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Extremity
A time-traveling, end-of-the-world police procedural, Extremity is True Detective if written by Philip K. Dick.
When once-renowned police detective Julia Torgrimsen is brought out of forced retirement to investigate the murder of Bruno Donaldson, a billionaire she worked with whilst undercover, she doesn't expect to find two bodies. Both are Bruno--identical down to the fingerprints--and both have been shot.
As the investigation sucks her back into the macabre world of London's rich elite, she finds herself on the hunt for a mysterious assassin who has been taking out the wealthy one by one. But when she finally catches up with her quarry, she unveils an entire world of secrets: impossible documents about future stock market crashes, photographs of dead clones, and a clandestine time-travelling conspiracy so insidious it might just mean the extinction of the entire human race.
If Julia is to have any chance of preventing this terrible future, she'll have to revisit her own past, the terrible choices she made undercover, and the brutal act that destroyed her once legendary career.
When once-renowned police detective Julia Torgrimsen is brought out of forced retirement to investigate the murder of Bruno Donaldson, a billionaire she worked with whilst undercover, she doesn't expect to find two bodies. Both are Bruno--identical down to the fingerprints--and both have been shot.
As the investigation sucks her back into the macabre world of London's rich elite, she finds herself on the hunt for a mysterious assassin who has been taking out the wealthy one by one. But when she finally catches up with her quarry, she unveils an entire world of secrets: impossible documents about future stock market crashes, photographs of dead clones, and a clandestine time-travelling conspiracy so insidious it might just mean the extinction of the entire human race.
If Julia is to have any chance of preventing this terrible future, she'll have to revisit her own past, the terrible choices she made undercover, and the brutal act that destroyed her once legendary career.
165 pages, Hardcover
First published September 16, 2025
29 people are currently reading
5802 people want to read
About the author
Nicholas Binge
6 books583 followersNicholas Binge is a bestselling author of speculative thrillers that blend big sci-fi concepts with psychological horror. His latest novel, Dissolution, was hailed as one of the best thrillers of 2025 by The New York Times and is being adapted into a major motion picture by Sony Pictures, with Oscar-nominated screenwriter Eric Heisserer (Arrival, Birdbox) penning the script.
His breakout novel Ascension was a New York Times Editor's Choice Pick, finalist for the Goodreads' Choice Awards and Ignotus Award, and named a best book of 2023 by Vulture, Goodreads, The LA Times, and The Sunday Times. It is also being adapted for film. His work has been translated into over a dozen languages and featured across major international outlets from The Guardian to Entertainment Weekly.
Binge has lived across Asia and Europe — from Singapore to Switzerland to Hong Kong —before settling in Edinburgh, where he lectures in Creative Writing at Edinburgh Napier University and co-hosts the Binge Reading Book Club podcast. Beyond fiction, he has written for The Guardian, Literary Hub, and other leading outlets, and is a regular speaker at book festivals across Scotland and the UK.
His next novel, Extremity, arrives September 2025.
His breakout novel Ascension was a New York Times Editor's Choice Pick, finalist for the Goodreads' Choice Awards and Ignotus Award, and named a best book of 2023 by Vulture, Goodreads, The LA Times, and The Sunday Times. It is also being adapted for film. His work has been translated into over a dozen languages and featured across major international outlets from The Guardian to Entertainment Weekly.
Binge has lived across Asia and Europe — from Singapore to Switzerland to Hong Kong —before settling in Edinburgh, where he lectures in Creative Writing at Edinburgh Napier University and co-hosts the Binge Reading Book Club podcast. Beyond fiction, he has written for The Guardian, Literary Hub, and other leading outlets, and is a regular speaker at book festivals across Scotland and the UK.
His next novel, Extremity, arrives September 2025.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
October 30, 2025
This novella is a combination of time travel science fiction and a police procedural. Two policemen and one former officer investigate a murder, which is complicated by the fact that there are 2 identical bodies in 2 separate locations.
I thought this was fun. I enjoyed the plot and the interaction of the characters. I particularly liked the sly ending. The story is told from multiple points of view. I was listening to an audiobook and it sometimes took me a few seconds to catch on to who was talking because the narrator of the audiobook did not do a good job of differentiating the voices. In fact, I initially thought that the first (male) character in the book was female, because that’s what the female narrator made it sound like. (I think in the physical or ebook none of this would be a problem).
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.
I thought this was fun. I enjoyed the plot and the interaction of the characters. I particularly liked the sly ending. The story is told from multiple points of view. I was listening to an audiobook and it sometimes took me a few seconds to catch on to who was talking because the narrator of the audiobook did not do a good job of differentiating the voices. In fact, I initially thought that the first (male) character in the book was female, because that’s what the female narrator made it sound like. (I think in the physical or ebook none of this would be a problem).
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.
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August 24, 20253.5 Stars
This was a straightforward but solid science fiction mystery novella. It didn't necessarily reinvent the genre or subvert expectations but if you are looking for an exciting pageturner that fuses together these two genres, then it's an enjoyable ride.
This had a gripping start and generally held the momentum all the way through. I would recommend anyone who loves this genre mashup and doesn't mind a familiar plot as long as it's well done.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This was a straightforward but solid science fiction mystery novella. It didn't necessarily reinvent the genre or subvert expectations but if you are looking for an exciting pageturner that fuses together these two genres, then it's an enjoyable ride.
This had a gripping start and generally held the momentum all the way through. I would recommend anyone who loves this genre mashup and doesn't mind a familiar plot as long as it's well done.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
October 3, 2025
Solid. Just like Binge’s earlier novels, Ascension and Dissolution. Binge seems to be emerging as the king of time travel fiction and is now an auto read for me!
July 28, 2025
This is an excellent fast-paced time-travel heist police procedural novella. Can a disgraced ex cop, a mysterious assassin, a clumsy junior Detective Constable and his world-weary boss prevent an existential calamity caused by a group of secretive billionaires? They’re certainly going to try!
When two identical bodies are found murdered, Julia Torgrimsen, an ex cop with a troubled past, is the best person to help. With the reluctant assistance of Mark, a junior DC, and her ex boss, John Grossman, they discover that the end of the world is nigh.
A lot of plot and some decent characterisation are packed into a punchy 176 pages, with a perfect balance of action, mystery and jeopardy. The story is presented from the 1st person perspective of each of the main characters - a format that works really well, and gives it a slightly film noir feel, which is reinforced by the selection of characters.
Thank you #NetGalley and Pan Macmillan / Tor for the free review copy of #Extremity without obligation. All opinions are my own.
Also on TikTok
When two identical bodies are found murdered, Julia Torgrimsen, an ex cop with a troubled past, is the best person to help. With the reluctant assistance of Mark, a junior DC, and her ex boss, John Grossman, they discover that the end of the world is nigh.
A lot of plot and some decent characterisation are packed into a punchy 176 pages, with a perfect balance of action, mystery and jeopardy. The story is presented from the 1st person perspective of each of the main characters - a format that works really well, and gives it a slightly film noir feel, which is reinforced by the selection of characters.
Thank you #NetGalley and Pan Macmillan / Tor for the free review copy of #Extremity without obligation. All opinions are my own.
Also on TikTok
October 4, 2025
Look. I picked this up at Barnes & Noble last night when I saw it out on the shelves early. I usually try to sit with a few books, read a chapter or two to see what I like, then buy it. I was HOOKED from the first few pages, bought it, got home, and read the rest of the novella in one sitting.
This is a fast paced sci-fi mystery thriller that follows three characters as they investigate an incredibly strange murder. Infamous retired cop Julia Torgrimsen is lured back out of retirement by her former colleague, and he drags along a poor young cop who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The narrative features all three characters as they're giving their statements after the entire investigation has been concluded, and it makes for dynamic pacing. Unfortunately the character voices weren't very distinct from one another - at times, I almost forgot whose narrative I was supposed to be reading. The story rips forward and takes you along for the ride whether you like it or not. It goes in so many weird directions, and if I stopped to think about it too long, the plot would absolutely fall apart. The ending was incredibly predictable, but I liked it anyway.
Honestly, this is one of those cases where I was just enjoying my time in the book and in this world that I didn't care. It was fun. I enjoyed following the characters and wondering where the plot would take me next.
This is a fast paced sci-fi mystery thriller that follows three characters as they investigate an incredibly strange murder. Infamous retired cop Julia Torgrimsen is lured back out of retirement by her former colleague, and he drags along a poor young cop who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The narrative features all three characters as they're giving their statements after the entire investigation has been concluded, and it makes for dynamic pacing. Unfortunately the character voices weren't very distinct from one another - at times, I almost forgot whose narrative I was supposed to be reading. The story rips forward and takes you along for the ride whether you like it or not. It goes in so many weird directions, and if I stopped to think about it too long, the plot would absolutely fall apart. The ending was incredibly predictable, but I liked it anyway.
Honestly, this is one of those cases where I was just enjoying my time in the book and in this world that I didn't care. It was fun. I enjoyed following the characters and wondering where the plot would take me next.
September 30, 2025
Extremity was such a fun, fast-paced read—I loved it! Julia was a standout for me, like a modern-day Sherlock Holmes, and I couldn’t get enough of her. The three-person POV worked really well, and each character brought something unique to the story.
What started as a straightforward murder mystery quickly turned into something much bigger, with time travel and wild conspiracies that kept me hooked. The sci-fi elements were smart and exciting, and the action never let up. Honestly, I didn’t want it to end—I’d love to see these characters again in a sequel or spin-off.
I received the audio of this and it was enjoyable. The narrator did a good job. My only complaint is with 3 points if few having another narrator would have been nice but I understand it’s a short read probably not cost effective for multiple narrators. The narrator did do a great job with the multiple points of view and the audio definitely added to the reading experience.
Big thanks to Tor Publishing and NetGalley for the gifted copy. Thanks to Dreamscape media for the gifted ALC. This was a thrilling, pulse-pounding read, and I’m hoping we haven’t seen the last of this world!
What started as a straightforward murder mystery quickly turned into something much bigger, with time travel and wild conspiracies that kept me hooked. The sci-fi elements were smart and exciting, and the action never let up. Honestly, I didn’t want it to end—I’d love to see these characters again in a sequel or spin-off.
I received the audio of this and it was enjoyable. The narrator did a good job. My only complaint is with 3 points if few having another narrator would have been nice but I understand it’s a short read probably not cost effective for multiple narrators. The narrator did do a great job with the multiple points of view and the audio definitely added to the reading experience.
Big thanks to Tor Publishing and NetGalley for the gifted copy. Thanks to Dreamscape media for the gifted ALC. This was a thrilling, pulse-pounding read, and I’m hoping we haven’t seen the last of this world!
October 5, 2025
Is this a big metaphor for climate change or am I reading into this?
This was a short book that had me enthralled. I would honestly recommend you go into this blind knowing it’s packed with action, angsty character backgrounds, and realistic dialogue.
Infamous police detective Julia is brought out of forced retirement and what follows is unexplainable murders and what might be time travel.
Then, we have a detective who doesn’t want to bring Julia in, but also knows they work best together.
To throw things off (or together), we have a young, new, naive officer way in over his head.
I do have to mention the audiobook only has one narrator and even though she did different voices, I have been spoiled by multiple narrators for male and females which initially threw me off figuring out who is who.
I enjoyed how cynicism is contrasted with wonder and naivety. I enjoyed how capable Julia was and how Binge clearly thought out each piece of the investigation and the trail of clues.
I was surprisingly satisfied despite its short length which was helped by its tight plot and small, contained cast.
Audiobook arc gifted by publisher.
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This was a short book that had me enthralled. I would honestly recommend you go into this blind knowing it’s packed with action, angsty character backgrounds, and realistic dialogue.
Infamous police detective Julia is brought out of forced retirement and what follows is unexplainable murders and what might be time travel.
Then, we have a detective who doesn’t want to bring Julia in, but also knows they work best together.
To throw things off (or together), we have a young, new, naive officer way in over his head.
I do have to mention the audiobook only has one narrator and even though she did different voices, I have been spoiled by multiple narrators for male and females which initially threw me off figuring out who is who.
I enjoyed how cynicism is contrasted with wonder and naivety. I enjoyed how capable Julia was and how Binge clearly thought out each piece of the investigation and the trail of clues.
I was surprisingly satisfied despite its short length which was helped by its tight plot and small, contained cast.
Audiobook arc gifted by publisher.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
July 23, 2025
Galley provided by publisher
I requested Extremity on the basis of enjoying Ascension, and a blurb that promised intriguing things. And, for the most part, that was true. It was a gripping, fast-paced novella, although perhaps with a storyline that meant I felt it ought to have been a novel instead. A few things happened a bit too fast, but it still had me on the edge of my seat throughout. Really, I think my 3-star rating does come down to the fact it just feels a bit too short to fully establish good characters and plot for me. It's written as three main characters' statements following an investigation so you kind of just get told a lot of things, which is fine for a novella, but it felt somewhat formulaic at the same time. There was an 'oh shit' moment towards the end (no spoilers) which got me interested for a potential sequel - although I also have to say, in retrospect, it was kind of obvious - but beyond that, this never really threatened to go higher than 3-stars for me. Still, an enjoyable read and one that makes me curious for what Binge has coming next.
I requested Extremity on the basis of enjoying Ascension, and a blurb that promised intriguing things. And, for the most part, that was true. It was a gripping, fast-paced novella, although perhaps with a storyline that meant I felt it ought to have been a novel instead. A few things happened a bit too fast, but it still had me on the edge of my seat throughout. Really, I think my 3-star rating does come down to the fact it just feels a bit too short to fully establish good characters and plot for me. It's written as three main characters' statements following an investigation so you kind of just get told a lot of things, which is fine for a novella, but it felt somewhat formulaic at the same time. There was an 'oh shit' moment towards the end (no spoilers) which got me interested for a potential sequel - although I also have to say, in retrospect, it was kind of obvious - but beyond that, this never really threatened to go higher than 3-stars for me. Still, an enjoyable read and one that makes me curious for what Binge has coming next.
July 21, 2025
I should state right off the bat that I root for every book I open to read. Binge had a huge hit on his hands with Ascension. He got a blurb from Stephen King, and he is translated into nine languages. Frankly, he has more success than me, so keep that in mind. He has incredible ideas, and I understand the appeal. The thing is that I was challenged by Ascension. I loved the concept, but didn’t jive with the execution. The narrative was set up to be epistolary, a narrative limitation that Binge didn’t follow and apparently no editor along the way told him he was only writing like it was a letter to start chapters.
Extremity is a book that I think has a fantastic set-up, but much like the first Binge I read, I could not jive with the writing style.
Reviews tend to be extremely personal, as a reader, we all have things that will instantly turn us off to a reading experience, and for me, it can often be first-person narratives. Not always, there are plenty of first-person narratives I do enjoy. Often, those books cause me to forget about how the story is told. It might be a writer’s disease that most readers will not look deeply into.
First Person is like found footage movies to me. Found footage movies often “break the rules” of the story by doing things like having a running camera set down in a room while people have a private conversation. If you are doing a first-person book, then you have to in my opinion follow the rules and not cheat. Delores Claiborne by King and Malerman’s Incidents Around the House are examples of first-person done perfectly without cheating.
Nicholas Binge seems intent on using first person but unwilling to accept the limitations of the form. I can’t suspend disbelief when the POV shifts between first-person narrators, because I start wondering why this person is telling the story now. It shines a spotlight on the wizard behind the curtain constantly, and I am seeing Binge’s motivations, not the characters.
For him to switch narrators, he had to use the device of starting each point of view shift in a character's name in bold, because a reader wouldn’t know which I was telling the story. If you want a three POV story, in my opinion, it is a bad idea to do it this way.
Now If that doesn’t bother you, and you think I am being a harsh asshole, let me tell you that Extremity is a high-concept time travel novel combined with police procedural and a bit of cosmic horror. The concept at the core is cool. The execution did not work for me.
As an example, I will point to page 36-37
“Mark!” Julia shouts, sprinting at full tilt from the other side of the room. The girl darts away, escaping back off into the house with the rifle.
Julia grabs my gun and follows.
I try to get up, but my brain’s in shock all I can think about is the muzzle of that rifle directly in front of my eyes.”
OK, a few things...this passage ends Mark’s POV, and we switch to Julia. In a third-person narrative, I accept the author’s choice of transition. But when it is First person, I am thinking why did Mark stop telling the story with a gun in his face?
Julia Torrimsen: I knew Paul's house like the back of my hand, and by the way the shooter was moving through it, she did too. This is how Julia’s POV starts…
“I followed her left out of the back living room and into the library.”
I see why Binge is withholding POV, and giving us information. Mark was knocked out and John was going to think Julia did it. So then, before the chapter ended, he had to switch POVS again. This is one example, but the short novel is littered with moments. Are they writing this story? Co-authors? Are they giving testimony? Why these three voices?
Sometimes they are talking to the reader, and other times not. So lets talk about when the characters talk directly to the reader. Sometimes they stay in character but often they tell the story like a novelist, which took me out of Ascension, and it took me out of the story here too.
A shame because there are interesting ideas at work. I like the idea that a time machine becomes one of the worst possible inventions.
“The great machine of our doom. The greatest invention of our time period, the last thing humanity will ever create.”
The stakes of the story are powerful, and I was interested in where it was going, so I finished it despite all my problems with it. Maybe the first-person thing doesn’t bother you, and there is a chance that this time-travel cosmic horror police procedural will work for you. It has much going for it. I wish I could say I loved it, but I gotta be honest. Binge and I have different storytelling approaches but I am sure it will work better for many of you. I don’t personally think he is being served well by editors
August 25, 2025
“And yes, I’m aware that “this isn’t how it looks” is just about the oldest cliché in the book. I’m aware that you have a trail of bodies and the only that connects all of them is me. I’m aware of Occam’s razor.”
Thank you to @tordotcompub and @netgalley for the arc.
I loved this one. Ascension was one of my top 10 reads for last year and this book seems to be a strong contender for one of the spots this year. Nicholas Binge has perfected writing the unputdownable quality in his books. This book was not a one-sitting read for me only because I had some unavoidable chores at the exact time. I can guarantee that this will be a one-sitting read for most of the readers who will pick it up. In fact, I am happy to dare anyone to read the first chapter and then try and not continue.
This book has a grizzled veteran cop coming out of retirement for one last mission and by chance and circumstances gets paired with a newbie. This cynical senior mentor character guiding the bright-eyed, idealistic younger partner who is just learning the ropes is such a revered trope for a reason and the author has executed it wonderfully here. This one also layers in one more character into this dynamic and he has been written splendidly as well.
What starts off as a regular police procedural quickly evolves into a world-ending cosmic horror with doppelgängers and some other favorite sci-fi elements. The biggest highlights of the book for me were how beautifully the author switched the POVs around and how I was constantly kept on the edge of the seat. I was so tense I could feel every muscle locking up in my body. This was what if Christopher Nolan directed an episode of X-files or Fringe and I sincerely want more.
Thank you to @tordotcompub and @netgalley for the arc.
I loved this one. Ascension was one of my top 10 reads for last year and this book seems to be a strong contender for one of the spots this year. Nicholas Binge has perfected writing the unputdownable quality in his books. This book was not a one-sitting read for me only because I had some unavoidable chores at the exact time. I can guarantee that this will be a one-sitting read for most of the readers who will pick it up. In fact, I am happy to dare anyone to read the first chapter and then try and not continue.
This book has a grizzled veteran cop coming out of retirement for one last mission and by chance and circumstances gets paired with a newbie. This cynical senior mentor character guiding the bright-eyed, idealistic younger partner who is just learning the ropes is such a revered trope for a reason and the author has executed it wonderfully here. This one also layers in one more character into this dynamic and he has been written splendidly as well.
What starts off as a regular police procedural quickly evolves into a world-ending cosmic horror with doppelgängers and some other favorite sci-fi elements. The biggest highlights of the book for me were how beautifully the author switched the POVs around and how I was constantly kept on the edge of the seat. I was so tense I could feel every muscle locking up in my body. This was what if Christopher Nolan directed an episode of X-files or Fringe and I sincerely want more.
December 28, 2025
I think the author has bitten off more than he can chew. To write the truly intelligent characters, you should be at least a little bit more clever than they are. It is said not to dismiss the author's intelligence rather to note that, in my opinion, the cleverness of the characters wasn't executed properly. The most quick-witted character (Julia) felt like an average person with good intuition, and the least quick-witted character (Mark) sometimes felt just like a stupid individual with a lack of common sense.
Another thing that bothered me was that too many things clicked together immediately without any struggle to figure out the connection. Julia quickly and surely found just the right pieces of evidence, and every time their professional skills were mentioned, they were confident and self-assured. Which, in most cases, is not true. Sometimes professionals can't really tell you what they're doing; they just know the right thing, but that doesn't mean they are confident in it and can articulate it in a way that immediately makes sense to somebody else, even to a novice in the same profession.
Another thing that bothered me was that too many things clicked together immediately without any struggle to figure out the connection. Julia quickly and surely found just the right pieces of evidence, and every time their professional skills were mentioned, they were confident and self-assured. Which, in most cases, is not true. Sometimes professionals can't really tell you what they're doing; they just know the right thing, but that doesn't mean they are confident in it and can articulate it in a way that immediately makes sense to somebody else, even to a novice in the same profession.
August 22, 2025
ARC review
Well, this was… not what I expected, and not in a good way. I’m beyond disappointed with this book. Let me start with the most glaring issue - if you’re going to write something even remotely historical, do your research. It’s really not that hard. In this book, a character’s father is said to have fled Bosnia in 1999 because of “conflict.” The war in Bosnia ended in 1995. That’s not a small slip-up, it’s lazy, and honestly insulting.
And while we’re on the subject, why is it that every time the Balkans or Serbians are mentioned in fiction, we’re either terrorists or human traffickers? Be serious. That kind of stereotyping is tiring, offensive, and shows a complete lack of imagination or respect.
Then there’s Julia, the protagonist. I absolutely hate the “cold, alcoholic, pained, genius detective” trope, and Julia is exactly that, down to the last drop of whiskey. She isn’t a character, she’s a cardboard cutout of a trope. She notices everything, she’s so smart, everyone respects her, but she has no warmth, no personality, nothing to make her feel like a real person. She’s just a robot which solves crimes. Then, conveniently, near the end, we’re told she feels guilty about something in her past and that’s why she is the way she is. That’s not character development, that’s lazy writing.
The pacing was nice, yes, but pacing alone doesn’t save a book when everything else falls apart. The time travel stuff was undercooked and barely made sense, major ideas were tossed in and never explained, and the whole story felt rushed as if the author had a decent idea but no capacity to see it through. The book desperately needed to be longer so that the world-building, the sci-fi concepts, and the characters could actually breathe. Instead, things just happened, one after another, with no time to process or immerse yourself in the story.
So yes, while I liked the idea of what this book was trying to be, the execution was sloppy, the stereotypes were offensive, and the characters were flat. The only redeeming factor was the fast pacing, but even that just made the flaws more obvious. Overall? Lazy writing, poor research, and a waste of a potentially good concept.
Well, this was… not what I expected, and not in a good way. I’m beyond disappointed with this book. Let me start with the most glaring issue - if you’re going to write something even remotely historical, do your research. It’s really not that hard. In this book, a character’s father is said to have fled Bosnia in 1999 because of “conflict.” The war in Bosnia ended in 1995. That’s not a small slip-up, it’s lazy, and honestly insulting.
And while we’re on the subject, why is it that every time the Balkans or Serbians are mentioned in fiction, we’re either terrorists or human traffickers? Be serious. That kind of stereotyping is tiring, offensive, and shows a complete lack of imagination or respect.
Then there’s Julia, the protagonist. I absolutely hate the “cold, alcoholic, pained, genius detective” trope, and Julia is exactly that, down to the last drop of whiskey. She isn’t a character, she’s a cardboard cutout of a trope. She notices everything, she’s so smart, everyone respects her, but she has no warmth, no personality, nothing to make her feel like a real person. She’s just a robot which solves crimes. Then, conveniently, near the end, we’re told she feels guilty about something in her past and that’s why she is the way she is. That’s not character development, that’s lazy writing.
The pacing was nice, yes, but pacing alone doesn’t save a book when everything else falls apart. The time travel stuff was undercooked and barely made sense, major ideas were tossed in and never explained, and the whole story felt rushed as if the author had a decent idea but no capacity to see it through. The book desperately needed to be longer so that the world-building, the sci-fi concepts, and the characters could actually breathe. Instead, things just happened, one after another, with no time to process or immerse yourself in the story.
So yes, while I liked the idea of what this book was trying to be, the execution was sloppy, the stereotypes were offensive, and the characters were flat. The only redeeming factor was the fast pacing, but even that just made the flaws more obvious. Overall? Lazy writing, poor research, and a waste of a potentially good concept.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2025
Extremity by Nicholas Binge is the kind of thriller that starts with a “wait, what?” moment and then just keeps escalating until you’re frantically flipping pages like you’re trying to outrun the plot itself.
Former police detective Julia Torgrimsen isn’t exactly thrilled to be pulled out of retirement but when the case involves an old undercover contact and billionaire found dead twice things get personal fast! Both bodies are identical right down to the fingerprints, which means the case is already impossible before the first suspect is named.
As Julia digs deeper, the trail leads through the shadowy halls of London’s wealthiest elite, into the crosshairs of a methodical assassin, and straight into a conspiracy involving cloning, time travel, and documents predicting future disasters. The stakes leap from a string of murders to the possible end of humanity, but Binge keeps it grounded through Julia’s haunted, stubborn, and razor-sharp point of view.
It’s twisty, high-concept, and pulsing with tension equal parts murder mystery, and science thriller! And while the time travel mechanics are deliciously brain-twisting, the human cost at the heart of the story is what sticks with you after you close the book!
⚡️Thank you Tor Books and Nicholas Binge for sharing this book with me!
Former police detective Julia Torgrimsen isn’t exactly thrilled to be pulled out of retirement but when the case involves an old undercover contact and billionaire found dead twice things get personal fast! Both bodies are identical right down to the fingerprints, which means the case is already impossible before the first suspect is named.
As Julia digs deeper, the trail leads through the shadowy halls of London’s wealthiest elite, into the crosshairs of a methodical assassin, and straight into a conspiracy involving cloning, time travel, and documents predicting future disasters. The stakes leap from a string of murders to the possible end of humanity, but Binge keeps it grounded through Julia’s haunted, stubborn, and razor-sharp point of view.
It’s twisty, high-concept, and pulsing with tension equal parts murder mystery, and science thriller! And while the time travel mechanics are deliciously brain-twisting, the human cost at the heart of the story is what sticks with you after you close the book!
⚡️Thank you Tor Books and Nicholas Binge for sharing this book with me!
October 7, 2025
Reading Journal Details
Book: Extremity by Nicholas Binge
Format Read: Audiobook (4 hours, 13 minutes)
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)
Quick Take
A high-concept, time-twisting novella that proves depth doesn't always need length. Extremity is part detective procedural, part existential crisis, and entirely captivating.
Full Review
I don't frequent novellas often—there’s rarely enough space to build a full framework of character, plot, and execution before the story closes its own book. But Extremity manages to do all three flawlessly in just over four hours of listening time. Sometimes the shortest rides are the ones that stay with you the longest.
The pacing reminded me of cresting a roller coaster—those brief pauses at the top where you can see the whole park sprawled below, adventure-goers milling around, catching your breath before plunging into the blur of loops and drops. The slower beats here aren't missteps; they're vantage points, offering just enough distance to take in the moral and emotional scope before the story rockets forward again.
Julia Torgrimsen makes for a fantastic, morally gray lead. Reckless, wry, and allergic to rules, she's the perfect counterpoint to DCI John's measured professionalism and DC Mark's inexperience—greener than freshly laid grass and deeply unsteady under pressure. Their dynamic crackles, creating tension that feels organic and earned. Julia's past mistakes, her forced retirement, and her tenuous return to the field lend the story both weight and momentum.
That said, Extremity isn't without its quirks. The multi–first-person debrief format had abrupt transitions between interviews that gave the story a slightly claustrophobic edge. At times, it felt less like separate accounts and more like a frantic "I have the conch now" relay. Thankfully, Marian Hussey's narration is the saving grace here; her ability to shift tone, tempo, and voice mid-scene kept the transitions both coherent and immersive. Without her performance, those sharp perspective cuts could've derailed the wild ride.
Still, what impressed me most was how Nicholas Binge managed to weave depth into brevity. The novella feels as though it's whispering secrets to be revisited later, little plot threads left trailing like breadcrumbs to a larger world. You can almost sense a future sequel waiting in the wings, ready to answer the murmurs left behind. Those purposeful imperfections are part of what makes this story so hauntingly effective.
Extremity doesn’t just explore the limits of time, it challenges how much story can fit inside it.
Features & Vibes
🎙️ Debriefs turned battlegrounds
🧃 Mark’s greenness meets Julia’s grit
💥 Compact length, massively impactful
🧭 Science fiction meets procedural grit
🧩 Puzzle pieces waiting for their next book
Advance Copy Provided By
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advance listening copy. The precision and control packed into this four-hour spiral prove that, sometimes, intensity outlasts length.
Book: Extremity by Nicholas Binge
Format Read: Audiobook (4 hours, 13 minutes)
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)
Quick Take
A high-concept, time-twisting novella that proves depth doesn't always need length. Extremity is part detective procedural, part existential crisis, and entirely captivating.
Full Review
I don't frequent novellas often—there’s rarely enough space to build a full framework of character, plot, and execution before the story closes its own book. But Extremity manages to do all three flawlessly in just over four hours of listening time. Sometimes the shortest rides are the ones that stay with you the longest.
The pacing reminded me of cresting a roller coaster—those brief pauses at the top where you can see the whole park sprawled below, adventure-goers milling around, catching your breath before plunging into the blur of loops and drops. The slower beats here aren't missteps; they're vantage points, offering just enough distance to take in the moral and emotional scope before the story rockets forward again.
Julia Torgrimsen makes for a fantastic, morally gray lead. Reckless, wry, and allergic to rules, she's the perfect counterpoint to DCI John's measured professionalism and DC Mark's inexperience—greener than freshly laid grass and deeply unsteady under pressure. Their dynamic crackles, creating tension that feels organic and earned. Julia's past mistakes, her forced retirement, and her tenuous return to the field lend the story both weight and momentum.
That said, Extremity isn't without its quirks. The multi–first-person debrief format had abrupt transitions between interviews that gave the story a slightly claustrophobic edge. At times, it felt less like separate accounts and more like a frantic "I have the conch now" relay. Thankfully, Marian Hussey's narration is the saving grace here; her ability to shift tone, tempo, and voice mid-scene kept the transitions both coherent and immersive. Without her performance, those sharp perspective cuts could've derailed the wild ride.
Still, what impressed me most was how Nicholas Binge managed to weave depth into brevity. The novella feels as though it's whispering secrets to be revisited later, little plot threads left trailing like breadcrumbs to a larger world. You can almost sense a future sequel waiting in the wings, ready to answer the murmurs left behind. Those purposeful imperfections are part of what makes this story so hauntingly effective.
Extremity doesn’t just explore the limits of time, it challenges how much story can fit inside it.
Features & Vibes
🎙️ Debriefs turned battlegrounds
🧃 Mark’s greenness meets Julia’s grit
💥 Compact length, massively impactful
🧭 Science fiction meets procedural grit
🧩 Puzzle pieces waiting for their next book
Advance Copy Provided By
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advance listening copy. The precision and control packed into this four-hour spiral prove that, sometimes, intensity outlasts length.
December 15, 2025
I'm just thinking....
of
all
the
time
I'll
never
get
back.
of
all
the
time
I'll
never
get
back.
June 14, 2025
This book seemed like it would be right up my alley, and so, of course, I requested it. As sometimes happens, I waited to read it, and now that I’m finished, I wish I hadn’t. This is a fast-paced, well-written, novel told with three POVs, and man, was it frustrating, excellent, interesting, and a whole bunch of words I can’t think of right now. I was drawn in immediately, and the author didn’t let me go until the end. I can’t say much, but the end was a twist I did not see coming and left me gaping in astonishment…and frustration. I need to find out if this author has more books. Loved it. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
Want to read
May 18, 2025"A time-traveling, end-of-the-world police procedural, Extremity is True Detective if written by Philip K. Dick"
ascension is an all-time favourite. i'm so keen for more from binge!
ascension is an all-time favourite. i'm so keen for more from binge!
February 15, 2025
Has the gritty sci fi noir feel of blade runner, with a clever time travel story like 12 Monkeys.
November 9, 2025
Extremity is an excellent, fast-paced, and incredibly fun time-travel sci-fi thriller that combines the best parts of a murder mystery and a police procedural into a tight, well-written novella. I read it in one sitting because it pulled me in immediately and never lost momentum.
I really liked how the science fiction elements were revealed gradually as the story progressed. The book starts out simple and focused, then becomes more detailed and complex in a way that feels natural, giving readers time to understand the characters and the world they inhabit. For such a short book, it manages to balance character depth and plot development remarkably well.
The first-person narration, alternating between three different characters, works perfectly. Each perspective adds something distinct and necessary, and the transitions feel seamless rather than jarring. Every voice feels real, and each character’s view enhances the tension and the mystery at the heart of the story.
The ending is pretty predictable, but the way it unfolds makes it deeply satisfying. It confirms what you expect without spelling it out, trusting the reader to piece things together and rewarding that attention. It's intentional and confident, the kind of ending that sticks because it respects its audience.
This is how a novella should be done: short, smart, well-paced, and complete. Extremity proves that great storytelling does not need length to leave an impact.
I really liked how the science fiction elements were revealed gradually as the story progressed. The book starts out simple and focused, then becomes more detailed and complex in a way that feels natural, giving readers time to understand the characters and the world they inhabit. For such a short book, it manages to balance character depth and plot development remarkably well.
The first-person narration, alternating between three different characters, works perfectly. Each perspective adds something distinct and necessary, and the transitions feel seamless rather than jarring. Every voice feels real, and each character’s view enhances the tension and the mystery at the heart of the story.
The ending is pretty predictable, but the way it unfolds makes it deeply satisfying. It confirms what you expect without spelling it out, trusting the reader to piece things together and rewarding that attention. It's intentional and confident, the kind of ending that sticks because it respects its audience.
This is how a novella should be done: short, smart, well-paced, and complete. Extremity proves that great storytelling does not need length to leave an impact.
September 27, 2025
#gifted
Two bodies.
One billionaire.
Both identical.
Both shot.
Julia Torgrimsen was supposed to be finished—forced out of the force, her reputation in tatters, her legendary career in ruins. But when the impossible lands on her doorstep, she’s dragged back into London’s underworld and into a case that could unravel the very fabric of time.
What starts as a double homicide spirals into something far darker: assassins stalking the city’s elite, impossible documents predicting future market crashes, photographs of cloned corpses, and a conspiracy that stretches far beyond comprehension. Each testimony pulls us deeper into the shadows, where truth fractures and survival feels anything but certain.
This was my first Nicholas Binge read—and yes, I binge read my way through it. His prose is lean, the pace breakneck, the shifting perspectives urgent and sharp. Multiple POVs bring flashes of humour and humanity even as the tension ratchets towards its jaw-dropping finale.
Noir grit runs through every page, but there’s also a pulse of cosmic dread—the sense that meddling with time doesn’t just warp the future, it corrodes the present.
At under 200 pages, Extremity burns fast. Sometimes too fast—scene transitions were abrupt, resolutions a little too neat. Yet that rawness suited the story. The rough edges don’t blunt its impact; if anything, they heighten the unease, as though the narrative itself is straining under the weight of what it’s trying to contain.
And for someone who rarely ventures into sci-fi? This was compulsively readable. A hybrid of police procedural and time-bending thriller that kept me hooked to the end. It even gave me flashes of BBC’s Life on Mars—that same gritty, uncanny blend of crime and the impossible. I closed the book wishing for more time with Julia and her messy squad of detectives… which, perhaps, is exactly the point.
Thank you to Book Break UK & the publisher for the tour copy!
Two bodies.
One billionaire.
Both identical.
Both shot.
Julia Torgrimsen was supposed to be finished—forced out of the force, her reputation in tatters, her legendary career in ruins. But when the impossible lands on her doorstep, she’s dragged back into London’s underworld and into a case that could unravel the very fabric of time.
What starts as a double homicide spirals into something far darker: assassins stalking the city’s elite, impossible documents predicting future market crashes, photographs of cloned corpses, and a conspiracy that stretches far beyond comprehension. Each testimony pulls us deeper into the shadows, where truth fractures and survival feels anything but certain.
This was my first Nicholas Binge read—and yes, I binge read my way through it. His prose is lean, the pace breakneck, the shifting perspectives urgent and sharp. Multiple POVs bring flashes of humour and humanity even as the tension ratchets towards its jaw-dropping finale.
Noir grit runs through every page, but there’s also a pulse of cosmic dread—the sense that meddling with time doesn’t just warp the future, it corrodes the present.
At under 200 pages, Extremity burns fast. Sometimes too fast—scene transitions were abrupt, resolutions a little too neat. Yet that rawness suited the story. The rough edges don’t blunt its impact; if anything, they heighten the unease, as though the narrative itself is straining under the weight of what it’s trying to contain.
And for someone who rarely ventures into sci-fi? This was compulsively readable. A hybrid of police procedural and time-bending thriller that kept me hooked to the end. It even gave me flashes of BBC’s Life on Mars—that same gritty, uncanny blend of crime and the impossible. I closed the book wishing for more time with Julia and her messy squad of detectives… which, perhaps, is exactly the point.
Thank you to Book Break UK & the publisher for the tour copy!
October 8, 2025
In the novella, Extremity by Nicholas Binge (book cover is in image), Julia Torgimsen, has been forced out of retirement to investigate the murder of billionaire Bruno Donaldson. Covering themes of corporate greed and time travel, this fast paced science fiction mystery/thriller keeps you engaged from beginning to end.
The narration by Marian Hussey is expertly done. she gives each character a unique voice and makes the story easy to follow. I cannot wait to explore other narrations by her.
Thank you @tordotcom, @dreamscape_lore, and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC and listen to this ALC. All opinions are my own.
Pub Date: Oct 14 2025
Rating: 4 Stars
#TorDotCom
#DreamscapeLore
#Extremity
#NicholasBinge
#MarianHussey
#ScienceFiction
#TimeTravel
@nickbinge
The narration by Marian Hussey is expertly done. she gives each character a unique voice and makes the story easy to follow. I cannot wait to explore other narrations by her.
Thank you @tordotcom, @dreamscape_lore, and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC and listen to this ALC. All opinions are my own.
Pub Date: Oct 14 2025
Rating: 4 Stars
#TorDotCom
#DreamscapeLore
#Extremity
#NicholasBinge
#MarianHussey
#ScienceFiction
#TimeTravel
@nickbinge
September 20, 2025
I don’t know about you, but I’ve recently noticed a resurgence in police procedurals with a genre element to them. There’s Rose/House by Arkady Martine, recently published here in the UK (but been out for a while in the US, admittedly.) Then there’s Elly Griffiths’ The Frozen People, a police procedural with a police team who can travel back in time.
And now we have this novella.
From the publisher: “Infamous police detective Julia Torgrimsen is brought out of forced retirement to investigate the murder of Bruno Donaldson, a billionaire she worked with while undercover. But she doesn’t expect to find two bodies. Both are Bruno, identical down to the fingerprints – and both have been shot.
She soon finds herself on the hunt for a mysterious assassin who has been taking out London’s rich elite one by one. But when she finally catches up with her quarry, she unveils a world of deadly secrets: impossible documents about future stock market crashes; photographs of dead clones; and an insidious time-travelling conspiracy that threatens the entire human race.
If Julia is to have any chance of preventing this terrible future, she’ll have to revisit her undercover past and the brutal act that destroyed her once-legendary career . . .”
I read it in two sittings, but could have read it in one go. (Sometimes a man’s got to eat!) The characters are fairly developed, although the usual issue of lack of depth in a novella may be an issue for some. (How do you develop character in less than 200 pages?)
Nicholas gets around this a bit by using the normal police stereotypes that you may recognise from any TV show or movie – the hard-bitten, retired expert imparting their wisdom, the new inexperienced ‘rookie’ dealing with events for the first time, the embattled Commander struggling to deal simultaneously with the higher-up bureaucracy and the team obsessed with the case who regularly go off-piste and ignore the rules…. The TV series Life on Mars, anyone?
The style is interesting as it is initially written in the form of dictated police statements by a number of the main characters – Julia Torgrimsen (the almost-retired advisor with a grim past), DC Mark Cochrane (the newbie) and DCI John Grossman (the boss-guy). Some readers may find this rotation of descriptions a tad annoying, especially when the characters are talking about the same events from different perspectives, but I quite liked it.
The big plus is that by using the archetypes it does mean that a lot of the usual scene-setting and world-building is bypassed (as you know it already!) It is also mainly set in the present, which allows the writer (and the reader!) to focus on the new elements of the plot – such as the fact that (without going into details) there’s an SF-nal element that takes this into genre territory. Think Philip K Dick meets The X-Files.
Extremity is short and sharp; but brilliantly written, even though there are some loose ends. (I suspect that they might be deliberate.) It manages to make you feel for these characters very quickly and ground the SF stuff into something that feels quite ordinary. As a result, I think that it’s another book that might persuade those who don’t normally read SF to do so. There’s enough for non-genre readers to follow without feeling lost, whilst genre readers will appreciate the fact that it takes a mainstream setting but pushes it into science-fictional realms. It is not an easy task to manage and yet I think Nicholas manages it very well in such a short space.
And now we have this novella.
From the publisher: “Infamous police detective Julia Torgrimsen is brought out of forced retirement to investigate the murder of Bruno Donaldson, a billionaire she worked with while undercover. But she doesn’t expect to find two bodies. Both are Bruno, identical down to the fingerprints – and both have been shot.
She soon finds herself on the hunt for a mysterious assassin who has been taking out London’s rich elite one by one. But when she finally catches up with her quarry, she unveils a world of deadly secrets: impossible documents about future stock market crashes; photographs of dead clones; and an insidious time-travelling conspiracy that threatens the entire human race.
If Julia is to have any chance of preventing this terrible future, she’ll have to revisit her undercover past and the brutal act that destroyed her once-legendary career . . .”
I read it in two sittings, but could have read it in one go. (Sometimes a man’s got to eat!) The characters are fairly developed, although the usual issue of lack of depth in a novella may be an issue for some. (How do you develop character in less than 200 pages?)
Nicholas gets around this a bit by using the normal police stereotypes that you may recognise from any TV show or movie – the hard-bitten, retired expert imparting their wisdom, the new inexperienced ‘rookie’ dealing with events for the first time, the embattled Commander struggling to deal simultaneously with the higher-up bureaucracy and the team obsessed with the case who regularly go off-piste and ignore the rules…. The TV series Life on Mars, anyone?
The style is interesting as it is initially written in the form of dictated police statements by a number of the main characters – Julia Torgrimsen (the almost-retired advisor with a grim past), DC Mark Cochrane (the newbie) and DCI John Grossman (the boss-guy). Some readers may find this rotation of descriptions a tad annoying, especially when the characters are talking about the same events from different perspectives, but I quite liked it.
The big plus is that by using the archetypes it does mean that a lot of the usual scene-setting and world-building is bypassed (as you know it already!) It is also mainly set in the present, which allows the writer (and the reader!) to focus on the new elements of the plot – such as the fact that (without going into details) there’s an SF-nal element that takes this into genre territory. Think Philip K Dick meets The X-Files.
Extremity is short and sharp; but brilliantly written, even though there are some loose ends. (I suspect that they might be deliberate.) It manages to make you feel for these characters very quickly and ground the SF stuff into something that feels quite ordinary. As a result, I think that it’s another book that might persuade those who don’t normally read SF to do so. There’s enough for non-genre readers to follow without feeling lost, whilst genre readers will appreciate the fact that it takes a mainstream setting but pushes it into science-fictional realms. It is not an easy task to manage and yet I think Nicholas manages it very well in such a short space.
October 31, 2025
The nitty-gritty: A tense murder mystery/time travel story with a twist, Extremity is the perfect mash-up of noir vibes and futuristic elements.
Extremity was such a nice surprise! I went into it fairly blind, so I’ll keep this short to avoid spoilers. This is my first time reading Nicholas Binge, and it won’t be my last. This is a sci-fi novella with a heavy police procedural element, and Binge’s characters have a sort of gritty, noir vibe to them. The sci-fi element doesn’t kick in until about halfway through, so the first part of the story is purely a detective/murder mystery, which I really enjoyed.
Julia Torgrimsen was a brilliant detective, but she retired after a traumatic incident during her last case. One day, DCI John Grossman knocks on her door with some grim news. Billionaire tech giant Bruno Donaldson has been found dead, shot to death. Even stranger, a second body, identical to Bruno’s has also been found. John wants Julia to come out of retirement and help him on the case, and she reluctantly agrees.
As Julia begins her investigation, more bodies turn up, and it isn’t long before Julia realizes they’re all connected. When she finally tracks down the killer, Julia and her team are thrust into an impossible situation with deadly results.
Extremity is a time travel story, but I’m not going to give you any more details, since it’s fun to let the story unfold as you read it. I will say it relates to the title of the book, and it’s a concept I’ve never run across before. You’ll also find out why there are two Bruno Donaldsons! I love the way Binge combined a tense murder mystery with time travel, and adding lots of layered backstories to the characters made it so effective.
The characters were very well done, and as I mentioned, I loved their backstories, particularly Julia’s. Her past is another secret I’d love to preserve, because it’s the emotional center of the story. She has experienced quite a bit of heartbreak and trauma, which makes her return to work tension-filled to say the least. Joining Julia and John is rookie cop Mark Cochrane who is ultimately very important to the story. I thought the three of them bounced off each other nicely with lots of funny banter and wry humor.
The story is formatted as interviews with Julia, John and Mark, as they are being interrogated by the police after the events take place. I really liked this format, since we get to hear how each one interprets what happened in their own way, and their stories don’t always line up, adding to the overall mystery.
There is a pretty big twist at the end that I saw coming, but even though it wasn’t a complete surprise, the way the author revealed it was perfect. My only other complaint is the way the time travel was explained. It was all very simplistic with no real science backing it up. The novella length probably didn’t help, as the author had limited space to explain his time machine in detail, but I would have rated this a little higher had there been more details about how everything worked.
Still, I can’t deny how much fun I had reading Extremity. For a novella, Binge packed a lot into his story, and I’m excited to see what he writes next.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
Extremity was such a nice surprise! I went into it fairly blind, so I’ll keep this short to avoid spoilers. This is my first time reading Nicholas Binge, and it won’t be my last. This is a sci-fi novella with a heavy police procedural element, and Binge’s characters have a sort of gritty, noir vibe to them. The sci-fi element doesn’t kick in until about halfway through, so the first part of the story is purely a detective/murder mystery, which I really enjoyed.
Julia Torgrimsen was a brilliant detective, but she retired after a traumatic incident during her last case. One day, DCI John Grossman knocks on her door with some grim news. Billionaire tech giant Bruno Donaldson has been found dead, shot to death. Even stranger, a second body, identical to Bruno’s has also been found. John wants Julia to come out of retirement and help him on the case, and she reluctantly agrees.
As Julia begins her investigation, more bodies turn up, and it isn’t long before Julia realizes they’re all connected. When she finally tracks down the killer, Julia and her team are thrust into an impossible situation with deadly results.
Extremity is a time travel story, but I’m not going to give you any more details, since it’s fun to let the story unfold as you read it. I will say it relates to the title of the book, and it’s a concept I’ve never run across before. You’ll also find out why there are two Bruno Donaldsons! I love the way Binge combined a tense murder mystery with time travel, and adding lots of layered backstories to the characters made it so effective.
The characters were very well done, and as I mentioned, I loved their backstories, particularly Julia’s. Her past is another secret I’d love to preserve, because it’s the emotional center of the story. She has experienced quite a bit of heartbreak and trauma, which makes her return to work tension-filled to say the least. Joining Julia and John is rookie cop Mark Cochrane who is ultimately very important to the story. I thought the three of them bounced off each other nicely with lots of funny banter and wry humor.
The story is formatted as interviews with Julia, John and Mark, as they are being interrogated by the police after the events take place. I really liked this format, since we get to hear how each one interprets what happened in their own way, and their stories don’t always line up, adding to the overall mystery.
There is a pretty big twist at the end that I saw coming, but even though it wasn’t a complete surprise, the way the author revealed it was perfect. My only other complaint is the way the time travel was explained. It was all very simplistic with no real science backing it up. The novella length probably didn’t help, as the author had limited space to explain his time machine in detail, but I would have rated this a little higher had there been more details about how everything worked.
Still, I can’t deny how much fun I had reading Extremity. For a novella, Binge packed a lot into his story, and I’m excited to see what he writes next.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
December 22, 2025
Told in interview style, this novella follows police detective Julia Torgrimsen, pulled out of forced retirement to investigate the murder of a billionaire she once knew undercover. She expects one body. She finds two. Identical down to the fingerprints.
That impossibility hooked me immediately.
Julia is the heart of this story. Once a legendary detective, now a recluse haunted by a case that destroyed her career, she feels worn down in a way that's palpable on the page. You can sense how deeply the past has carved into her. Every answer she gives feels heavy, measured, exhausted.
The supporting cast made me feel...feral.
Mark Cochrane is naïve to the point of frustration. John Grossman tries to hold the order together. And Norman Horner—the slimy lawyer—gave me the absolute ick every time he appeared. I wanted to DNF purely because of him, which honestly speaks to how well he's written.
This book leans more toward psychological sci-fi than outright horror. The vibes are eerie and unsettling, but not quite spooky. What it does well in tension, the kind that builds slowly as reality starts to loosen around the edges.
Madness here isn't loud. It's methodical.
It's the looseness of time travel, grief wearing the face of duty, and a world quietly fraying as logic struggles to hold.
The pacing is fast and steady. I read it in one sitting. And while I spent a good chunk of the last stretch wanting to yeet the book clear across the room while yelling "you're all a bunch of idiots", the final page pulled it together in such a way that made me stop and think.
It's frustrating. It's compelling. It asks uncomfortable questions and doesn't rush to soothe you with easy answers.
Not perfect, but absolutely memorable.
Check out my full review on my blog The Diary of a Reader
That impossibility hooked me immediately.
Julia is the heart of this story. Once a legendary detective, now a recluse haunted by a case that destroyed her career, she feels worn down in a way that's palpable on the page. You can sense how deeply the past has carved into her. Every answer she gives feels heavy, measured, exhausted.
The supporting cast made me feel...feral.
Mark Cochrane is naïve to the point of frustration. John Grossman tries to hold the order together. And Norman Horner—the slimy lawyer—gave me the absolute ick every time he appeared. I wanted to DNF purely because of him, which honestly speaks to how well he's written.
This book leans more toward psychological sci-fi than outright horror. The vibes are eerie and unsettling, but not quite spooky. What it does well in tension, the kind that builds slowly as reality starts to loosen around the edges.
Madness here isn't loud. It's methodical.
It's the looseness of time travel, grief wearing the face of duty, and a world quietly fraying as logic struggles to hold.
The pacing is fast and steady. I read it in one sitting. And while I spent a good chunk of the last stretch wanting to yeet the book clear across the room while yelling "you're all a bunch of idiots", the final page pulled it together in such a way that made me stop and think.
It's frustrating. It's compelling. It asks uncomfortable questions and doesn't rush to soothe you with easy answers.
Not perfect, but absolutely memorable.
Check out my full review on my blog The Diary of a Reader
October 11, 2025
Two murdered bodies of the same bilionaire are found and former detective Julia is pulled into the case as a consultant to make sense of this. What follows is a sci fi police thriller narrated through statement interviews of our three main characters. I'm a sucker for murder mysteries with a twist and this one was twisting quite satisfyingly indeed.
The narration format immediately pulled me in. The narrator did a good job of conveying emotion and a sense of urgency at the right places. My only critique for the narrator is that there was not enough difference between the voices of Mark and Julia and I occasionly got confused who was speaking at what time. My only critique for the book itself is that the writer tries to do too much in only a short novella. The investigation itself was done very well and I liked how Julia's detective process was described. The past regrets regarding her undercover work felt a bit convoluted and the resolution to this mystery was a tad rushed. I wouldn't have minded if the third act was a bit longer to properly explore the sci fi aspect. The characters were fun though and I liked their banter. This book absolutely made me curious about Nicholas Binge's other works.
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for providing me an ARC. All opinions are my own.
The narration format immediately pulled me in. The narrator did a good job of conveying emotion and a sense of urgency at the right places. My only critique for the narrator is that there was not enough difference between the voices of Mark and Julia and I occasionly got confused who was speaking at what time. My only critique for the book itself is that the writer tries to do too much in only a short novella. The investigation itself was done very well and I liked how Julia's detective process was described. The past regrets regarding her undercover work felt a bit convoluted and the resolution to this mystery was a tad rushed. I wouldn't have minded if the third act was a bit longer to properly explore the sci fi aspect. The characters were fun though and I liked their banter. This book absolutely made me curious about Nicholas Binge's other works.
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for providing me an ARC. All opinions are my own.
November 25, 2025
An enjoyable, fast-moving story about murders, clones, billionaires, and guilt over past choices.
When billionaire Bruno Donaldson is found, DCI John Grossman brings his former partner Julia Torgrimsen onto the case. She spent six years deep undercover investigating various billionaires, and committed a variety of questionable and terrible acts for them. The failure of her case to result in any convictions left her bitter and broken. Grossman and DC Mark Cochrane begin investigating, and Julia quickly goes rogue, dragging the hapless Cochrane along with her, with Grossman in pursuit.
This thriller quickly pulls the reader (or, in this case, listener) in, with Grossman, Torgrimsen and Cochrane relating events from their perspectives.
Very quickly, they discover that events are much more serious and world shattering than they expected, with billionaires doing their best to destroy the world through their greed using time travel.
The audiobook is narrated by Marian Hussey, whose Julia and Grossman are well rendered, but whose Cochrane I had a harder time distinguishing from other characters.
I enjoyed this story a lot, and liked the slightly ambiguous ending, and it's convinced me to check out author Nicholas Binge's other works.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Dreamscape Media for this ARC in exchange for my review.
When billionaire Bruno Donaldson is found, DCI John Grossman brings his former partner Julia Torgrimsen onto the case. She spent six years deep undercover investigating various billionaires, and committed a variety of questionable and terrible acts for them. The failure of her case to result in any convictions left her bitter and broken. Grossman and DC Mark Cochrane begin investigating, and Julia quickly goes rogue, dragging the hapless Cochrane along with her, with Grossman in pursuit.
This thriller quickly pulls the reader (or, in this case, listener) in, with Grossman, Torgrimsen and Cochrane relating events from their perspectives.
Very quickly, they discover that events are much more serious and world shattering than they expected, with billionaires doing their best to destroy the world through their greed using time travel.
The audiobook is narrated by Marian Hussey, whose Julia and Grossman are well rendered, but whose Cochrane I had a harder time distinguishing from other characters.
I enjoyed this story a lot, and liked the slightly ambiguous ending, and it's convinced me to check out author Nicholas Binge's other works.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Dreamscape Media for this ARC in exchange for my review.
July 29, 2025
My third book from this author and they’ve all been fantastic!
This was such a fast-paced thriller with sci-fi elements. It starts off as a police investigation. A former detective is brought back in (reluctantly) to assist on a crime scene. However, things get weird quickly. Certain elements of the crime baffle the police and the coroner. And more crimes start occurring at pace. As we start to unravel the investigation we learn more and the sci-fi concepts start to take shape. It is an absolutely beautiful blending of genres that works so well.
We see the story from three perspectives. They all have very distinct personalities and it works. We have brave and bold, nervous but curious and a more sensible and experienced approach. The roles these characters play help the story to move along with extreme pace.
Towards the end there’s even some horror elements that are highly unnerving. It’s not excessively graphic. But thinking about something that was suggested in the book is still creeping me out!
This book was totally gripping and I wanted it to be longer as I didn’t want it to finish! A wild race against time, clever and impossible to put down.
I read an eARC of this book so thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley.
This was such a fast-paced thriller with sci-fi elements. It starts off as a police investigation. A former detective is brought back in (reluctantly) to assist on a crime scene. However, things get weird quickly. Certain elements of the crime baffle the police and the coroner. And more crimes start occurring at pace. As we start to unravel the investigation we learn more and the sci-fi concepts start to take shape. It is an absolutely beautiful blending of genres that works so well.
We see the story from three perspectives. They all have very distinct personalities and it works. We have brave and bold, nervous but curious and a more sensible and experienced approach. The roles these characters play help the story to move along with extreme pace.
Towards the end there’s even some horror elements that are highly unnerving. It’s not excessively graphic. But thinking about something that was suggested in the book is still creeping me out!
This book was totally gripping and I wanted it to be longer as I didn’t want it to finish! A wild race against time, clever and impossible to put down.
I read an eARC of this book so thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley.
September 20, 2025
A fast paced sci-fi mystery with just enough twists to keep you guessing till the end. Extremity is a fusion between a classic murder mystery and time traveling sci-fi, and while its plot is somewhat predictably it’s still a fun fast read. It definitely leaves a lot of the sci-fi world building pretty vague and focuses a lot more on the mystery. While not perfect, if you’re looking for a fast paced murder mystery with a dash of science fiction and some morally grey main characters, then Extremity is for you! Thank you to Netgalley and Tor for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review
November 3, 2025
This was such a fun, fast-paced, and tense novella. It blends the police procedural genre with sci-fi as our three main characters investigate a suspicious death. The story alternates between their POVs and even though it’s short, each character felt distinct. One of them, Mark, is a total idiot and he definitely got on my nerves a few times, especially toward the end. I really liked the overarching mystery and the climax was genuinely nerve-wracking. Everything ties up nicely, but there’s still a touch of ambiguity that I appreciated. Overall, this was a sharp, high-energy read that kept me hooked from start to finish.
September 7, 2025
Oh this was so much fun! I once again don’t have a whole lot to say. My favorite reads are always the hardest to talk about. I just have a good time and enjoy the reading experience.
While I do prefer a longer tense buildup for thrillers in general, I still think Binge used this limited word count really well. The ending also had me hollering (and I don’t use that word often!).
I don’t know what’s coming next for us, but I’ll be at the front of the line for his next book!
While I do prefer a longer tense buildup for thrillers in general, I still think Binge used this limited word count really well. The ending also had me hollering (and I don’t use that word often!).
I don’t know what’s coming next for us, but I’ll be at the front of the line for his next book!
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