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Time & Shadows Mystery #1
The Day Before
A body is found in the Alabama wilderness. The question is:
Is it a human corpse … or is it just a piece of discarded property?
Agent Samantha Rose has been exiled to a backwater assignment for the Commonwealth Bureau of Investigation, a death knell for her career. But then Sam catches a break—a murder—that could give her the boost she needs to get her life back on track. There's a snag, though: the body is a clone, and technically that means it's not a homicide. And yet, something about the body raises questions, not only for her, but for coroner Linsey Mackenzie.
The more they dig, the more they realize nothing about this case is what it seems … and for Sam, nothing about Mac is what it seems, either.
This case might be the way out for her, but that way could be in a bodybag.
A thrilling new mystery from Liana Brooks, The Day Before will have you looking over your shoulder and questioning what it means to be human.
Is it a human corpse … or is it just a piece of discarded property?
Agent Samantha Rose has been exiled to a backwater assignment for the Commonwealth Bureau of Investigation, a death knell for her career. But then Sam catches a break—a murder—that could give her the boost she needs to get her life back on track. There's a snag, though: the body is a clone, and technically that means it's not a homicide. And yet, something about the body raises questions, not only for her, but for coroner Linsey Mackenzie.
The more they dig, the more they realize nothing about this case is what it seems … and for Sam, nothing about Mac is what it seems, either.
This case might be the way out for her, but that way could be in a bodybag.
A thrilling new mystery from Liana Brooks, The Day Before will have you looking over your shoulder and questioning what it means to be human.
405 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 28, 2015
4 people are currently reading
777 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
August 24, 2017
This science fiction mystery novel is fast-paced and intriguing, as an agent in agent in future dystopian America tries to figure out the identities of presumed clones in an Alabama field, only to stumble into something more insidious. Some of the time-bendy, mind-bendy elements can be confusing at times--a common peril with science fiction of this nature--but Brooks is good about having her characters talk through everything in such a way that the reader can find the flow again. The world-building here is subtle and deftly done.
June 10, 2015
Fantastic read! The main character CBI Agent Samantha Rose is strong-willed and likeable with just enough mystery in her past to keep the reader guessing when the big questions arise. Mac is the medical examiner who escapes PTSD using prescription drugs that cloak his awful memories, while leaving him confused and muddled. I loved his dreamlike and desperate point of view, which offers a remarkable character arc as he slowly pulls his life together. Together, the two form a strained alliance that neither one of them - nor the reader - can truly trust. Set about 50 years into the future, The Day Before describes enough hard science to keep things interesting without letting it get in the way of the flow or spoil the atmosphere (which is both frightening and familiar) with unrealistic technology.
Brooks nails this solid but twisty near-future sci-fi police procedural that feels as real as it does dangerous.
Brooks nails this solid but twisty near-future sci-fi police procedural that feels as real as it does dangerous.
May 2, 2015
My two biggest complaints about this book are that 1) it ended, and I didn't want it to, and 2) I'm pretty sure I can't preorder the sequel yet.
I won an ARC of this novel on publication day, and it was awarded with no expectation of me leaving a review. I'm reviewing it anyhow, though, to recommend it. The Day Before is a SF police procedural that begins with an unidentified body and never really lets up on the intensity. I found the characters compelling and their development on-target. I suspected the key plot twists in advance, but I wouldn't call the book at all predictable. It sucked me right in, and I devoured the book in a couple of days.
Get it. I'm going to hand my ereader to my husband to read it next, and I'm going to head over to Amazon to figure out if I can get it to tell me when the next book will be available.
I won an ARC of this novel on publication day, and it was awarded with no expectation of me leaving a review. I'm reviewing it anyhow, though, to recommend it. The Day Before is a SF police procedural that begins with an unidentified body and never really lets up on the intensity. I found the characters compelling and their development on-target. I suspected the key plot twists in advance, but I wouldn't call the book at all predictable. It sucked me right in, and I devoured the book in a couple of days.
Get it. I'm going to hand my ereader to my husband to read it next, and I'm going to head over to Amazon to figure out if I can get it to tell me when the next book will be available.
December 10, 2014
I've read this as a beta reader more than once, in more than one iteration. I've seen characters and plots come and go with this book. This is going to be a great book, and it will only get better when you read books 2 & 3.
July 28, 2015
2.5-ish
2069: Commonwealth Investigator Samantha Rose begins an investigation into the suspected dumping of a clone body which leads her to the darker side of post-outbreak tech and what people are willing to do to fix the past. Struggling to deal with a pig of a superior, a career that could well be over before it's even begun and unhelpful locals, Sam's only support ends up coming from the most unlikely of places.
Where should I start with this one? I hadn't heard anything about "The Day Before" until I sailed by the Harper Voyager site looking for something completely different. The cover was awful (still is) but the blurb piqued my interest. Once I started reading, I was definitely hooked -- I love hearing about headstrong heroines trying to carve out a career against hostile circumstances.
In that sense, "The Day Before" doesn't disappoint. Sam is relatively estranged from her parents and, despite calling in a favour to get the shitful posting she's in when the book starts, she's essentially on her own. While she gets along fine with one of the local police officers, her own agency is another story. Her direct superior is a racist, misogynistic beast of a man whom she struggles to deal with on a daily basis. He puts her down constantly, but Sam mentally rues him and continues on, determined to earn a better posting. Overall Sam is a pretty decent lead, a dark-skinned woman of Spanish heritage she consistently calls out racist bullshit, works hard at a difficult job, and manages to maintain several positive relationships with other women in the novel. All good things.
Along the way she finds support in the local agency ME, Linsey MacKenzie. Mac starts the book as a stuttering, incoherent mess owing to a struggle with both PTSD and drug addiction. He's dirty, has lapses in memory and his aversion to blood means he's immediately on a collision course with Sam. As the novel progresses, Sam pushes him towards sobriety and he proves to be an insightful, caring ally when shit hits the fan. I liked Mac the majority of the time, he's not some romantic ideal and he genuinely struggles to exist most days. Other characters underestimate him, mock him, push him aside -- but Sam finds him intriguing (if frustrating).
The case being investigated, the apparent dumping of a deceased clone, becomes complicated fast and there are a lot of twists and turns before we hit the final arc. Again, all quite good.
So why such a low rating, Shiori?
Because UUUUUUUUUUUGH. UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGH.
Just when I thought things were amazing Sam pulled a move that absolutely threw me. I couldn't feel the same way about the book after that.
Sure, I have other complaints about the book (like how little we learned about the outbreak that led America to re-join the Commonwealth, the sheer number of info dumps, and how obvious the eventual twist was) but UUUUUGH. I could have accepted sketchy background details and labored writing if it meant having characters I genuinely cared about. While I did love the warts-and-all look at both Sam and Mac, by the end I was extremely troubled by the above incident and how little weight the narrative placed on the heroine's dickish abuse of trust.
Given that "The Day Before" is the first in a trilogy, I don't doubt I'm supposed to be invested in how Sam and Mac overcome their difficulties. I will still likely pick up the second book, just because the sci-fi elements were intriguing and there are a lot of unanswered questions by the end of this novel. However at this point, a potential relationship between the leads skeevs the shit out of me. I really, truly hope future installments in this series don't continue to play up Mac as some douchebag every moment he's sober and that Sam learns some fucking boundaries.
Sigh.
2069: Commonwealth Investigator Samantha Rose begins an investigation into the suspected dumping of a clone body which leads her to the darker side of post-outbreak tech and what people are willing to do to fix the past. Struggling to deal with a pig of a superior, a career that could well be over before it's even begun and unhelpful locals, Sam's only support ends up coming from the most unlikely of places.
Where should I start with this one? I hadn't heard anything about "The Day Before" until I sailed by the Harper Voyager site looking for something completely different. The cover was awful (still is) but the blurb piqued my interest. Once I started reading, I was definitely hooked -- I love hearing about headstrong heroines trying to carve out a career against hostile circumstances.
In that sense, "The Day Before" doesn't disappoint. Sam is relatively estranged from her parents and, despite calling in a favour to get the shitful posting she's in when the book starts, she's essentially on her own. While she gets along fine with one of the local police officers, her own agency is another story. Her direct superior is a racist, misogynistic beast of a man whom she struggles to deal with on a daily basis. He puts her down constantly, but Sam mentally rues him and continues on, determined to earn a better posting. Overall Sam is a pretty decent lead, a dark-skinned woman of Spanish heritage she consistently calls out racist bullshit, works hard at a difficult job, and manages to maintain several positive relationships with other women in the novel. All good things.
Along the way she finds support in the local agency ME, Linsey MacKenzie. Mac starts the book as a stuttering, incoherent mess owing to a struggle with both PTSD and drug addiction. He's dirty, has lapses in memory and his aversion to blood means he's immediately on a collision course with Sam. As the novel progresses, Sam pushes him towards sobriety and he proves to be an insightful, caring ally when shit hits the fan. I liked Mac the majority of the time, he's not some romantic ideal and he genuinely struggles to exist most days. Other characters underestimate him, mock him, push him aside -- but Sam finds him intriguing (if frustrating).
The case being investigated, the apparent dumping of a deceased clone, becomes complicated fast and there are a lot of twists and turns before we hit the final arc. Again, all quite good.
So why such a low rating, Shiori?
Because UUUUUUUUUUUGH. UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGH.
Just when I thought things were amazing Sam pulled a move that absolutely threw me. I couldn't feel the same way about the book after that.
Sure, I have other complaints about the book (like how little we learned about the outbreak that led America to re-join the Commonwealth, the sheer number of info dumps, and how obvious the eventual twist was) but UUUUUGH. I could have accepted sketchy background details and labored writing if it meant having characters I genuinely cared about. While I did love the warts-and-all look at both Sam and Mac, by the end I was extremely troubled by the above incident and how little weight the narrative placed on the heroine's dickish abuse of trust.
Given that "The Day Before" is the first in a trilogy, I don't doubt I'm supposed to be invested in how Sam and Mac overcome their difficulties. I will still likely pick up the second book, just because the sci-fi elements were intriguing and there are a lot of unanswered questions by the end of this novel. However at this point, a potential relationship between the leads skeevs the shit out of me. I really, truly hope future installments in this series don't continue to play up Mac as some douchebag every moment he's sober and that Sam learns some fucking boundaries.
Sigh.
May 18, 2015
I've reviewed other books by Liana Brooks (
Fey Lights
, and
Even Villains Fall in Love
) and follow her socks on Twitter, so I was lucky enough last week to get the opportunity to win an ARC of her latest release (HAPPY RELEASE DAY!),
The Day Before
. I kept telling myself I was only going to read just one more chapter, but in the end, the only reason I took a break at all was because
hungry puppies
will not countenance a book addiction.
:D
Over the past year, I've seen Brooks reference "Jane Doe" periodically (and honestly wasn't sure what she was describing in 140-character snippets was exactly my cup of tea), so didn't know much else about the book when I received the ARC. Given the body in chapter 1, it was evident pretty quickly that this was a mystery. Given the references to clones and legislation about them, it was also obvious that this was a sci-fi story set in the near future, when the country has been absorbed into the Commonwealth of North America.
Brooks has taken her world-building to a whole new level with this first installment in her Jane Doe series. I'm completely in love with the fictitious quotes from future selves of characters both in and outside the narrative that start the chapters:
The characters, especially Agents Samantha (Sam) Rose and Linsey MacKensie (Mac) of the Commonwealth Bureau of Investigation (CBI), are both flawed as well as people readers will be anxious to get to know over the course of the narrative. Brooks takes on prejudice on multiple levels, with race and clones being the two convenient targets for her characters to have conversations like this one:
Everything about the story gripped me--the speculation about the nature of time and personhood, the way the story unfolded, and the world-building. I'm glad the book is available starting today, so more people can enjoy how Brooks has made a successful mash-up of the sci-fi and mystery genres, and I'm very much looking forward to the next two installments in the series. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes either genre, since the bad-guy reveal is equally balanced between both--and very satisfying to the reader. This is one I'll be re-reading with particular attention to the chapter introduction quotes and the details that got thrown under the bus as I raced through the narrative to figure out whodunnit.
:D
Over the past year, I've seen Brooks reference "Jane Doe" periodically (and honestly wasn't sure what she was describing in 140-character snippets was exactly my cup of tea), so didn't know much else about the book when I received the ARC. Given the body in chapter 1, it was evident pretty quickly that this was a mystery. Given the references to clones and legislation about them, it was also obvious that this was a sci-fi story set in the near future, when the country has been absorbed into the Commonwealth of North America.
Brooks has taken her world-building to a whole new level with this first installment in her Jane Doe series. I'm completely in love with the fictitious quotes from future selves of characters both in and outside the narrative that start the chapters:
Picture a wave, it crests and collapses without losing anything. There is energy. So much energy! Time is much the same, choice creates energy, the energy crests into a wave of possibility, a thousand iterations rising, but in the end, the water returns to the ocean. The prime iteration is stable. In the end, all possibilities lead to our reality.
The characters, especially Agents Samantha (Sam) Rose and Linsey MacKensie (Mac) of the Commonwealth Bureau of Investigation (CBI), are both flawed as well as people readers will be anxious to get to know over the course of the narrative. Brooks takes on prejudice on multiple levels, with race and clones being the two convenient targets for her characters to have conversations like this one:
A basic Hispanic face, nothing out of the ordinary, but disconcerting in its similarity to what Sam saw in the mirror every morning. She grimaced as the computer added wavy black hair and a dark skin tint. Sam surreptitiously glanced at the ME to see if he was smirking. Both the men stared at her face on the screen without recognition.
"Wetback?" Marrins harrumphed. "Looks like a friend of yours, Rose. You know her?"
"I was born in Toronto, sir, and not all people who look Hispanic actually know each other."
"She looks familiar," Marrins said. "Think I saw a whore with that face back in Texas once."
"Not all Hispanics look alike, sir, but it's an easy mistake to make. All white people looked the same to me until I took the bureau's sensitivity course about racial differences in the workplace." Her commentary sailed over Marrins's bald head with room to spare.
Everything about the story gripped me--the speculation about the nature of time and personhood, the way the story unfolded, and the world-building. I'm glad the book is available starting today, so more people can enjoy how Brooks has made a successful mash-up of the sci-fi and mystery genres, and I'm very much looking forward to the next two installments in the series. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes either genre, since the bad-guy reveal is equally balanced between both--and very satisfying to the reader. This is one I'll be re-reading with particular attention to the chapter introduction quotes and the details that got thrown under the bus as I raced through the narrative to figure out whodunnit.
June 16, 2015
http://openbooksociety.com/article/th...
Review brought to you by OBS staff member Andra
Warning: Some Spoilers
My first thoughts are….an interesting read, but is it trying to emulate the feel of J.D. Robb’s ‘In Death’ series? This in and of itself caused me a bit of unease as who could live up to that series, though this unease was quickly dispelled by the writing and story line. I was quickly engaged and some of the twists and turns actually drove me to drop everything else and continue reading long past my bedtime.
The big debate is to how to write a review without giving away all the good stuff. Pretty hard in this instance since it has LOTS of good stuff! But I shall do my best to leave loads of mystery for the reader to discover.
Agent Samantha Rose has been relegated to a third rate location by the Commonwealth Bureau of Investigation (CBI), much to her dismay. In order to get the coveted promotion and back to the big city…she is at Agent Marrin’s beck and call. One Friday Sam is called out to a homicide investigation….or is it a dumped clone site? Time will tell. Throughout the story I really enjoyed Sam’s moxie. She was always true to her beliefs, even when events got muddy and ugly.
Rose was frequently relegated the dud cases…for example: the break in at the lab. And just when she was getting decent lead’s, her supervisor, Marrin yank’s her off the case. However given her tenacity, Rose does find creative ways to continue with the investigation.
Talk about depth of a character….Linsey MacKenzie has so many layers; it was a pleasure learning his story. You just know he had compassion when he took Agent Rose’s dog (Hoss) to his house when she was late returning from a meeting in D.C. and it turned out that a dead body was stashed in her freezer. There was tension between MacKenzie and Sam throughout the story, but they came to understand and appreciate each other in due course. The compassion and assistance Sam provided to Mac (without his knowledge) was endearing. They both are tenacious in the fight for justice. And I really enjoyed the evolution of their relationship – it just seemed so natural.
I frequently forgot that this story was set in the future (I know….with clone talk abounding or each chapter beginning with a date and location …how could I forget?) but when encountering statements like the following, I was jolted back into the future frame of mind:
“MacKenzie’s place was all 2020 architecture…”
The tension between Atlin and Marrin (local detective versus CBI) added to the drama. At one point they were fighting over jurisdiction regarding the dead body in Rose’s freezer and Rose said to Mac over the phone:
“Tell them there’s a ruler in the top drawer by the fridge. They can whip it out and measure. When they’re done dicking around, they can get back to work.”
There is certainly more than one storyline, which intersected in a myriad of ways. This definitely added to the intrigue. As the characters grew in depth, so did the intensity of the storyline. And of course…the loose ends (i.e. resolution to the various storylines) kept me guessing throughout…just the way I like a good read.
Well done to Liana Brooks on this first book in a new series. I will be patiently waiting to read the next installment of this series.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Review brought to you by OBS staff member Andra
Warning: Some Spoilers
My first thoughts are….an interesting read, but is it trying to emulate the feel of J.D. Robb’s ‘In Death’ series? This in and of itself caused me a bit of unease as who could live up to that series, though this unease was quickly dispelled by the writing and story line. I was quickly engaged and some of the twists and turns actually drove me to drop everything else and continue reading long past my bedtime.
The big debate is to how to write a review without giving away all the good stuff. Pretty hard in this instance since it has LOTS of good stuff! But I shall do my best to leave loads of mystery for the reader to discover.
Agent Samantha Rose has been relegated to a third rate location by the Commonwealth Bureau of Investigation (CBI), much to her dismay. In order to get the coveted promotion and back to the big city…she is at Agent Marrin’s beck and call. One Friday Sam is called out to a homicide investigation….or is it a dumped clone site? Time will tell. Throughout the story I really enjoyed Sam’s moxie. She was always true to her beliefs, even when events got muddy and ugly.
Rose was frequently relegated the dud cases…for example: the break in at the lab. And just when she was getting decent lead’s, her supervisor, Marrin yank’s her off the case. However given her tenacity, Rose does find creative ways to continue with the investigation.
Talk about depth of a character….Linsey MacKenzie has so many layers; it was a pleasure learning his story. You just know he had compassion when he took Agent Rose’s dog (Hoss) to his house when she was late returning from a meeting in D.C. and it turned out that a dead body was stashed in her freezer. There was tension between MacKenzie and Sam throughout the story, but they came to understand and appreciate each other in due course. The compassion and assistance Sam provided to Mac (without his knowledge) was endearing. They both are tenacious in the fight for justice. And I really enjoyed the evolution of their relationship – it just seemed so natural.
I frequently forgot that this story was set in the future (I know….with clone talk abounding or each chapter beginning with a date and location …how could I forget?) but when encountering statements like the following, I was jolted back into the future frame of mind:
“MacKenzie’s place was all 2020 architecture…”
The tension between Atlin and Marrin (local detective versus CBI) added to the drama. At one point they were fighting over jurisdiction regarding the dead body in Rose’s freezer and Rose said to Mac over the phone:
“Tell them there’s a ruler in the top drawer by the fridge. They can whip it out and measure. When they’re done dicking around, they can get back to work.”
There is certainly more than one storyline, which intersected in a myriad of ways. This definitely added to the intrigue. As the characters grew in depth, so did the intensity of the storyline. And of course…the loose ends (i.e. resolution to the various storylines) kept me guessing throughout…just the way I like a good read.
Well done to Liana Brooks on this first book in a new series. I will be patiently waiting to read the next installment of this series.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
May 4, 2015
I had the pleasure of reading this before it was released, and if you like a little Science Fiction mixed with your Thriller, this is the book for you.
It's all about Sam.
Yes, there are other characters in this book, but if you've ever read one and thought "Character X was more interesting," You probably won't do that here. Sam's a different kind of "strong female lead" in that she doesn't need to shoot people to prove how tough she is. (Not that I have any issue with women shooting people.)
Sam's tough in ways that you don't always see. She's tougher than the Alabama heat. Tougher than the bureacracy built up in her organization. Tougher than her sexist, racist, gene-ist boss who dreams of the "old days."
The whole novel has this futuristic antebellum vibe to it, and the plotting is meticulous to the point where many of the things which make you say "huh?" early in the book turn into "Aha!" moments later.
It's not easy to sum up a novel that's a neapolitan mix of Clone Rights, Time Travel, Sexism, Racism, and just a dash of Alabama summer pollen to give it that extra something. The best description might be a relentless thriller which only pauses to pull the floor out from under you, leaves you asking what it means to be a person, and how far you'd go to make what-if what was.
It's all about Sam.
Yes, there are other characters in this book, but if you've ever read one and thought "Character X was more interesting," You probably won't do that here. Sam's a different kind of "strong female lead" in that she doesn't need to shoot people to prove how tough she is. (Not that I have any issue with women shooting people.)
Sam's tough in ways that you don't always see. She's tougher than the Alabama heat. Tougher than the bureacracy built up in her organization. Tougher than her sexist, racist, gene-ist boss who dreams of the "old days."
The whole novel has this futuristic antebellum vibe to it, and the plotting is meticulous to the point where many of the things which make you say "huh?" early in the book turn into "Aha!" moments later.
It's not easy to sum up a novel that's a neapolitan mix of Clone Rights, Time Travel, Sexism, Racism, and just a dash of Alabama summer pollen to give it that extra something. The best description might be a relentless thriller which only pauses to pull the floor out from under you, leaves you asking what it means to be a person, and how far you'd go to make what-if what was.
May 7, 2015
The Day Before is a great read. I truly enjoyed it. CBI agent Samantha Rose is not fond of her post in the middle of nowhere. A new case may be the chance she was looking for to get out of the small town and into another posting. The case may not be at all as it appears. With the help of ME and fellow agent Mackenzie Sam will have to follow the case wherever it might lead.
I could not put this book down. I ended up staying up late in order to finish it. The writing is smooth and the storyline fast paced. At first I wasn't sure how I felt about the characters as the didn't resonate immediately with me. However, the characters grow throughout the book and the reader gains insight into the characters and their past. I have to say Mac was my favorite. I loved him!
I would definitely recommend this to fans of suspense and science fiction!
April 21, 2019
I am annoyed about this book. It was so close to being a really good, interesting, thought provoking and dramatic read. Unfortunately the mood, tone and atmosphere was all over the place. Handbrake turns in humour/drama/pathos/"romance" and an intelligent kickass heroine who simply refuses to even consider the most likely suspects because...well...because they are the authorities. I mean who ever heard of authorities being involved in cover ups and conspiracies, right?
And the tacked on "romance" angle...well if it was not for the barely under control drug crazed rapist with lovely eyes and surprisingly fit body this would be Mills & Boon with cheese.
I am only writing this many words because there was a damn good story buried in there that I REALLY wanted to read.
I feel robbed!
Hopefully someone will read it, have an "Aha!" moment, write a better version and do it right.
And the tacked on "romance" angle...well if it was not for the barely under control drug crazed rapist with lovely eyes and surprisingly fit body this would be Mills & Boon with cheese.
I am only writing this many words because there was a damn good story buried in there that I REALLY wanted to read.
I feel robbed!
Hopefully someone will read it, have an "Aha!" moment, write a better version and do it right.
September 7, 2015
A fast paced procedural mystery with a science fiction twist. Liana has proven her ability to craft a larger book with this story.
June 12, 2022
Meh. This is not a true time travel book, as much as it is a blah romance novel.
September 10, 2019
Reviewed by Danielle U
Book provided by the author
The Day Before by Liana Brooks is another book that brought me a new favorite character. This first novel is stunning and a great way of getting readers interested into the series. Liana Brooks brings readers to a world so different from our own. Imagine traveling throughout space. Maybe even getting trapped within a certain time and the consequences could be death. Sam Rose was introduced as an agent in this first book. She soon found herself intrigued with a mystery that deals with deaths. Deaths of women who are her younger version. Someone out there is killing her...then her husband tells her not to get involved but her instincts won't let her quit. But that all soon leads to more danger. Sam Rose needs to prove herself. Plus, her husband is gone and she needs to find him...but as she goes after him more questions arise.
Liana Brooks latest novel, The Day Before , is just as intriguing as any other thriller I have read. I was amazed at the level of mystery created with every page. Suspense carrying me through the story. There's plenty of action, danger, and crime to go around...readers will be entertained from beginning to end. This entire crime mystery read has strong elements of a thriller. A chase worthy of reader's attention. Murder, time travel, and a bit of romance all masterfully woven into one magnificent book. I couldn't stop reading it. Sam Rose is a new protagonist that readers will love. She's strong, determined and doesn't stop when the going gets tough, even if it means dying. Overall, I highly recommend this tale to readers everywhere.
Book provided by the author
The Day Before by Liana Brooks is another book that brought me a new favorite character. This first novel is stunning and a great way of getting readers interested into the series. Liana Brooks brings readers to a world so different from our own. Imagine traveling throughout space. Maybe even getting trapped within a certain time and the consequences could be death. Sam Rose was introduced as an agent in this first book. She soon found herself intrigued with a mystery that deals with deaths. Deaths of women who are her younger version. Someone out there is killing her...then her husband tells her not to get involved but her instincts won't let her quit. But that all soon leads to more danger. Sam Rose needs to prove herself. Plus, her husband is gone and she needs to find him...but as she goes after him more questions arise.
Liana Brooks latest novel, The Day Before , is just as intriguing as any other thriller I have read. I was amazed at the level of mystery created with every page. Suspense carrying me through the story. There's plenty of action, danger, and crime to go around...readers will be entertained from beginning to end. This entire crime mystery read has strong elements of a thriller. A chase worthy of reader's attention. Murder, time travel, and a bit of romance all masterfully woven into one magnificent book. I couldn't stop reading it. Sam Rose is a new protagonist that readers will love. She's strong, determined and doesn't stop when the going gets tough, even if it means dying. Overall, I highly recommend this tale to readers everywhere.
February 12, 2020
I am bit unsure of what rating to the give the book, i fluctuate between giving it 2.5 to 3.75. So im just gonna round it to 3.(I am frustrated)
Bit of spoilers to follow
I want to end with the cover is Beautiful & matches.
Bit of spoilers to follow
I want to end with the cover is Beautiful & matches.
July 20, 2017
I picked up this book because I thought it was about time travel. Halfway through, I figured I must have been wrong. The time travel part arrives in the last 10% of the book. That was a tad disappointing. But, it was an okay read. I can't say a super good read because some of the writer's style threw me off a bit. There were parts were the characters' actions seemed totally weird to me. But overall, I was interested and wanted to know how the story ended. The ending is actually what saved it. I may give the second book a try just because I liked the character of Mac so much!
February 26, 2020
Hey..It was good. Sam and Mac were great characters.The story moved along smoothly and did not have twists and turns, although there were a few. Nice balance. Well done. Later. Keep Reading.
August 16, 2024
great book
The title says it all. Love the characters and story. Abrupt ending, but that’s ok since I want to read the next book.
The title says it all. Love the characters and story. Abrupt ending, but that’s ok since I want to read the next book.
November 6, 2021
This book ticked a lot of boxes for me – a murder mystery in a science fiction setting with a lovable giant of a dog? Yes, please!
Sam is a junior agent in the Commonwealth Bureau of Investigation. A family emergency meant she had to take a few months off and now she's stuck in a low-level job in nowheresville. To cope with his PTSD, Maclives in a drug-induced haze. Together, they have to solve a murder that Sam's boss wants written off as a suicide.
I really enjoyed this one. While there was some romance, it wasn't the focus and never got in the way of the story.
Sam is a junior agent in the Commonwealth Bureau of Investigation. A family emergency meant she had to take a few months off and now she's stuck in a low-level job in nowheresville. To cope with his PTSD, Maclives in a drug-induced haze. Together, they have to solve a murder that Sam's boss wants written off as a suicide.
I really enjoyed this one. While there was some romance, it wasn't the focus and never got in the way of the story.
June 6, 2015
While I was already predisposed to like this book based on the other books I've read by Liana, this book managed to completely blow me away. Hitting right in one of my favorite genre's the crime drama murder mystery is one of my favorite setups, but the near future science fiction elements made the world feel all the more fascinating and exciting.
From the background details, like the political change of the USA being absorbed back into a European union and the widespread use of water powered cars, to the much more pressing details of a world where cloning humans not only exists but is a relatively common procedure met with laws and a grey morality, the world of the Jane Doe Series is absorbingly real. It was all too easy to get lost in a world where we manage to advance our dependence on fossil fuels, yet the petty biases of mankind still exist in jurisdictional squabbles, southern hospitality, and appalling bigots in authority positions.
I refuse to give away any spoilers about my favorite twists in this book, but I really loved how I was drawn in, half expecting a conventional progression with a conventional ending, but found the story going in a completely new direction as the mystery unfolded.
I really can't say enough about how I love this book. The pacing kept me devouring chapter after chapter, resenting the intrusion of the outside world. While the scientific elements had me thinking them over and considering their possibilities long after I'd set the book down to do other things.
Liana Brooks is a top notch world builder, and I appreciate her keen ability to research and create a world where science is believable and logical even if it doesn't exist (yet). But more than the scientific aspect, her attention to detail shows wonderfully in the aspects of humanity. One of the main characters is forced to grapple with mental illness (PTSD) and the horrible lifelong scars of the mentally wounded. His struggles are shown as very real, not used as a plot device, nor is he magically saved from his demons. Like a real person he still struggles, but he finds his motivation to move forward and evolve through his struggle.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone who likes scifi, urban fantasy, and crime drama. Try to solve the mystery of Jane Doe's murder. Was she a discarded clone? Is there a conspiracy to replace people with cloned duplicates? Is the mystery at Nova Labs related? Is Agent MacKenzie as hot as I think he is?? (*ahem* Sorry, I dropped my ship there, let me put it away.)
And I also get to add one of my FAVORITE statements here. If you read THIS book, then you not only get to enjoy The Day Before, but you get the added bonus of knowing that Jane Doe 2 will be coming out November 2015! The next book cannot come fast enough!
Buy it. Read it. Love it. Make a friend read it. Then get on social media to tell Liana to write more!
From the background details, like the political change of the USA being absorbed back into a European union and the widespread use of water powered cars, to the much more pressing details of a world where cloning humans not only exists but is a relatively common procedure met with laws and a grey morality, the world of the Jane Doe Series is absorbingly real. It was all too easy to get lost in a world where we manage to advance our dependence on fossil fuels, yet the petty biases of mankind still exist in jurisdictional squabbles, southern hospitality, and appalling bigots in authority positions.
I refuse to give away any spoilers about my favorite twists in this book, but I really loved how I was drawn in, half expecting a conventional progression with a conventional ending, but found the story going in a completely new direction as the mystery unfolded.
I really can't say enough about how I love this book. The pacing kept me devouring chapter after chapter, resenting the intrusion of the outside world. While the scientific elements had me thinking them over and considering their possibilities long after I'd set the book down to do other things.
Liana Brooks is a top notch world builder, and I appreciate her keen ability to research and create a world where science is believable and logical even if it doesn't exist (yet). But more than the scientific aspect, her attention to detail shows wonderfully in the aspects of humanity. One of the main characters is forced to grapple with mental illness (PTSD) and the horrible lifelong scars of the mentally wounded. His struggles are shown as very real, not used as a plot device, nor is he magically saved from his demons. Like a real person he still struggles, but he finds his motivation to move forward and evolve through his struggle.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone who likes scifi, urban fantasy, and crime drama. Try to solve the mystery of Jane Doe's murder. Was she a discarded clone? Is there a conspiracy to replace people with cloned duplicates? Is the mystery at Nova Labs related? Is Agent MacKenzie as hot as I think he is?? (*ahem* Sorry, I dropped my ship there, let me put it away.)
And I also get to add one of my FAVORITE statements here. If you read THIS book, then you not only get to enjoy The Day Before, but you get the added bonus of knowing that Jane Doe 2 will be coming out November 2015! The next book cannot come fast enough!
Buy it. Read it. Love it. Make a friend read it. Then get on social media to tell Liana to write more!
May 27, 2015
Holy Mind Boggle Batman!!!!
From page one I was instant gripped by this book, it was futuristic style blended with a realism that didn't seem too far fetched. Decades off into the future where clones are as popular and fast food joints, each one serves a purpose. I mean they even have black market rings that sell illegal clones to stalkers....that's twisted!
Though with each page I kept getting sucked in a little more. Sam truly was a great detective to follow in this novel. She was witty, smart as hell and has a second sense for bullshit. That was probably one of my favorite things about her, plus she had the balls to call people out, regardless of their rank.
Another character who intrigued me instant was Mac....honestly I was expecting a girl...that threw me for a loop....but he peaked my interest. At first I totally thought he was corrupt, and dirty, yet as the plot unfolded it revealed things that he had no control over. "Powers that be" sort of thing.
At the end of Sam's story I will have to say I saw a couple things coming, the bad guy(s)....yes. The why....no.
It left off at a point that will allow the second book in this series to really explode. I look forward jumping into the rest of the Jane Doe series with Sam! I think it's going to be quiet a ride!
4/5
From page one I was instant gripped by this book, it was futuristic style blended with a realism that didn't seem too far fetched. Decades off into the future where clones are as popular and fast food joints, each one serves a purpose. I mean they even have black market rings that sell illegal clones to stalkers....that's twisted!
Though with each page I kept getting sucked in a little more. Sam truly was a great detective to follow in this novel. She was witty, smart as hell and has a second sense for bullshit. That was probably one of my favorite things about her, plus she had the balls to call people out, regardless of their rank.
Another character who intrigued me instant was Mac....honestly I was expecting a girl...that threw me for a loop....but he peaked my interest. At first I totally thought he was corrupt, and dirty, yet as the plot unfolded it revealed things that he had no control over. "Powers that be" sort of thing.
At the end of Sam's story I will have to say I saw a couple things coming, the bad guy(s)....yes. The why....no.
It left off at a point that will allow the second book in this series to really explode. I look forward jumping into the rest of the Jane Doe series with Sam! I think it's going to be quiet a ride!
4/5
November 17, 2021
4.5
Sigh, a return to Third Person! YAY!!!
You simply have to LOVE good Science-Fiction when it isn't heavy. Not a fan of Hard Sci-Fi, as it is sometimes called, and Brooks manages to navigate an interesting story without getting too bogged down in the detail. In fact, she keeps it light as it's coming from a character that no one takes seriously until it's too late.
As for the MC, Samantha Rose does not disappoint. She's sexy and smart without being mannish or arrogant. She is, however, targeted like an ICBM on getting out of Alabama... can you blame her?!
Then there's MacKenzie, another CBI agent with more than just a little luggage. He's got a past that's getting in the way of most of his futures but he's about to get the nudge he needs to sober up and sober on.
The two come together in a number of exchanges that tease the reader with a hint of romance, but the relationship they're building doesn't feel forced and you wind up rooting for them even though nothing culminates between them... or does it???
While I found some of the decision-making a bit challenging, I very much enjoyed the story and I've already picked up "Convergence Point" (Time & Shadows Book 2).
Sigh, a return to Third Person! YAY!!!
You simply have to LOVE good Science-Fiction when it isn't heavy. Not a fan of Hard Sci-Fi, as it is sometimes called, and Brooks manages to navigate an interesting story without getting too bogged down in the detail. In fact, she keeps it light as it's coming from a character that no one takes seriously until it's too late.
As for the MC, Samantha Rose does not disappoint. She's sexy and smart without being mannish or arrogant. She is, however, targeted like an ICBM on getting out of Alabama... can you blame her?!
Then there's MacKenzie, another CBI agent with more than just a little luggage. He's got a past that's getting in the way of most of his futures but he's about to get the nudge he needs to sober up and sober on.
The two come together in a number of exchanges that tease the reader with a hint of romance, but the relationship they're building doesn't feel forced and you wind up rooting for them even though nothing culminates between them... or does it???
While I found some of the decision-making a bit challenging, I very much enjoyed the story and I've already picked up "Convergence Point" (Time & Shadows Book 2).
December 17, 2015
I received this book from Goodreads.
The Day Before is a science fiction murder mystery that takes place in the future and involves clones. The writing was good so the story flowed. The characters were well developed so it was easy to like and cheer for Samantha. Even though the main male character, Linsey Mackenzie, had major issues to overcome, he too was likable. Because the story was well thought out, it was easy to keep reading and I was pleased that not everything was predictable. I felt there should have been more explanation as to how the US lost that status and became a commonwealth. Also there was some mention as to the problems with clones but that too was vague.
I did enjoy this book and was pleased with how it ended. I would recommend this to people who like books about the future and who have an interest in thrillers. This book was not excessively violent, which to me is a plus.
The Day Before is a science fiction murder mystery that takes place in the future and involves clones. The writing was good so the story flowed. The characters were well developed so it was easy to like and cheer for Samantha. Even though the main male character, Linsey Mackenzie, had major issues to overcome, he too was likable. Because the story was well thought out, it was easy to keep reading and I was pleased that not everything was predictable. I felt there should have been more explanation as to how the US lost that status and became a commonwealth. Also there was some mention as to the problems with clones but that too was vague.
I did enjoy this book and was pleased with how it ended. I would recommend this to people who like books about the future and who have an interest in thrillers. This book was not excessively violent, which to me is a plus.
December 20, 2015
Wow, I knew Ms. Brooks could write - her superhero romance is fantastic - but wow.
A police procedural with sci-fi time-travel mix. The procedural is set in the near future - about 50 years from now. 25-ish years ago half of humanity was lost to a plague and the survivors joined nations and moved forward, so Samantha, the main character, works for the North American government. Ms. Brooks has done an excellent job of creating a new culture from the fallout, plus a pretty interesting scientific possibility for time travel.
I highly recommend reading the chapter teasers. The stuff at the start of chapters 8, 13, and 23 give the motivation for Iteration 1 and lays the groundwork for the series.
Full Disclosure: Received free from author as part of an on-line book launch. No mention of review in the transaction. Attended launch because loved her other books.
A police procedural with sci-fi time-travel mix. The procedural is set in the near future - about 50 years from now. 25-ish years ago half of humanity was lost to a plague and the survivors joined nations and moved forward, so Samantha, the main character, works for the North American government. Ms. Brooks has done an excellent job of creating a new culture from the fallout, plus a pretty interesting scientific possibility for time travel.
I highly recommend reading the chapter teasers. The stuff at the start of chapters 8, 13, and 23 give the motivation for Iteration 1 and lays the groundwork for the series.
Full Disclosure: Received free from author as part of an on-line book launch. No mention of review in the transaction. Attended launch because loved her other books.
June 28, 2015
When I read this book, I couldn't help but compare it the JD Robb's In Death series. It's a police crime thriller with a tough female lead, set in the near future with some sci-fi elements mixed in, and with a dose of romance to round it out. Unlike those other books, however, The Day Before does all of these things better. The crimes are actually interesting, and not just an excuse to showcase a highly improbable love affair (just how many gorgeous billionaires attracted to working class women are there in the world?), the "science" part of the sci-fi is well thought out and very, very smart, and the main characters are interesting without having tragic backstories so cliche it hurts. In my opinion, this is one of the best of it's kind I've read in a long time.
June 22, 2015
Excellent twisty plot
I read a lot of books - and I usually know exactly where they are going and about how they will end. Not with The Day Before. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, my mind racing to try to figure out what twist the plot would take next. It was exciting to for once not to solve the crime until the mc did, yet have the entire book work wonderfully.
I also loved the romantic tension between Sam and Mackenzie and that it did not follow the typical romantic arc. This was altogether a twisty and intriguing novel which I could not put down and devoured in a day. Highly recommend!
I read a lot of books - and I usually know exactly where they are going and about how they will end. Not with The Day Before. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, my mind racing to try to figure out what twist the plot would take next. It was exciting to for once not to solve the crime until the mc did, yet have the entire book work wonderfully.
I also loved the romantic tension between Sam and Mackenzie and that it did not follow the typical romantic arc. This was altogether a twisty and intriguing novel which I could not put down and devoured in a day. Highly recommend!
July 6, 2015
Agent Samantha Rose has been assigned to a third rate location by the Commonwealth Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Alabama. In order to get the promotion she wants and to go back to the big city…she is at Agent Marrin’s beck and call. One Friday Sam is called out to a site where a body has been found. Is it a body or is it a clone??
The coroner, McKenzie, is addicted to medication for PTSD. He is a bit unusual and definitely has problems. McKenzie volunteers to watch Sam's dog - a mastif- while she flies to D.C. for a job interview. And through this McKenzie and Sam become friends
The coroner, McKenzie, is addicted to medication for PTSD. He is a bit unusual and definitely has problems. McKenzie volunteers to watch Sam's dog - a mastif- while she flies to D.C. for a job interview. And through this McKenzie and Sam become friends
August 25, 2016
Set in a futuristic Alabama, the story involves a young female Commonwealth Bureau of Investigations (CBI) agent against a misogynistic boss, a lack of evidence in a mysterious death, and a medical examiner with PTSD. When more bodies bearing the same strange internal ripple patterns appear, it becomes apparent that there is something sinister going on.
June 22, 2016
To make it short and sweet, I loved this book. I couldn't put it down once I started and breezed through it so quickly. It was fast-paced, suspenseful, and had an awesome female lead. I honestly can't wait to read more in the series. This is science fiction done right.
(I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway!)
(I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway!)
July 25, 2016
Overall a good book, idea that I have run into over and over in various books. Occasionally a bit disjointed, probably seen as incentive to read the next book, but still entertaining nonetheless.
January 1, 2017
Quite entertaining, especially once it picked up about two-thirds of the way through.
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