He lives in Dallas, Texas.

Reviews

[Joe Simonds · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that knew what it wanted to be when it grew up. I could easily see this book being the beginning of a TV series. Not so much the style of series where one long story evolves over time, but the kind where some core characters are engaged in one unique but adjacent plot after another. Think NCIS, but darker, scarier, and existentiallier.

[Meghan Buchman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written. Far fetched but that is why we read, correct? To experience make believe at times. Just me?

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

The lovable, smart, emotional and courageous main character, Shawn, kept me engaged in this novel. I felt myself getting closer to her in every chapter and considering her one of my good friends, and would be if in real life. She initially joins a journey to exploring an experiment with her boss to bringing someone back from the dead, as a work project. She soon realizes the emotions that come with it, are more than she considered at first and with each new “subject”, comes a variety of other feelings. I saw her as me and how I would be if I were in that situation. I couldn’t help but think that if I were her at the end, with one of my best loves being the subject, how I would be. Thank you to the author for bringing out feelings in me I’ve never experienced. It was nice to meet them head on.

[Chris Lively · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flutter is the story of Shawn Stedwin’s journey from computer programmer to Director of the Dead.

Having recently moved to DFW, she navigates new friend and romantic relationships while overcoming the demands of her new job - helping to bring the dead back to life.

This journey is not without bumps and bruises. Shawn has to confront personal demons and come to terms with the possibility of a life after death which may not be what she expects.

——

The presentation of the central story is a slow drip. A large amount of space in the first two thirds is given over to Shawn’s life and relationships. While we are only given quick glimpses into the new world she is starting to grapple with.

The latter third of the book picks up the pace as new details emerge about her boss, and the intertwined relationships of the “subjects” they are working with.

The story offers a lot of potential I feel could have been further explored. There are large moral issues which are briefly touched on, and an entire world which remains largely in shadow.

All in all I enjoyed the book and look forward to the authors next story.

[Corine Borowiak · Rating 4 out of 5]

The serious side of this book is Shawn being hired to code nano-bots to be injected into a dead body to see if the brain can be brought back to life. I am not a Syfy fan, but this book kept it down to earth enough that I could buy into this actually happening. Then, there is the lighter side where Shawn meets Cody and they become a couple. He introduces her to motorcycle riding and she falls in love with him and biking. However, many times, the author made me feel that he had written Shawn with more of a male perspective than a female one. Her vulgar language and mannerisms felt more like a man speaking rather than a woman. Example, referencing welding and beer as analogies to life. Not typical female viewpoints.
A very long story, with parts that could have been deleted without leaving a hole in the story. Example, Shawn sick with vomiting and possible fever for one night
The story as a whole is a very interesting story, which makes you think about future possibilities.

[Jessica Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be very interesting. I love science fiction, and the writer did a phenomenal job writing a story about something that is chilling and the possibility of bringing back someone after death. Why? You have to read to find out. His new character, Shawn, is someone you can just fall in love with. She is a bright young woman who moves to a new place for a job. She struggles with her new job as it will test her faith and beliefs. You will feel her love for all of humanity, including the deceased.

[Venus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging

Extremely well written and very exciting. Loving what the author did with the storyline. It’s extremely creepy and engaging. And well paced with a mix of slow pacing and bursts of action.

I’m definitely ready for book 2

[Christopherfritel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and can’t wait for more.