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CharacterScan
Katrina Hunt is a journalist with a secret. From her early days growing up in the poverty of a trailer park, she has been able to detect the sour notes of corruption in others. And she's never wrong. It affects her friendships, her dating, her sex life. She turns her talent to the work of sniffing out the unprincipled and the amoral in positions of privilege and power.
On the far side of the world, a morally ambiguous scientist working in the unfolding field of genetic profiling has cracked an algorithm that will forever change law-enforcement. His new 'scan' will be able to detect a person's genetic propensity for wrongdoing, even before they act. The legal and ethical ramifications are staggering. But what if the most corrupt man in the world, a political figure assuming ever higher-office, was able to beat the scan? What if he could hide his true darkness? What if he was not quite human? Could Katrina sniff him out? And if she did, how might she stop him?
On the far side of the world, a morally ambiguous scientist working in the unfolding field of genetic profiling has cracked an algorithm that will forever change law-enforcement. His new 'scan' will be able to detect a person's genetic propensity for wrongdoing, even before they act. The legal and ethical ramifications are staggering. But what if the most corrupt man in the world, a political figure assuming ever higher-office, was able to beat the scan? What if he could hide his true darkness? What if he was not quite human? Could Katrina sniff him out? And if she did, how might she stop him?
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Published July 1, 2023
3 people are currently reading
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About the author
Douglas Kruger
23 books45 followersDouglas Kruger is an award-winning speaker, and the author of over 16 books, by four publishers, on three continents. His titles cover such topics as wealth, leadership and philosophy. In 2022, he became a novelist with the publication of his debut story, 'The Man Who Never Was.' This was quickly followed up by 'CharacterScan,' and 'House of the Judas Goat.'
Born in South Africa in 1980, he now speaks around the world. In 2016, in honour of excellence on the stage, he was inducted into the 'Speakers Hall of Fame' by his local professional body.
Douglas is a member of Mensa - the High-IQ Society - and holds a degree in Philosophy. His favourite authors include JRR Tolkien, James A Michener, Dean Koontz, Roger Scruton, Thomas Sowell, Frank Peretti, and Orson Scott Card.
Born in South Africa in 1980, he now speaks around the world. In 2016, in honour of excellence on the stage, he was inducted into the 'Speakers Hall of Fame' by his local professional body.
Douglas is a member of Mensa - the High-IQ Society - and holds a degree in Philosophy. His favourite authors include JRR Tolkien, James A Michener, Dean Koontz, Roger Scruton, Thomas Sowell, Frank Peretti, and Orson Scott Card.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 31, 2023
#CharacterScan – Douglas Kruger
#PenguinRandomHouseSouthAfrica
Katrina Hunt has escaped the trailer park and poverty of her childhood and made a deliberate promise to herself to be everything that she was not able to be as a child. But two things anchored her to the past: The pinky promise that she had made to her best friend, Tinker, to never let her go alone; and the strange ability that she was aware of even before birth, to sense the propensity for moral corruption in others.
Dr Hugh Martin, a Scottish scientist, deciphers an algorithm allowing a computer program to put human character to the test. Unlike the limited applications of a polygraph, , CharacterScan will reveal the very essence of a person by means of computer graphs speaking much louder than words.
Renė Köning is a tyrant is on the rise. He is brilliant and charismatic, and determined to become the ruler of the world. As German Chancellor about to be elected as Commander in Chief for a United European Front, he is on his way to become the most powerful human on Earth.
This very relevant and all too realistic novel combines the cold calculation of science with a gentle examination of human frailty; the nature of the bonds that keep us intact; the power of love in various forms, and the way our choices shape us. Emotions are compared to colors, sounds, and smells in rich evocative text where loss is described with heartbreaking simplicity: ‘(She) knew they were gone. There could be no doubt. There simply wasn’t enough space left in that crush of metal for human beings to exist and cling to life.’ (72)
Although in essence a thriller, the unorthodox characters, including an eccentric sculptor, a hooker, and a hare-lipped photographer, add additional texture to the plot and ensures that the novel will linger in the mind of the reader well after reading the last words.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #Uitdieperdsebek Penguin Random House SA
#PenguinRandomHouseSouthAfrica
Katrina Hunt has escaped the trailer park and poverty of her childhood and made a deliberate promise to herself to be everything that she was not able to be as a child. But two things anchored her to the past: The pinky promise that she had made to her best friend, Tinker, to never let her go alone; and the strange ability that she was aware of even before birth, to sense the propensity for moral corruption in others.
Dr Hugh Martin, a Scottish scientist, deciphers an algorithm allowing a computer program to put human character to the test. Unlike the limited applications of a polygraph, , CharacterScan will reveal the very essence of a person by means of computer graphs speaking much louder than words.
Renė Köning is a tyrant is on the rise. He is brilliant and charismatic, and determined to become the ruler of the world. As German Chancellor about to be elected as Commander in Chief for a United European Front, he is on his way to become the most powerful human on Earth.
This very relevant and all too realistic novel combines the cold calculation of science with a gentle examination of human frailty; the nature of the bonds that keep us intact; the power of love in various forms, and the way our choices shape us. Emotions are compared to colors, sounds, and smells in rich evocative text where loss is described with heartbreaking simplicity: ‘(She) knew they were gone. There could be no doubt. There simply wasn’t enough space left in that crush of metal for human beings to exist and cling to life.’ (72)
Although in essence a thriller, the unorthodox characters, including an eccentric sculptor, a hooker, and a hare-lipped photographer, add additional texture to the plot and ensures that the novel will linger in the mind of the reader well after reading the last words.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #Uitdieperdsebek Penguin Random House SA
August 26, 2023
"She could smell corruption in others. But was she good enough to catch a rising tyrant?"
Character Scan by Douglas Kruger is a sci-fi thriller that explores the concept of moral corruption and how it can be detected, measured, and prevented. The novel follows Katrina Hunt, a woman who has a unique gift of sensing the evil in others, and her quest to stop a rising tyrant who can hide his true nature from any scan. The novel is fast-paced, suspenseful, and thought-provoking, as it raises questions about the nature of morality, free will, and human potential.
"The scan was not a judgement. It was a prediction. A probability. A warning."
The novel is divided into three parts, each focusing on a different stage of Katrina's journey. The first part introduces Katrina's gift and how it affects her life, from her childhood in a trailer park to her career as a corruption investigator. The second part introduces the character scan, a revolutionary technology that can predict a person's propensity for wrongdoing based on their genetic code. The third part pits Katrina against the main antagonist, a charismatic politician who has a dark secret that makes him immune to the scan.
One of the strengths of the novel is the characterization of Katrina, who is a complex and sympathetic protagonist. She struggles with her gift, which isolates her from others and exposes her to danger. She also has to deal with the trauma of her past, which shapes her personality and motivations. She is determined, courageous, and compassionate, but also flawed, vulnerable, and sometimes reckless. She is a realistic and relatable hero who faces difficult choices and challenges.
Another strength of the novel is the plot, which is full of twists and turns that keep the reader engaged and surprised. The novel combines elements of science fiction, mystery, action, and romance, creating a rich and diverse story that appeals to different tastes and interests. The novel also explores relevant and timely themes, such as the ethics of genetic engineering, the role of media and propaganda in politics, the effects of power and corruption on society, and the importance of individual responsibility and integrity.
Overall, I enjoyed reading Character Scan by Douglas Kruger and I would recommend it to fans of Dean Koontz and anyone who likes sci-fi thrillers with strong characters and engaging themes.
With thank to Penguin Random House SA for the opportunity to read this book.
Character Scan by Douglas Kruger is a sci-fi thriller that explores the concept of moral corruption and how it can be detected, measured, and prevented. The novel follows Katrina Hunt, a woman who has a unique gift of sensing the evil in others, and her quest to stop a rising tyrant who can hide his true nature from any scan. The novel is fast-paced, suspenseful, and thought-provoking, as it raises questions about the nature of morality, free will, and human potential.
"The scan was not a judgement. It was a prediction. A probability. A warning."
The novel is divided into three parts, each focusing on a different stage of Katrina's journey. The first part introduces Katrina's gift and how it affects her life, from her childhood in a trailer park to her career as a corruption investigator. The second part introduces the character scan, a revolutionary technology that can predict a person's propensity for wrongdoing based on their genetic code. The third part pits Katrina against the main antagonist, a charismatic politician who has a dark secret that makes him immune to the scan.
One of the strengths of the novel is the characterization of Katrina, who is a complex and sympathetic protagonist. She struggles with her gift, which isolates her from others and exposes her to danger. She also has to deal with the trauma of her past, which shapes her personality and motivations. She is determined, courageous, and compassionate, but also flawed, vulnerable, and sometimes reckless. She is a realistic and relatable hero who faces difficult choices and challenges.
Another strength of the novel is the plot, which is full of twists and turns that keep the reader engaged and surprised. The novel combines elements of science fiction, mystery, action, and romance, creating a rich and diverse story that appeals to different tastes and interests. The novel also explores relevant and timely themes, such as the ethics of genetic engineering, the role of media and propaganda in politics, the effects of power and corruption on society, and the importance of individual responsibility and integrity.
Overall, I enjoyed reading Character Scan by Douglas Kruger and I would recommend it to fans of Dean Koontz and anyone who likes sci-fi thrillers with strong characters and engaging themes.
With thank to Penguin Random House SA for the opportunity to read this book.
August 1, 2023
When this book was introduced at the Penguin Books Media & Trade event, I was so intrigued and excited to read it! Douglas Kruger really made this book sound so enticing and when I received it as bookmail from Penguin Books SA, I started reading it immediately.
Unfortunately, while quite the page-turner, it did not live up to my expectations.
Pros:
- thrilling sci-fi elements
- short chapters which are best suited to the genre
- the author definitely has some talent for writing!
- with some reworking, this story would make an EXCELLENT TV series.
Cons:
- too much unnecessary drama. too much unnecessary content in general. are we just going for the shock factor without considering the story itself?
- I glazed over the political bits (they were uninteresting and often times irrelevant).
- the idea of blending multiple genres together is great, except the genres were not well-blended and it felt like reading a book that didn't quite know what it was supposed to be. (or like buying a smoothie with large chunks of unblended fruit in).
- issues with perspective and point of view. who is the main character? whose narrative is the chapter currently telling? the abrupt jumps and jerky narrative structure is jarring at times.
- I HATED how the women and mentally ill were portrayed (I can't comment on the other representation as I am not a member of these communities, but it all felt very 'off' to me).
- and what irked me most of all, THE OVERSEXUALIZATION. especially of women. human nature is boiled down to nothing but an animalistic desire to reproduce. even the smallest, most insignificant characters are introduced as obsessed with sex or in a sexual way.
While it has potential, this book is not one I would easily recommend.
Unfortunately, while quite the page-turner, it did not live up to my expectations.
Pros:
- thrilling sci-fi elements
- short chapters which are best suited to the genre
- the author definitely has some talent for writing!
- with some reworking, this story would make an EXCELLENT TV series.
Cons:
- too much unnecessary drama. too much unnecessary content in general. are we just going for the shock factor without considering the story itself?
- I glazed over the political bits (they were uninteresting and often times irrelevant).
- the idea of blending multiple genres together is great, except the genres were not well-blended and it felt like reading a book that didn't quite know what it was supposed to be. (or like buying a smoothie with large chunks of unblended fruit in).
- issues with perspective and point of view. who is the main character? whose narrative is the chapter currently telling? the abrupt jumps and jerky narrative structure is jarring at times.
- I HATED how the women and mentally ill were portrayed (I can't comment on the other representation as I am not a member of these communities, but it all felt very 'off' to me).
- and what irked me most of all, THE OVERSEXUALIZATION. especially of women. human nature is boiled down to nothing but an animalistic desire to reproduce. even the smallest, most insignificant characters are introduced as obsessed with sex or in a sexual way.
While it has potential, this book is not one I would easily recommend.
April 9, 2025
Leaning more towards “How To” books this title fascinated me so I bought it at the airport and had 2 hours to get into it before the flight landed, by which time I was hooked. Being a believer in intuition, the character of Katrina Hunt took this gift to the limit, and as the players revealed themselves in a very real warts-and-all way I found myself stealing extra unscheduled reading time to discover the next twist and turn - of which there were many. As the plot inevitably leads to their separate lives of the protagonists eventually colliding one wonders what might have happened had our heroine not possessed extraordinary powers, and if evil were to prevail. Absorbing - yes. A bit scary - yes I’d say so. Not a run of the mill read - but very entertaining and thought provoking.
August 21, 2023
I wouldn't normally read a book with such adult themes. However, after reading the author's first book "The Man Who Never Was", I was very interested in what the next book would be. This book is a thrilling page-turner that I could definitely imagine as a film, or TV series. (I have to admit to finding the political narrative a little uninteresting, but those sections were small and didn't spoil the book for me.)
The final chapter has left the possibility open for a follow-up book, and I will definitely be looking out for it.
The final chapter has left the possibility open for a follow-up book, and I will definitely be looking out for it.
July 27, 2023
Character Scan is a remarkable book that stands out for its unique perspective and outstanding story from the get-go. Douglas Kruger's insights and storytelling prowess make this book a must-read for anyone that is down for an intense rollercoaster ride through Katrina Hunt's eyes.
July 27, 2023
Intense and gritty. This book takes readers on a thrilling rollercoaster ride from start to finish.
October 11, 2023
This is one of those books that you just can't put down. I was taken with the story from the get-go and enjoyed every minute. Can recommend!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews