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Identity X
Ben Stone has one aim; discover the cure for genetic disease. He watched his father die and promised himself that it would never happen again, especially to his own son. After his appointment as lead researcher in Bionics Laboratories he begins his desperate research. It takes four years, but he succeeds. He discovers NEMREC, a serum able to reconstruct DNA and cure the diseases that have driven him. It should be the beginning of a new future, but by changing the face of the world, he has unwittingly destroyed his own.
After arriving at his laboratory to find that it has disappeared, he is sucked into a world of conspiracy and betrayal. The Agency wants NEMREC and will do anything to get it, believing it to be the most powerful scientific discovery in decades. But it wasn't just NEMREC that they wanted. The Agency wanted Ben dead, but somehow he survived. His best friend, his wife, and Ami, the beautiful scientist who he has fallen for at work all offer to help him, but each has a different version of the truth. They all have their own agenda, only one of them wants what he wants, and in a world where you are already dead, how is it that you are supposed to survive?
After arriving at his laboratory to find that it has disappeared, he is sucked into a world of conspiracy and betrayal. The Agency wants NEMREC and will do anything to get it, believing it to be the most powerful scientific discovery in decades. But it wasn't just NEMREC that they wanted. The Agency wanted Ben dead, but somehow he survived. His best friend, his wife, and Ami, the beautiful scientist who he has fallen for at work all offer to help him, but each has a different version of the truth. They all have their own agenda, only one of them wants what he wants, and in a world where you are already dead, how is it that you are supposed to survive?
298 pages, Paperback
First published September 24, 2013
78 people are currently reading
974 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Muckley
13 books62 followersI was born in the town of Warwick in 1981. It is a small historical town in the heart of England, and Ι was the fifth child born into a family of boys. I developed a huge interest in the written world from a young age, and with more than a little help from Roald Dahl found quite the taste for anything gross and gory. Book club at primary school only proved to increase my love of escaping into the world of a book. Whilst six years at secondary school did little to quell the romantic notion of one day sitting in my mountain cabin and smoking a celebratory cigarette as the first novel was born, somewhere within those six years the dream of becoming a writer got put on hold. Still resting quietly in the background were those long and lingering desires to once again rediscover those old aspirations to write.
About six years ago, with the smouldering embers of a childhood dream sparking uncomfortably underfoot there was what can only be called an epiphany. Who is it that actually becomes a writer? It's the people who write. It's the people who actually do more than say, 'I have a dream'. Whilst this may sound simplistic, it was the revelation I needed to sit down and type Chapter One. The first book, The Loss of Deference was no longer just a fantasy and slowly became a workable manuscript. It was then sent out in eagerness before it was properly edited and therefore it was duly returned, and along with it I collected a nice set of standard rejection letters. Six years later, having uprooted from England to settle on the southern Mediterranean shores of Cyprus, the dream to publish the book once deemed nothing more than a pipe dream is now a reality. I am still working as a part time scientist, but I am also writing daily. When I am not sat at the computer typing about the darker side of life, you will find me hiking in the mountains, drinking frappe at the beach, or talking to myself in the kitchen in the style of an American celebrity chef. Just think Ina Garten.
What people saying about The Loss of Deference.
"The final few chapters as the novel races to its finish is a white-knuckle ride, and more than once I wanted to close my eyes so that I might not see what I was sure was coming."
"Michelle Muckley created a believable dystopian world inhabited by intriguing characters"
"I can't wait to read more from this talented new writer."
"An imaginative, clever and thought provoking book which had me hooked from the first chapter."
About six years ago, with the smouldering embers of a childhood dream sparking uncomfortably underfoot there was what can only be called an epiphany. Who is it that actually becomes a writer? It's the people who write. It's the people who actually do more than say, 'I have a dream'. Whilst this may sound simplistic, it was the revelation I needed to sit down and type Chapter One. The first book, The Loss of Deference was no longer just a fantasy and slowly became a workable manuscript. It was then sent out in eagerness before it was properly edited and therefore it was duly returned, and along with it I collected a nice set of standard rejection letters. Six years later, having uprooted from England to settle on the southern Mediterranean shores of Cyprus, the dream to publish the book once deemed nothing more than a pipe dream is now a reality. I am still working as a part time scientist, but I am also writing daily. When I am not sat at the computer typing about the darker side of life, you will find me hiking in the mountains, drinking frappe at the beach, or talking to myself in the kitchen in the style of an American celebrity chef. Just think Ina Garten.
What people saying about The Loss of Deference.
"The final few chapters as the novel races to its finish is a white-knuckle ride, and more than once I wanted to close my eyes so that I might not see what I was sure was coming."
"Michelle Muckley created a believable dystopian world inhabited by intriguing characters"
"I can't wait to read more from this talented new writer."
"An imaginative, clever and thought provoking book which had me hooked from the first chapter."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
July 31, 2014
Identity X by Michelle Muckely Full disclosure: I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever heard? “We’re from the government and we are here to help.”
SynopsisSet in the very near future, Genetic Scientist Ben Stone finally has a breakthrough. Of course it would be Ben, he’s had the perfect life, married the perfect girl, had a perfect best friend and now, he’d attained the pinnacle of his career. He’s developed a tool for correcting the flaws in genetic patterns that are the cause of certain diseases and possibly other genetic birth defects that have tortured mankind for centuries. Of course he and his staff and friends celebrate his success, drinking far more beer and liquor than is advisable, and staggering home to his perfect nuclear family, his wife and son. He manages to get to bed, with his wife’s help, where he can sleep it off, then, in the morning wake, shower, shave and stagger back to his lab to get full accolades as he presents his findings and success.The problems start when he wakes up and find that Dr. Ben Stone no longer exists and his perfect life is gone, if he ever really had one, and, perhaps worse, his research, and laboratory has completely disappeared. If that isn’t bad enough, now somebody wants him dead-somebody very important and powerful.
Exciting ThrillerThis is a story that reminds me of those cold war espionage tales I read in my youth. Alistair MacLean and Desmond Bagley with a little Robert Ludlum thrown in for good measure. Specifically, the first real Suspense thriller that captured my interest, “Tightrope Men” by Bagely. With a good dose of Alfred Hitchcock thrown in for good measure and maybe a little A. Huxley too. Move over Ludlum and Bagely, now we need some room on the shelf for Muckley. I liked the strong characters and the circles of connections that seemed to run full circle. I found the villain particularly well done…well, okay, I thought all of it was well done, but the villain (who shall remain nameless) came across as particularly well played. This story reminded me a lot of films by Alfred Hitchcock such as “North by Northwest” and “Vertigo.”
The characters are very human, each with their own motivation, and reasons for them to be like they turned out and nothing is as it seems. Great stuff. I liked the heroes and heroines, and, like Ben, I wondered at time’s what the hell he needed to do next. At first I thought the initial few chapters were a bit chaotic but, after the truth started coming out, they made perfect sense, better than perfect sense. I would call it “well choreographed.” It was not as cerebral as Escaping life, but in other ways it was better and more intense. Muckley has a good sense of pace and the tension built to a fever pitch peaking at the right moment. Yes Ms Muckley, I’m in favor of a sequel. The epilogue opened a door rather than close it, and if that story is as much fun to read as this one, you’ve already sold at least one copy next book in the series!
Summary-- A British suspense thriller that nets a 5 star rating based on a complicated twisted plot and the strength of well designed characters told with a wonderful sense of pace and timing.
Warnings
1. People get kilt. Be ready for it. Plenty of Violence that is appropriate and well managed for this type of story.
2. Anyone will enjoy this story but it has what I consider a distinctly British feel to it that may be different for you if you read a lot of Suspense Novels by North American authors.
3. You may want to set up a safe house in case the same thing happens to you.
What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever heard? “We’re from the government and we are here to help.”
SynopsisSet in the very near future, Genetic Scientist Ben Stone finally has a breakthrough. Of course it would be Ben, he’s had the perfect life, married the perfect girl, had a perfect best friend and now, he’d attained the pinnacle of his career. He’s developed a tool for correcting the flaws in genetic patterns that are the cause of certain diseases and possibly other genetic birth defects that have tortured mankind for centuries. Of course he and his staff and friends celebrate his success, drinking far more beer and liquor than is advisable, and staggering home to his perfect nuclear family, his wife and son. He manages to get to bed, with his wife’s help, where he can sleep it off, then, in the morning wake, shower, shave and stagger back to his lab to get full accolades as he presents his findings and success.The problems start when he wakes up and find that Dr. Ben Stone no longer exists and his perfect life is gone, if he ever really had one, and, perhaps worse, his research, and laboratory has completely disappeared. If that isn’t bad enough, now somebody wants him dead-somebody very important and powerful.
Exciting ThrillerThis is a story that reminds me of those cold war espionage tales I read in my youth. Alistair MacLean and Desmond Bagley with a little Robert Ludlum thrown in for good measure. Specifically, the first real Suspense thriller that captured my interest, “Tightrope Men” by Bagely. With a good dose of Alfred Hitchcock thrown in for good measure and maybe a little A. Huxley too. Move over Ludlum and Bagely, now we need some room on the shelf for Muckley. I liked the strong characters and the circles of connections that seemed to run full circle. I found the villain particularly well done…well, okay, I thought all of it was well done, but the villain (who shall remain nameless) came across as particularly well played. This story reminded me a lot of films by Alfred Hitchcock such as “North by Northwest” and “Vertigo.”
The characters are very human, each with their own motivation, and reasons for them to be like they turned out and nothing is as it seems. Great stuff. I liked the heroes and heroines, and, like Ben, I wondered at time’s what the hell he needed to do next. At first I thought the initial few chapters were a bit chaotic but, after the truth started coming out, they made perfect sense, better than perfect sense. I would call it “well choreographed.” It was not as cerebral as Escaping life, but in other ways it was better and more intense. Muckley has a good sense of pace and the tension built to a fever pitch peaking at the right moment. Yes Ms Muckley, I’m in favor of a sequel. The epilogue opened a door rather than close it, and if that story is as much fun to read as this one, you’ve already sold at least one copy next book in the series!
Summary-- A British suspense thriller that nets a 5 star rating based on a complicated twisted plot and the strength of well designed characters told with a wonderful sense of pace and timing.
Warnings
1. People get kilt. Be ready for it. Plenty of Violence that is appropriate and well managed for this type of story.
2. Anyone will enjoy this story but it has what I consider a distinctly British feel to it that may be different for you if you read a lot of Suspense Novels by North American authors.
3. You may want to set up a safe house in case the same thing happens to you.
August 21, 2013
I just finished my ARC copy of “Identity X” and all I can say is, Michelle has done it again. With so much action going on in this story, it’s amazing how she manages to make these characters so real. She seamlessly brings their background history and current situations together so that you feel you know these people intimately. And her world building, done so subtly that you almost feel as if it’s the world we’re living in now, conveys such a sense of underlying menace and hopelessness, that you are transported into that world without even realizing it.
Although there was a point at which I thought something very like what the end turned out to be might happen, it was still a twist that I didn’t see coming. There could definitely be a sequel and if it’s like this book, I can only hope it will happen. I’d definitely enjoy entering this world again, as well as any world Michelle creates. She definitely has the gift of storytelling.
Although there was a point at which I thought something very like what the end turned out to be might happen, it was still a twist that I didn’t see coming. There could definitely be a sequel and if it’s like this book, I can only hope it will happen. I’d definitely enjoy entering this world again, as well as any world Michelle creates. She definitely has the gift of storytelling.
September 23, 2013
This review and many others can be found on my blog - Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Identity X isn't the type of book that I typically read, but I actually enjoyed it quite a bit. The book is something along the lines of a spy thriller - complete with tons of action, intrigue and drama!
The synopsis does a pretty good job of describing the story without giving anything away, so I won't do a rehash here. Instead, I'll move directly on to the positives and negatives.
The negatives:
Sometimes unbelievable.
There were a few points in the story where I found myself thinking, "What? How would that have worked?" I don't want to give specific examples because I don't want to spoil anything, but there were a few explanations of how Ben had gotten into his situation that I found slightly unrealistic. The one example that I think I can safely give without giving too much away is that the people who were after Ben had been put certain things into place before Ben was really even working on his research - I just didn't believe that they would be so sure that he would turn out to be so brilliant and that he would come up with this amazing research before he even really had an inkling of what it would be. Still, with this type of book, you kind of have to expect to enact a little suspension of disbelief.
Of note:
British language-isms. (Yep, I just totally made that term up).
This isn't really a negative per se - more just something that occasionally affected my reading of the book. There were some points in the book where I was distracted by British spellings or British words that were slightly unfamiliar to me. A few times, I thought that there were possibly grammatical errors (not that there were a ton, but I do think there were a few) and then thought, "Well, maybe that's just the way they say it (or spell it) in England!" Like I said, this is NOT really a negative - after all the author is British and the book is set in England - it was just something that occasionally took me out of the book and something that American readers might want to be prepared for going into it. (I haven't read THAT many British books, but for some reason this issue struck me more in this book than in the few others I've read).
What I LOVED:
The "spy" plot.
I put "spy" in quotes because technically none of the characters in this book are spies, but there are many who are something roughly akin to spies. At any rate, I enjoy spy movies and this book felt like one giant, non-stop action movie. (In fact, I'd want to see Identity X, the movie).
The twists and turns.
This book was filled with lots of twists and turns and you were never quite sure who Ben should trust. You knew that he had to have been set up by someone (more than one person, really), but you weren't sure who. In the beginning of the book, I was a little worried that the story was going to be predictable, but there were some definite twists that surprised me and shifted the trajectory of the story. Sure, there were a few predictable elements to the story (elements that are often present in these types of spy stories), but the book was overall exciting and engaging with enough surprises to keep you engrossed in the story.
The characters.
I felt like Muckley did a great job of writing relatable characters who I ended up really rooting for. Ben is a great lead because, while he has some definite flaws, he feels like a real person - he isn't a caricature of a wimpy, nerdy scientist or a superman who defeats every enemy with ease. I was invested in his situation, so I waited in nail-biting tension to see what would happen to him next!
Identity X is an exciting thriller that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. I definitely recommend it to anyone who loves a good action movie!
***Disclosure: This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own***
Identity X isn't the type of book that I typically read, but I actually enjoyed it quite a bit. The book is something along the lines of a spy thriller - complete with tons of action, intrigue and drama!
The synopsis does a pretty good job of describing the story without giving anything away, so I won't do a rehash here. Instead, I'll move directly on to the positives and negatives.
The negatives:
Sometimes unbelievable.
There were a few points in the story where I found myself thinking, "What? How would that have worked?" I don't want to give specific examples because I don't want to spoil anything, but there were a few explanations of how Ben had gotten into his situation that I found slightly unrealistic. The one example that I think I can safely give without giving too much away is that the people who were after Ben had been put certain things into place before Ben was really even working on his research - I just didn't believe that they would be so sure that he would turn out to be so brilliant and that he would come up with this amazing research before he even really had an inkling of what it would be. Still, with this type of book, you kind of have to expect to enact a little suspension of disbelief.
Of note:
British language-isms. (Yep, I just totally made that term up).
This isn't really a negative per se - more just something that occasionally affected my reading of the book. There were some points in the book where I was distracted by British spellings or British words that were slightly unfamiliar to me. A few times, I thought that there were possibly grammatical errors (not that there were a ton, but I do think there were a few) and then thought, "Well, maybe that's just the way they say it (or spell it) in England!" Like I said, this is NOT really a negative - after all the author is British and the book is set in England - it was just something that occasionally took me out of the book and something that American readers might want to be prepared for going into it. (I haven't read THAT many British books, but for some reason this issue struck me more in this book than in the few others I've read).
What I LOVED:
The "spy" plot.
I put "spy" in quotes because technically none of the characters in this book are spies, but there are many who are something roughly akin to spies. At any rate, I enjoy spy movies and this book felt like one giant, non-stop action movie. (In fact, I'd want to see Identity X, the movie).
The twists and turns.
This book was filled with lots of twists and turns and you were never quite sure who Ben should trust. You knew that he had to have been set up by someone (more than one person, really), but you weren't sure who. In the beginning of the book, I was a little worried that the story was going to be predictable, but there were some definite twists that surprised me and shifted the trajectory of the story. Sure, there were a few predictable elements to the story (elements that are often present in these types of spy stories), but the book was overall exciting and engaging with enough surprises to keep you engrossed in the story.
The characters.
I felt like Muckley did a great job of writing relatable characters who I ended up really rooting for. Ben is a great lead because, while he has some definite flaws, he feels like a real person - he isn't a caricature of a wimpy, nerdy scientist or a superman who defeats every enemy with ease. I was invested in his situation, so I waited in nail-biting tension to see what would happen to him next!
Identity X is an exciting thriller that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. I definitely recommend it to anyone who loves a good action movie!
***Disclosure: This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own***
October 6, 2013
This is so much a journey taken in the shoes of, Ben, the main protagonist! We are given air to all his venting angst; should he try to resurrect his tired marriage that has albeit given a final resigned sigh, or would he prefer to embark on an ill-advised romp with his gorgeous and provocative lab assistant. Has his research been driven by the ugly and untimely demise of his father, or has it been the gauge of his own unremitting ambition. Ben's world is turned violently asunder after he invents a remarkable gene altering repair mechanism that will eradicate all inborn predilection to hereditary disease. However, instead of accolade and fame he is dropped into an abyss of ignominy. Suddenly his identity is wiped off the main frame of society, his documents are invalid his existence threatened physically and figuratively.
Ben is in a very scary place; what do his assailant want, why have they stolen his life's work and possibly abducted his family. In a churning, topsy turvy world of intrigue and violence, Ben attempts to save himself, his life's work and his family form the terror of an unknown malevolence. This is a heart-felt tale of suspense, buckle up for a bumpy ride.
Unusual prose, which, at times felt a little wordy for me, but at others proved delightfully poetic; this quote for instance is delicious:
"She loved to visit the smaller districts of the city, where people courted art and culture rather than power and money. She always told him that it was those things that enriched their lives, and that made the world a better place. They would come here early on Sunday mornings when hours dwindled by unaccounted for, where they would sip coffee and eat bagels for breakfast in one of the chafes, or when the weather was fine at one of the small patio tables on the pavement. He passed the flower shop where he would buy her tulips in the spring and roses in the winter, and it reminded him of the early days of their marriage when life was simpler and happier."
All-in-all, I doubt if there would be anyone who would not enjoy this book, the action scenes are tense and dramatic, the characters well drawn and emotionally evocative, and the story well thought out and riveting. A very enjoyable read!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
September 18, 2013
This book is special to me. Let me tell you why. This is the first book I was asked to review. Not just me randomly clicking on netgalley and see who approves me the privilege. So, upon being asked I immediately said yes. I mean, how could I not? And I AM SO GLAD!! This book was fantastic.
I'm not sure what to say that would not contain a spoiler, so bare with me. Ben hit the money. He finally completed his life long career goal and discovers the serum, NEMREC. This serum can reconstruct DNA and potentially is the cure for all genetic diseases. Obviously after years and years of research, his team goes out to celebrate. Upon waking up from a hangover Ben continues on with his morning, only to discover that his identity card is inactive (which the government uses to track your day to day movements), his laboratory is missing and people are trying to kill him.
Ben realizes through a series of events that everything his life had been for almost a decade is fake. I mean, could you imagine? Your job, your best friends, your significant others were all part of the government plan to use your brain to create this super serum. So much that his entire life has been a facade.
And do you trust the person who tells you not to trust anybody?
The book had a great build-up, filled with lots of twists and turns, making you want to keep reading until you finished! The character development was done exceptionally well too!
I recommend that everyone should go add this book to your collection! Also, the whole time I was reading it I kept thinking that it would make a great movie!! Or at least have a sequel!
4.5 stars!
(book received in exchange for an honest review)
For more go to- http://justaddchampagne.blogspot.ca
I'm not sure what to say that would not contain a spoiler, so bare with me. Ben hit the money. He finally completed his life long career goal and discovers the serum, NEMREC. This serum can reconstruct DNA and potentially is the cure for all genetic diseases. Obviously after years and years of research, his team goes out to celebrate. Upon waking up from a hangover Ben continues on with his morning, only to discover that his identity card is inactive (which the government uses to track your day to day movements), his laboratory is missing and people are trying to kill him.
Ben realizes through a series of events that everything his life had been for almost a decade is fake. I mean, could you imagine? Your job, your best friends, your significant others were all part of the government plan to use your brain to create this super serum. So much that his entire life has been a facade.
And do you trust the person who tells you not to trust anybody?
The book had a great build-up, filled with lots of twists and turns, making you want to keep reading until you finished! The character development was done exceptionally well too!
I recommend that everyone should go add this book to your collection! Also, the whole time I was reading it I kept thinking that it would make a great movie!! Or at least have a sequel!
4.5 stars!
(book received in exchange for an honest review)
For more go to- http://justaddchampagne.blogspot.ca
September 25, 2013
This book is about a scientist named Ben, he is trying to find a cure for the disease that kills his father. His childhood friend is as evil as they come and his wife is not who he thinks she is. All of this combined made this a very interesting read.
The twists and turns are so enthralling you will find it hard to put this book down. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out what was going to happen. It's a well written thriller and you will find yourself wondering just who can be trusted.
The characters are seem to be like real people, especially Ben. He feels like a real person with flaws and all. They are all well written. This author really know what she is doing.
There see a few situations that happen and I found myself thinking stuff like this just doesn't happen. Other than these few things I loved this book. The plot twist are some of the most well written I have read in a very long time. I really couldn't see where the story was going and loved all the surprises. I love a book that is not predictable, it makes it a very exciting read. It will definitely keep you are on the edge of your seat.
I received this book in return for an honest review.
The twists and turns are so enthralling you will find it hard to put this book down. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out what was going to happen. It's a well written thriller and you will find yourself wondering just who can be trusted.
The characters are seem to be like real people, especially Ben. He feels like a real person with flaws and all. They are all well written. This author really know what she is doing.
There see a few situations that happen and I found myself thinking stuff like this just doesn't happen. Other than these few things I loved this book. The plot twist are some of the most well written I have read in a very long time. I really couldn't see where the story was going and loved all the surprises. I love a book that is not predictable, it makes it a very exciting read. It will definitely keep you are on the edge of your seat.
I received this book in return for an honest review.
September 6, 2013
4.5 Stars
Wow! This is what I found myself repeating to myself while getting lost in this chair gripping book of suspense!
Ben Stone in on a mission that could eventually save millions of lives. He has just suffered the loss of his Dad and he vows to find a way to cure genetic diseases.
The setting is in London and the world of the future. The Author does an amazing job describing every detail that you will feel as if you're there experiencing everything side by side with the characters! I loved that I was able to connect with all of the charcters even the ones who made me ANGRY!
I cannot go into the plot too deeply becase there are many amazing twists and turns, writing about one of them will ruin the reading experience. If you like a book that is filled with suspense, science, a twist that will blow your mind and keep you guessing the entire time, this is the book for you.
The ending was surprise and I think there maybe a sequel!
I highly recommend this book.
Enjoy!
Patty
Wow! This is what I found myself repeating to myself while getting lost in this chair gripping book of suspense!
Ben Stone in on a mission that could eventually save millions of lives. He has just suffered the loss of his Dad and he vows to find a way to cure genetic diseases.
The setting is in London and the world of the future. The Author does an amazing job describing every detail that you will feel as if you're there experiencing everything side by side with the characters! I loved that I was able to connect with all of the charcters even the ones who made me ANGRY!
I cannot go into the plot too deeply becase there are many amazing twists and turns, writing about one of them will ruin the reading experience. If you like a book that is filled with suspense, science, a twist that will blow your mind and keep you guessing the entire time, this is the book for you.
The ending was surprise and I think there maybe a sequel!
I highly recommend this book.
Enjoy!
Patty
January 2, 2014
A page turner. Imagine going to work and finding out that you don't exist. That is what happened to Ben Stone. Ben has worked years to find a cure for Huntington's disease which caused the death of his father. He finally discovers the cure and is congratulated and applauded by his fellow workers. After celebrating, he goes home and wakes up a day later, only to find his family missing. In a world where you exist by using an identity card, Ben goes to his office and finds that his card was cancelled, which means he doesn't exist anymore. The characters are well developed and the plot keeps you interested in what is going to happen next.
I am looking forward to reading more from Ms. Muckley.
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
I am looking forward to reading more from Ms. Muckley.
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 17, 2013
Ben had just completed his NEMREC genetic research, and suddenly wakes up to find life is not as it should be. Now he must fight to discover the truth and recover what he can.
An action packed and suspenseful narrative drives the plot and adds to the underlying mysteries.
Interesting characters are present throughout the tale, and a number are allowed to share their perspective.
The ending felt a bit abrupt; however, without giving too many details and with the potential passage of time, that could be expected, I guess.
Overall, a thrilling ride.
An action packed and suspenseful narrative drives the plot and adds to the underlying mysteries.
Interesting characters are present throughout the tale, and a number are allowed to share their perspective.
The ending felt a bit abrupt; however, without giving too many details and with the potential passage of time, that could be expected, I guess.
Overall, a thrilling ride.
September 24, 2013
A scientist who discovers a cure for a disease that killed his father, a wife who is not who she seems to be and a lifelong friend who is true evil combine to make this book enthralling.
Its twists are intriguing, its surprises are jolting and the outcome is shocking.
I honestly couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I had to know what happened next. This book does everything a thriller should do and more. I highly recommend it and it's a book I'll read again and again.
I received this book for free in exchange for this honest review.
Its twists are intriguing, its surprises are jolting and the outcome is shocking.
I honestly couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I had to know what happened next. This book does everything a thriller should do and more. I highly recommend it and it's a book I'll read again and again.
I received this book for free in exchange for this honest review.
September 13, 2013
I really liked the suspense of this one. Ben is a scientist who has just discovered the key to curing Huntington's disease which was what killed his father. He celebrates and wakes up a day and a half later to find that his lab is gone along with all those he worked with.
He finds himself wrapped up in a secret government project, he just didn't know that it was the government all along.
great read
He finds himself wrapped up in a secret government project, he just didn't know that it was the government all along.
great read
October 22, 2013
I just finished an ARC copy of Identity X. What can I say? If I compared the story to a amusement park ride - it would be a roller coaster! It was suspenseful - full of twists and turns and I loved it! The plot was well thought out and the world created by Muckley was very believable. Hoping there's a sequel in the near future.
September 29, 2013
From the moment I started reading Identity X I enjoyed it.
This is entertaining and suspenseful and kept me continuing on all the way to it's finish. I found the characters contained within,
one who was tragically taken out in a horrible way who I felt
didn't deserve to likeable and interesting. Overall this was an
interesting unique story and I rate it four stars.
This is entertaining and suspenseful and kept me continuing on all the way to it's finish. I found the characters contained within,
one who was tragically taken out in a horrible way who I felt
didn't deserve to likeable and interesting. Overall this was an
interesting unique story and I rate it four stars.
October 12, 2013
I loved this book. I am always on the look out for medical mysteries/thrillers/suspense. I was lucky to win this but even luckier that it was a great read. I had to force myself not to read the entire book in one night because I knew I would be upset when I would have no more pages left. That's how much I enjoyed this book-I was mad at myself for reading through it so fast!!
September 23, 2013
I think that this is an absolutely brilliant book, it has an amazing plot, definitely a great novel to read, and it hooks on to the reader's attention the whole time. The twists in the novel is very intriguing.
September 24, 2013
Identity X is a must read thriller about Ben Stone, a scientist with a breakthrough in genomics. His success quickly throws him out of whack, not in a good way. You must read this to understand the exhilaration of living, when you are left for dead...
September 24, 2013
A very well written book that keeps you guessing who to trust. The characters are believable and well developed. The storyline progresses well with a great ending. I could see a sequel from this book. I will be looking for more books from this author in the future.
June 15, 2021
In my opinion, a good fictional book - other than perhaps, those in the Science Fiction genre - should be, at least, believable! This book failed! I shan't spoil it for others, but the twenty year, or so, gap between the penultimate chapter and the final one left too many unanswered questions, and left me with a sour taste in my mouth (metaphorically speaking!).
There were also a number of errors that ought to have been picked up by a proof-reader - and at ;east one factual error that the author ought never to have made.
The four stars is a mistake. I was certain that I only gave it three - and that was being generous!
There were also a number of errors that ought to have been picked up by a proof-reader - and at ;east one factual error that the author ought never to have made.
The four stars is a mistake. I was certain that I only gave it three - and that was being generous!
September 4, 2017
A rather disappointing read. Although the characters were developed, the author kept delving into their thought processes in such a way it became annoying. Not everyone can be paranoid and unsure of themselves and their position in life. It was like a big rig grinding gears and just can't seem to get moving. I read it to the end and was even more disappointed by the lack of clarity in the way it was wrapped up. Maybe I was too tired when I read it and for that reason I'm giving it less than 3 stars. It definitely has potential, but the telling is lacking.
May 24, 2018
The ONLY reason it gets 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the numerous spelling, grammar, and formatting mistakes.
That being said, this book was awesome. It's a twist I haven't read before now. Mark was awesome, Matthew was awesome, Hannah was awesome, and Ben was the awesomest. There was so many twists and turns. You never knew from moment to moment what was next.
THE ENDING!!! LOVE the ending!
That being said, this book was awesome. It's a twist I haven't read before now. Mark was awesome, Matthew was awesome, Hannah was awesome, and Ben was the awesomest. There was so many twists and turns. You never knew from moment to moment what was next.
THE ENDING!!! LOVE the ending!
June 6, 2020
Keep reading its worth the wait
I enjoyed this book. I thought about stopping the read several times but it picked up and kept me on the edge of my seat.
I enjoyed this book. I thought about stopping the read several times but it picked up and kept me on the edge of my seat.
Read
October 22, 2022Ich mag die Story line, aber es giebt besseres
June 29, 2022
Fast paced great read!
I was on the edge of my seat and questioning the integrity of EVERYONE by the time this book reached it's tantalizing end
I was on the edge of my seat and questioning the integrity of EVERYONE by the time this book reached it's tantalizing end
December 22, 2013
Muckley has written an intellectually gripping thriller that demanded and kept my attention from the start. What happens when you walk out of your front door and realize that you no longer officially exist in society? When you realize the little plastic government issued ID card that you must use everywhere to do almost anything has suddenly become deactivated? This is the mystery Ben Stone, a prominent medical scientist working in the U.K., must solve after he awakens one morning following the celebration of the success of his team’s NEMREC project.
Ben has dedicated his adult life to finding a cure for genetic diseases, such as the debilitating Huntington’s disease, which gradually destroyed his father’s life. The emotional scars he’s carried from childhood as he watched his father’s quality of life slowly disintegrate have been the driving force behind the past twenty years of his scientific work. Unfortunately, over the course of his life, his passionate need to save others has gradually eroded his personal life, and when we meet Ben, his marriage is barely hanging on by a thread and his family life is less than fulfilling.
When the book begins, Ben’s medical dream has finally come to fruition when the NEMREC project proves to be successful in changing an individual’s genetic code by repairing faulty DNA to cure diseases. Ben is pleased that his revolutionary scientific breakthrough can now save lives, but what he doesn’t realize is that the reverberations of NEMREC’s success will reach beyond the medical community to a covert government organization with nefarious plans for NEMREC’s use.
The story starts off a bit slowly so Muckley can immerse readers into a world where almost every aspect of your life can be tracked by the government via your identity card, and the government has the power to deactivate your card for even the tiniest of infractions that can leave you vulnerable and take away some of the basic rights and freedoms many of us take for granted. The author spends a great amount of time with character development. Ben may be the protagonist of the story but he’s not the one dimensional good guy wearing a white hat. In reality, he’s a flawed hero who must now deal with the consequences of his past actions and mistakes.
The action picks up when Ben finds himself on the run from powerful enemies who have erased his identity as a precursor to ending his actual life. Deception and betrayal cut deeply into the grooves of this cat and mouse chase that ensues with Ben trying to stay alive without knowing who he can now trust. As Ben begins to realize that many of his memories of significant life events have been manipulated by others, his whole perception of reality comes crashing down around him. Now he’s left with the realization that he has been a pawn in a game of warfare and, ironically, his life’s work will be used for death and destruction rather than improving the quality and longevity of life unless he can stay alive long enough to intervene.
By using a third person omniscient point of view to tell the story, Muckley helps readers to get the thoughts, perspectives, and motivations of many other main characters who are involved in the plot. While this certainly adds depth to the storyline, at times the shift from one character’s thoughts to another occurred within scenes and the abrupt transition caught me off guard and interrupted the flow of the story as I found myself re-reading passages to see when the shift occurred.
The ending is quite dramatic and suspenseful but was a bit vague for my preference since it was left open to speculation about what eventually happens to Ben and his family. The last chapter is really an epilogue with an OMG scene that would make a great foundation for a sequel. If Muckley decides to build upon this shocking conclusion, I’ll be ready and waiting to read the follow up to this engaging thriller!
I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest and fair review.
Ben has dedicated his adult life to finding a cure for genetic diseases, such as the debilitating Huntington’s disease, which gradually destroyed his father’s life. The emotional scars he’s carried from childhood as he watched his father’s quality of life slowly disintegrate have been the driving force behind the past twenty years of his scientific work. Unfortunately, over the course of his life, his passionate need to save others has gradually eroded his personal life, and when we meet Ben, his marriage is barely hanging on by a thread and his family life is less than fulfilling.
When the book begins, Ben’s medical dream has finally come to fruition when the NEMREC project proves to be successful in changing an individual’s genetic code by repairing faulty DNA to cure diseases. Ben is pleased that his revolutionary scientific breakthrough can now save lives, but what he doesn’t realize is that the reverberations of NEMREC’s success will reach beyond the medical community to a covert government organization with nefarious plans for NEMREC’s use.
The story starts off a bit slowly so Muckley can immerse readers into a world where almost every aspect of your life can be tracked by the government via your identity card, and the government has the power to deactivate your card for even the tiniest of infractions that can leave you vulnerable and take away some of the basic rights and freedoms many of us take for granted. The author spends a great amount of time with character development. Ben may be the protagonist of the story but he’s not the one dimensional good guy wearing a white hat. In reality, he’s a flawed hero who must now deal with the consequences of his past actions and mistakes.
The action picks up when Ben finds himself on the run from powerful enemies who have erased his identity as a precursor to ending his actual life. Deception and betrayal cut deeply into the grooves of this cat and mouse chase that ensues with Ben trying to stay alive without knowing who he can now trust. As Ben begins to realize that many of his memories of significant life events have been manipulated by others, his whole perception of reality comes crashing down around him. Now he’s left with the realization that he has been a pawn in a game of warfare and, ironically, his life’s work will be used for death and destruction rather than improving the quality and longevity of life unless he can stay alive long enough to intervene.
By using a third person omniscient point of view to tell the story, Muckley helps readers to get the thoughts, perspectives, and motivations of many other main characters who are involved in the plot. While this certainly adds depth to the storyline, at times the shift from one character’s thoughts to another occurred within scenes and the abrupt transition caught me off guard and interrupted the flow of the story as I found myself re-reading passages to see when the shift occurred.
The ending is quite dramatic and suspenseful but was a bit vague for my preference since it was left open to speculation about what eventually happens to Ben and his family. The last chapter is really an epilogue with an OMG scene that would make a great foundation for a sequel. If Muckley decides to build upon this shocking conclusion, I’ll be ready and waiting to read the follow up to this engaging thriller!
I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest and fair review.
September 16, 2013
originally posted on my blog Book Reviews: http://pandabooklover1995.weebly.com/...
At the beginning of this book we are introduced to Ben and his team having founded the cure to genetic diseases, one of which killed his father. Of course Ben is married and he is interested in a possible relationship with another colleague, Ami, being that Ben relationship with his wife isn't happy ( what is it with men being married and wanting other women?). I will be totally surprised if he doesn't start a relationship with Amy by the end of this book. Ben's friend Mark is also interested in starting a relationship with Ami. What seems really cool so far in this book is how people are given Identity cards and how important they are in this society ( ie in order to use the train your identity card needs to be scanned and if it doesn't work you can't access the train). Identity cards are also a way for the government to monitor what people are doing in their day to day lives ( talk about stalking).
So far I consider Ben to be a pig because when his friend sends him a photo of Ami's backside he is sad that he deletes it and the fact that he has visions of Ami with him in Dubai. As you can probably guess from my point of view I am totally in favor of Ben's wife Hannah and their son. I wonder if Hannah hates her husband so much that she would do anything to try and get rid of him ? ( *hint hint*). However, I am impressed with how Ben conveys his emotions about his father's death and his dedication to trying to save his family ( mostly his son) from suffering the same illness that his father went through. Here is an example of Ben's feelings " You don't. You didn't see it. I can't bear to watch that all over again as an old man". His words cracked into tears". Ben is really dedicated to his work even at the cost of his marriage. Which is an admirable trait of his.
I am curious as to how old Ben is ? I am at a part where there is a lot of action and bullets have just been shot at him. Ben is trying to stay alive and not be killed by an assassin. I can definitely say that Ben is extremely resourceful and smart about trying to escape the people going after him. I have come to the conclusion that the people who funded Ben for his research want him dead because he came up with a huge discovery that the company doesn't want revealed for fear of the fact that if genetic diseases were cured than there would be no need for hospitals or doctors ( I was also thinking along the lines of population control).
Even when Ben is trying to stay alive all he can think about is Ami and compare her to his wife Hannah. Wow I just got to a really good part in this book and it is awesome and sad at the same time ( read this book and you will understand ( *hint *hint it involves Ami)). There is so much description of what everything looks like in this book and I really like all of the characters. My initial impression was that I really liked Hannah and Mark but knowing what I read now that changes my opinion of them.There is so many twists and turns in this book and its really good. I knew that Hannah had a secret and that she would play a significant role in this book but its so hard to try and figure out if anyone in this book is telling the truth ( read this book and you will understand).
The main thing that I noticed a lot throughout this book and what everyone justify's when they shot and kill someone is the phrase kill or be killed. I really enjoyed this book, it is intense but I do think that it is really long( it took me a few days to read it all).
Favorite Character: Hannah
Favorite Quote: "Fortunately for me, it seems that I married a woman who is pretty sharp with a gun. My father in law seems quite trigger happy too".- Ben
This Ebook was provided by the author Michelle Muckley. Thanks :)
Thanks for Reading :D
At the beginning of this book we are introduced to Ben and his team having founded the cure to genetic diseases, one of which killed his father. Of course Ben is married and he is interested in a possible relationship with another colleague, Ami, being that Ben relationship with his wife isn't happy ( what is it with men being married and wanting other women?). I will be totally surprised if he doesn't start a relationship with Amy by the end of this book. Ben's friend Mark is also interested in starting a relationship with Ami. What seems really cool so far in this book is how people are given Identity cards and how important they are in this society ( ie in order to use the train your identity card needs to be scanned and if it doesn't work you can't access the train). Identity cards are also a way for the government to monitor what people are doing in their day to day lives ( talk about stalking).
So far I consider Ben to be a pig because when his friend sends him a photo of Ami's backside he is sad that he deletes it and the fact that he has visions of Ami with him in Dubai. As you can probably guess from my point of view I am totally in favor of Ben's wife Hannah and their son. I wonder if Hannah hates her husband so much that she would do anything to try and get rid of him ? ( *hint hint*). However, I am impressed with how Ben conveys his emotions about his father's death and his dedication to trying to save his family ( mostly his son) from suffering the same illness that his father went through. Here is an example of Ben's feelings " You don't. You didn't see it. I can't bear to watch that all over again as an old man". His words cracked into tears". Ben is really dedicated to his work even at the cost of his marriage. Which is an admirable trait of his.
I am curious as to how old Ben is ? I am at a part where there is a lot of action and bullets have just been shot at him. Ben is trying to stay alive and not be killed by an assassin. I can definitely say that Ben is extremely resourceful and smart about trying to escape the people going after him. I have come to the conclusion that the people who funded Ben for his research want him dead because he came up with a huge discovery that the company doesn't want revealed for fear of the fact that if genetic diseases were cured than there would be no need for hospitals or doctors ( I was also thinking along the lines of population control).
Even when Ben is trying to stay alive all he can think about is Ami and compare her to his wife Hannah. Wow I just got to a really good part in this book and it is awesome and sad at the same time ( read this book and you will understand ( *hint *hint it involves Ami)). There is so much description of what everything looks like in this book and I really like all of the characters. My initial impression was that I really liked Hannah and Mark but knowing what I read now that changes my opinion of them.There is so many twists and turns in this book and its really good. I knew that Hannah had a secret and that she would play a significant role in this book but its so hard to try and figure out if anyone in this book is telling the truth ( read this book and you will understand).
The main thing that I noticed a lot throughout this book and what everyone justify's when they shot and kill someone is the phrase kill or be killed. I really enjoyed this book, it is intense but I do think that it is really long( it took me a few days to read it all).
Favorite Character: Hannah
Favorite Quote: "Fortunately for me, it seems that I married a woman who is pretty sharp with a gun. My father in law seems quite trigger happy too".- Ben
This Ebook was provided by the author Michelle Muckley. Thanks :)
Thanks for Reading :D
September 23, 2013
This book has taken many shaky turns in the bumpy road between the like and dislike section of my mind. To address the cover first, it isn't anything special, really. I'm just not feeling it. I find it a little too simple and uninteresting. I am at least thankful the author's name isn't 3 times bigger than the title. I wasn't sure I was going to like the book once I started reading it because of this so called "Ami" who Ben has supposedly fallen for as stated in the description. He has a wife, thus Ami shall burn in the fiery pits of book hell along with Ben. But then, everything changed when the plot device known as the Agency attacked! God bless their souls. Oh, they are mean and despicable, but they have performed a miracle! I wish I could say what they did that made them worthy of being called angels in my eyes, but it's a spoiler. You will see if you read it. Thank you, oh angels of mercy. Ok, my point being, I would have really had a hard time reading this book had it not been for these fine gentlemen who rid this world of a pest. This actually made me enjoy and appreciate all that was going on in the book much more than I would have before this miracle. The author is pretty skilled when it comes to writing, I'll give her that. The idea and plot are not as original as expected, but I do appreciate the author's effort which clearly shows in character development. She gave them all back stories, thus creating logical explanations for their actions and means. Hannah is my favorite character because, unlike Ben, she sacrificed and risked everything for him. Because he has wished for another woman next to such a loving wife, he is now damned to my "disliked characters" list. The antagonist is your pretty standard villain who is greedy for power, but at least he shows some signs of humanity when he is reminded of the past. Unfortunately, they are quickly discarded and he's off to do some evil once more. I still give him credit for being more human than Ami. She seems a bit too perfect of a character to be true. Maybe I'm just saying that because I hate her guts for Ben liking her and her possibly liking him back, I don't know. In the end, I have to admit, the plot was suspenseful at times and even though it was not that special of an idea and could have used more spice, I still enjoyed it somewhat. I was not that much of my type, but as it is, it is a damn good book if you enjoy action movies... I mean books.
October 10, 2013
“Persona non grata” is a phrase defined as “someone who is not wanted”, in a nutshell. But what if someone decides to take that “not wanted” stigma a step much further?
Ben Stone becomes the target of such an ambition when, after a discovery of global proportions, he is suddenly, for all intents and purposes, wiped out of existence. The only thing that remains is the troubling fact that he is still breathing. Overnight, his lab, his work, his co-workers, and his very identity have all disappeared. Someone way up in the governmental hierarchy has gotten what he wanted, and is now hell-bent on making sure Ben gets erased.
But what this menace does not foresee is how very resourceful Ben is when it comes to surviving. Even though he is completely bewildered, with absolutely no idea of what has happened, Ben keeps his wits about him and eludes the bullets that rain down on him at every turn.
All too soon, though, with no one he can trust, and his options running out, Ben has but one choice–to trust the one person he thought he knew better than anyone. She risks her life to save his, along with the life of their son. But running like a low-voltage current through all of this is the one question: What happened to Ben’s discovery? And what will the people who stole it from him do with it?
To be honest, my only regret is that I didn’t read this book sooner. Ms. Muckley has a way with words that is in the upper echelons of writing. Her turns of phrase are so accurate and so descriptive–some of the best I’ve ever read. For example, at the beginning of the book, Ben is facing his peers, ready to announce his discovery. This is what Ms. Muckley writes:
H felt the weight of all great men before him who had stood on the same precipice of achievement, isolated in the solitary moment before the world learns what has been accomplished.
The book is rife with descriptions of this caliber. Her characters are so real that I could almost hear them breathing. Beautifully crafted, and it has an ending that just cries out for more. It was a total surprise, and, as they say, “therein lies another story”.
More, please!
Ben Stone becomes the target of such an ambition when, after a discovery of global proportions, he is suddenly, for all intents and purposes, wiped out of existence. The only thing that remains is the troubling fact that he is still breathing. Overnight, his lab, his work, his co-workers, and his very identity have all disappeared. Someone way up in the governmental hierarchy has gotten what he wanted, and is now hell-bent on making sure Ben gets erased.
But what this menace does not foresee is how very resourceful Ben is when it comes to surviving. Even though he is completely bewildered, with absolutely no idea of what has happened, Ben keeps his wits about him and eludes the bullets that rain down on him at every turn.
All too soon, though, with no one he can trust, and his options running out, Ben has but one choice–to trust the one person he thought he knew better than anyone. She risks her life to save his, along with the life of their son. But running like a low-voltage current through all of this is the one question: What happened to Ben’s discovery? And what will the people who stole it from him do with it?
To be honest, my only regret is that I didn’t read this book sooner. Ms. Muckley has a way with words that is in the upper echelons of writing. Her turns of phrase are so accurate and so descriptive–some of the best I’ve ever read. For example, at the beginning of the book, Ben is facing his peers, ready to announce his discovery. This is what Ms. Muckley writes:
H felt the weight of all great men before him who had stood on the same precipice of achievement, isolated in the solitary moment before the world learns what has been accomplished.
The book is rife with descriptions of this caliber. Her characters are so real that I could almost hear them breathing. Beautifully crafted, and it has an ending that just cries out for more. It was a total surprise, and, as they say, “therein lies another story”.
More, please!
January 26, 2014
Review first appeared on my blog: Book Addict 24-7
I received a copy via the author in exchange for an honest review
Identity X by Michelle Muckley is a thriller that takes place in a distant future where everything that defines us is installed in a card that you carry around for the rest of your life. This future also hosts a government that is willing to go to any extremes in order to achieve success, which is where the exciting aspect of this story comes into play. Both the protagonist and the reader are unsure of what is going on and what will happen next, making this one an intriguing and addicting read.
Ben Stone, the protagonist, is introduced as a scientist who has just found a very important cure. His problematic home life and questionable alliances immediately makes us question what exactly is going on in Ben’s life. He is one of those protagonists with a huge mystery put in front of him and while he is busy focusing on all the wrong things, the reader can’t help but feel slightly frustrated with how unaware he is of the imminent danger surrounding him.
Muckley does an excellent job of building up the mystery by introducing twists and turns that the reader will never see coming. The pacing sometimes lags, but it is overall great, always keeping the reader intrigued and curious as to what might happen next. Muckley’s novel is also a cautionary tale of what it means to dedicate your life to something that could either ruin or save lives, the dangers of technology and entrusting everything to it, and it also begs the question, do we really know the people we trust?
If you like thrillers set in a not too distant future, then you’ll like this one. Full of action, mystery, and intrigue, Identity X is a novel that will pull you in and won’t let go until the startling finish.
I received a copy via the author in exchange for an honest review
Identity X by Michelle Muckley is a thriller that takes place in a distant future where everything that defines us is installed in a card that you carry around for the rest of your life. This future also hosts a government that is willing to go to any extremes in order to achieve success, which is where the exciting aspect of this story comes into play. Both the protagonist and the reader are unsure of what is going on and what will happen next, making this one an intriguing and addicting read.
Ben Stone, the protagonist, is introduced as a scientist who has just found a very important cure. His problematic home life and questionable alliances immediately makes us question what exactly is going on in Ben’s life. He is one of those protagonists with a huge mystery put in front of him and while he is busy focusing on all the wrong things, the reader can’t help but feel slightly frustrated with how unaware he is of the imminent danger surrounding him.
Muckley does an excellent job of building up the mystery by introducing twists and turns that the reader will never see coming. The pacing sometimes lags, but it is overall great, always keeping the reader intrigued and curious as to what might happen next. Muckley’s novel is also a cautionary tale of what it means to dedicate your life to something that could either ruin or save lives, the dangers of technology and entrusting everything to it, and it also begs the question, do we really know the people we trust?
If you like thrillers set in a not too distant future, then you’ll like this one. Full of action, mystery, and intrigue, Identity X is a novel that will pull you in and won’t let go until the startling finish.
January 26, 2015
The punctuation in this book is atrocious, and it seems that no one ever edited a draft. The author continually uses the wrong words, most of the time small, in between words like "on" in place of "of", and "it" instead of "by", etc. In a few instances the mistakes were much larger where a pronoun is incorrect, "she" where the intent is clearly "he", etc. And one glaring example where in trying to escape a character starts a car and the author wrote that the sound of the engine wasn't as nice as the sound of an orchestra, when clearly she meant that the sound of an orchestra wouldn't have been more welcome than the sound of the engine.
I don't really blame the author. These types of things happen in the writing process as sentences are crafted and then recrafted. But the editing staff at the publisher should have caught these types of errors. And there are lots and lots of the little ones.
Plot-wise, it was pretty straight forward. It was fun but very predictable. The basis for the title is prominent in the first few pages, but then completely disappears, which was a shame. The book is pretty formulaic. After the third chapter, the rest of the book writes itself, including all the cliche plot twists. Can you really call it a twist when you can see it coming from early on?
I don't really blame the author. These types of things happen in the writing process as sentences are crafted and then recrafted. But the editing staff at the publisher should have caught these types of errors. And there are lots and lots of the little ones.
Plot-wise, it was pretty straight forward. It was fun but very predictable. The basis for the title is prominent in the first few pages, but then completely disappears, which was a shame. The book is pretty formulaic. After the third chapter, the rest of the book writes itself, including all the cliche plot twists. Can you really call it a twist when you can see it coming from early on?
June 11, 2014
Very mixed feelings about this book but overall the tale rattled along. What stops it being rated higher were some odd inaccurate scenes in the sense of time and place. As an example the setting is unclear, but seems to be London but not London as we know it, that is OK it may be a future London, but all the street are numbered like a US city. Then suddenly there is a reference to football stickers (Soccer for our US friends) but the player's names are older. Money, transport are controlled by identity cards, which everyone has to carry but they don't ditch mobile phones until three quarters of the way through the book. The book is initially about a breakthrough in genetic research but DNA as proof of identity is ignored. The lead character a genius DNA researcher is suddenly able to out shoot professional assassins one of whom happens to be his wife who is in on the conspiracy. So lots of inconsistencies which spoil an otherwise interesting plot and the last chapter is just a throw in to set up a sequel. Think a mix of Total Recall with echoes of every chase book you have ever read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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