What do you think?
Rate this book
Easytown Novels #1
The Immorality Clause
Easytown's robotic pleasure clubs are a serial killer's playground.The futuristic slum in eastern New Orleans is a violent place where any vice can be satisfied--for a price. As long as the taxes are paid and tourists continue to flock to the city, businesses are allowed to operate as they see fit. Easytown has given rise to the robotic sex trade; where the robots are nearly human and always better than the real thing.Homicide detective, Zach Forrest, has never trusted the machines. When a string of grisly murders rocks the city, he must hunt down the killer responsible. With no witnesses, and no evidence, Forrest embarks on an investigation that will challenge the very scope of reality. Will Forrest find the killer before he becomes the next victim?
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 8, 2016
51 people are currently reading
348 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
August 22, 2021
The Immorality Clause
Easytown Novels, Book 1
By: Brian Parker
Narrated by: Daniel Penz
This book has a 1940's type detective but the scene is set in the future. The detective is trying to solve a series of murders that involve droids. The first case he is assigned is a legal brothel that has top of the line androids that look and feel like a real person.
This world is really strange. There are clones that are definitely second class citizens. Androids for multiple services. AI are common for keeping life running smooth.
It's full of twists and turns, questionable people, and a good plot. It was easy to guess most of the solution but it was still a good book.
Easytown Novels, Book 1
By: Brian Parker
Narrated by: Daniel Penz
This book has a 1940's type detective but the scene is set in the future. The detective is trying to solve a series of murders that involve droids. The first case he is assigned is a legal brothel that has top of the line androids that look and feel like a real person.
This world is really strange. There are clones that are definitely second class citizens. Androids for multiple services. AI are common for keeping life running smooth.
It's full of twists and turns, questionable people, and a good plot. It was easy to guess most of the solution but it was still a good book.
May 8, 2019
I received this from Audiobookboom in exchange for an honest review.
This was a lot of fun! The comparison to Blade Runner is a valid one, especially the relationship between the main character and a murder witness, as well as the dark, gloomy environment of Post-WWIII New Orleans, eerily similar to Blade Runner's LA.
At its heart, this is a murder investigation with distinct elements of a police procedural and PI noir. I also enjoyed the modern technology twist to the plot.
I will definitely be looking for the next book in this series.
This was a lot of fun! The comparison to Blade Runner is a valid one, especially the relationship between the main character and a murder witness, as well as the dark, gloomy environment of Post-WWIII New Orleans, eerily similar to Blade Runner's LA.
At its heart, this is a murder investigation with distinct elements of a police procedural and PI noir. I also enjoyed the modern technology twist to the plot.
I will definitely be looking for the next book in this series.
April 15, 2018
My original The Immorality Clause audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
“The Immorality Clause” is written by Brian Parker and the audiobook’s narration was performed by Daniel Penz. Wow, let me start this review by saying that if you are at all a fan of great science fiction noir (not recommended for younger audiences) and you have not yet picked up and listened to this book, go do so now; you will not be dissatisfied. I was not sure based on the author’s description how this book would handle some of the subject matter, but between the exceptional writing style and the superior narration, this book was a perfect storm; in a good way! If you can put up with the adult material, this book is a masterfully nitty, gritty, science fiction action suspense thriller that will keep you guessing until the end.
Imagine a cyberpunk techno-thriller, like Blade Runner, along with solid procedural (homicide) elements. The author is able to blend these two aspects wonderfully in this story. The dirty world often had me wanting a shower after each listen, but I had to come back for more. I enjoyed the new and fresh futuristic technology that similar to devices of today, still have their issues and quirks. One has to love technology. There are solid and believable components surrounding the world development and the characters each had dimension and form to them. Not only did you get great human characters, there were cyborgs and even a quite likable AI with a sense of humor. When the book finished, I wanted more, but in no way did I feel cheated in what I got. The nice thing is that even though this is a series, this book can be read as a standalone novel. All of the story plots are mostly finalized with only a few open-ended aspects whetting one’s appetite for more to come. I can only imagine the possibilities and places the author will take us in future books. No real plot cliff-hangers awaiting you, just potential.
Not only was much of the story placed in the legal red-light district of Easytown, the author also took us around to see many of the more well off (and in some cases worse) locations of this world. There are the ever-watching eyes of the government via surveillance cameras placed nearly everywhere. All the while I was listening to the story, the author had me wondering who was the one they were looking for and how did they get away with the crime. A real “who done it” story wrapped in a futuristic cyber world. Not only was the world well defined, the characters themselves were as well. Early on in my listening, I discovered a number of the character’s personalities, and what was nice was that these stayed consistent as one would expect. This is not always the case with many of the books I have previously listened too. I would have liked to have had a bit more interaction between Paxton and Andy in the book, but I’m sure there will be more of that in future books. The attention to detail had me feeling like I was watching a movie while I listened. On that note, I could easily see this being made into a movie and doing well.
Even though Daniel Penz is a newer narrator, with just over thirty books on Audible at the time of this review, the book’s narration and additional extras made it feel like it was performed by a professional studio. The book was clean, crisp, and well-paced. All of the characters were unique in both voice and personality, and the narration helped that immensely. Voicing the AI, along with the many droids was done flawlessly. I also thought the addition of a few audio effects, both in voicing and sound, greatly enhanced the book without being overdone. The amount of action and suspense was not lost by the narrator as he added the necessary inflection showing he understood his material.
For parents and potential younger readers, I cannot recommend this book based on the subject matter and content. The book contains subjects involving sex, drugs, and alcohol. There are a few graphically violent scenes which I would not think appropriate for younger audiences. I will add that the author’s focus on the topic of sex is done in a professional and non-sleazy manner. The subject matter is there, but it is not salacious or over-the-top. I still would still not recommend it for younger readers.
If you are one who enjoys deep and rich science fiction with a decent mix of noir, this is a book I think you should pick up. There was action, suspense, and technology. What more could you ask from a book in this genre. I look forward to newer books in the series and hope to listen to future books by both the author and narrator.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog.
[If this review helped, please press YES. Thanks!]
“The Immorality Clause” is written by Brian Parker and the audiobook’s narration was performed by Daniel Penz. Wow, let me start this review by saying that if you are at all a fan of great science fiction noir (not recommended for younger audiences) and you have not yet picked up and listened to this book, go do so now; you will not be dissatisfied. I was not sure based on the author’s description how this book would handle some of the subject matter, but between the exceptional writing style and the superior narration, this book was a perfect storm; in a good way! If you can put up with the adult material, this book is a masterfully nitty, gritty, science fiction action suspense thriller that will keep you guessing until the end.
Imagine a cyberpunk techno-thriller, like Blade Runner, along with solid procedural (homicide) elements. The author is able to blend these two aspects wonderfully in this story. The dirty world often had me wanting a shower after each listen, but I had to come back for more. I enjoyed the new and fresh futuristic technology that similar to devices of today, still have their issues and quirks. One has to love technology. There are solid and believable components surrounding the world development and the characters each had dimension and form to them. Not only did you get great human characters, there were cyborgs and even a quite likable AI with a sense of humor. When the book finished, I wanted more, but in no way did I feel cheated in what I got. The nice thing is that even though this is a series, this book can be read as a standalone novel. All of the story plots are mostly finalized with only a few open-ended aspects whetting one’s appetite for more to come. I can only imagine the possibilities and places the author will take us in future books. No real plot cliff-hangers awaiting you, just potential.
Not only was much of the story placed in the legal red-light district of Easytown, the author also took us around to see many of the more well off (and in some cases worse) locations of this world. There are the ever-watching eyes of the government via surveillance cameras placed nearly everywhere. All the while I was listening to the story, the author had me wondering who was the one they were looking for and how did they get away with the crime. A real “who done it” story wrapped in a futuristic cyber world. Not only was the world well defined, the characters themselves were as well. Early on in my listening, I discovered a number of the character’s personalities, and what was nice was that these stayed consistent as one would expect. This is not always the case with many of the books I have previously listened too. I would have liked to have had a bit more interaction between Paxton and Andy in the book, but I’m sure there will be more of that in future books. The attention to detail had me feeling like I was watching a movie while I listened. On that note, I could easily see this being made into a movie and doing well.
Even though Daniel Penz is a newer narrator, with just over thirty books on Audible at the time of this review, the book’s narration and additional extras made it feel like it was performed by a professional studio. The book was clean, crisp, and well-paced. All of the characters were unique in both voice and personality, and the narration helped that immensely. Voicing the AI, along with the many droids was done flawlessly. I also thought the addition of a few audio effects, both in voicing and sound, greatly enhanced the book without being overdone. The amount of action and suspense was not lost by the narrator as he added the necessary inflection showing he understood his material.
For parents and potential younger readers, I cannot recommend this book based on the subject matter and content. The book contains subjects involving sex, drugs, and alcohol. There are a few graphically violent scenes which I would not think appropriate for younger audiences. I will add that the author’s focus on the topic of sex is done in a professional and non-sleazy manner. The subject matter is there, but it is not salacious or over-the-top. I still would still not recommend it for younger readers.
If you are one who enjoys deep and rich science fiction with a decent mix of noir, this is a book I think you should pick up. There was action, suspense, and technology. What more could you ask from a book in this genre. I look forward to newer books in the series and hope to listen to future books by both the author and narrator.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog.
[If this review helped, please press YES. Thanks!]
January 21, 2017
Bladerunner was one of my favorite movies growing up and it's easy to see why. It's a Noir Detective story which just so happens to take place in a proto-cyberpunk future. Replicants took the place of Blacks as an exploited underclass but they were actually in a state of full-on slavery again. Bladerunner's hero, for lack of a better term, was the kind of man who existed to hunt them down and exterminate them when they went rogue. A few novels have managed to recapture that sort of world with PRIME SUSPECTS: A CLONE DETECTIVE MYSTERY by Jim Bernheimer and ALTERED CARBON by Richard K. Morgan being the two best off the top of my head.
The Immorality Clause is a more low-key version of the story with true Replicants not having yet actually emerged, just robots. There may be true A.I. in some of the more advanced models but most of them are merely life-like dolls which serve a variety of functions for men and women in the setting. Particularly sex because this is a Noir story. Homicide Detective Zach Forrest is invited down to Easytown, a kind of Storybrook-esque slum of New Orleans, to investigate a murder in one of the sexbot establishments there. This gets him involved in a strange and dangerous mystery which involves a serial killer and a political assassination on the eve of worldwide robotic legislation.
The book has a nice down-to-Earth feeling which I felt made it stronger. Zach is a Detective but even he can afford an A.I. to manage all of his affairs. New Orleans, already one of the more diverse cities in the world, now has a bunch of Arabic immigrants. The world-building is subtle rather than in your face and works better for its groundedness. It simultaneously manages to have a 1940s-esque feel in some places while also feeling like it could plausibly take place in the future.
Zach Forrest is a much nicer man than Bladerunner's Decker but he's still an individual who is deeply set in his ways and both repulsed as well as fascinated by the newest models of sexbots. Paxton is a character who exudes so much mystery the audience almost certainly thinks she's a robot herself but may well be something more complicated. The serial killer, himself, is a figure which doesn't get much in the way of development but shows himself to be clever but not quite as much as he thinks he is.
The supporting cast is also interesting as we get to see New Orleans citizens from all branches of life. I also felt like the book did a good job of stretching out the investigation. As opposed to it all happening in a couple of days, the story takes place over a couple of weeks and feels more realistic. There are times when leads dry up and they just have to wait for resultd which made things feel more authentic.
Finally, I give credit for how they handled the issue of A.I. It didn't spontaneously develop but is something which the developers have very clearly designed within limitations. Machines never suddenly go "rogue." They may malfunction but the majority of problems in the world with robots are because people programmed them to be problems--a nice change of pace from most science fiction.
In conclusion, this is an excellent work of science fiction. Brian Parker did a wonderful job of creating a seedy Noir future setting which invokes Bladerunner without copying it. I look forward to the sequel.
9.5/10
The Immorality Clause is a more low-key version of the story with true Replicants not having yet actually emerged, just robots. There may be true A.I. in some of the more advanced models but most of them are merely life-like dolls which serve a variety of functions for men and women in the setting. Particularly sex because this is a Noir story. Homicide Detective Zach Forrest is invited down to Easytown, a kind of Storybrook-esque slum of New Orleans, to investigate a murder in one of the sexbot establishments there. This gets him involved in a strange and dangerous mystery which involves a serial killer and a political assassination on the eve of worldwide robotic legislation.
The book has a nice down-to-Earth feeling which I felt made it stronger. Zach is a Detective but even he can afford an A.I. to manage all of his affairs. New Orleans, already one of the more diverse cities in the world, now has a bunch of Arabic immigrants. The world-building is subtle rather than in your face and works better for its groundedness. It simultaneously manages to have a 1940s-esque feel in some places while also feeling like it could plausibly take place in the future.
Zach Forrest is a much nicer man than Bladerunner's Decker but he's still an individual who is deeply set in his ways and both repulsed as well as fascinated by the newest models of sexbots. Paxton is a character who exudes so much mystery the audience almost certainly thinks she's a robot herself but may well be something more complicated. The serial killer, himself, is a figure which doesn't get much in the way of development but shows himself to be clever but not quite as much as he thinks he is.
The supporting cast is also interesting as we get to see New Orleans citizens from all branches of life. I also felt like the book did a good job of stretching out the investigation. As opposed to it all happening in a couple of days, the story takes place over a couple of weeks and feels more realistic. There are times when leads dry up and they just have to wait for resultd which made things feel more authentic.
Finally, I give credit for how they handled the issue of A.I. It didn't spontaneously develop but is something which the developers have very clearly designed within limitations. Machines never suddenly go "rogue." They may malfunction but the majority of problems in the world with robots are because people programmed them to be problems--a nice change of pace from most science fiction.
In conclusion, this is an excellent work of science fiction. Brian Parker did a wonderful job of creating a seedy Noir future setting which invokes Bladerunner without copying it. I look forward to the sequel.
9.5/10
February 11, 2018
Parker’s futuristic New Orleans, wetter and colder than it is today due to climate change, is a terrific setting for his brand of contemporary noir. The Immorality Clause is perfect starting point for the series, and a feast for any noir fan.
Check out the rest of my review at BestThrillers.com.
Check out the rest of my review at BestThrillers.com.
April 11, 2017
Let's be clear: I'm NOT a murder mystery reader. I received this book in exchange for an honest review, and I was pleasantly surprised to find it was one heck of a great read.
The main character (hard-boiled detective) is as expected, with nothing too special to make him stand out from every other murder mystery detective. The supporting characters are equally expected: from the love interest to the colorful suspect to the gruff chief. But that didn't make the story any less enjoyable. In fact, they gave it that comfortable, "familiar" feel that makes murder mysteries so great to read.
It was the construction of the story overall that I find so great. There was no lag, no dull moments, nothing where I felt the story had stalled and was just trying to "buy time". The pace was steady and engaging, with plot twists and turns that were interesting. I won't say I had any "OMG!" moments in the story, but there was enough to keep me turning the pages to find out whodunit.
The world was rich and colorful, with that futuristic flavor layered in just enough to be interesting and unique without stretching believability. All in all, a well-crafted novel that I enjoyed immensely.
The main character (hard-boiled detective) is as expected, with nothing too special to make him stand out from every other murder mystery detective. The supporting characters are equally expected: from the love interest to the colorful suspect to the gruff chief. But that didn't make the story any less enjoyable. In fact, they gave it that comfortable, "familiar" feel that makes murder mysteries so great to read.
It was the construction of the story overall that I find so great. There was no lag, no dull moments, nothing where I felt the story had stalled and was just trying to "buy time". The pace was steady and engaging, with plot twists and turns that were interesting. I won't say I had any "OMG!" moments in the story, but there was enough to keep me turning the pages to find out whodunit.
The world was rich and colorful, with that futuristic flavor layered in just enough to be interesting and unique without stretching believability. All in all, a well-crafted novel that I enjoyed immensely.
November 18, 2016
Another awesome story from Brian Parker! This sci-fi thriller was addictive and impossible to put down.
As a tired detective works in New Orleans (in 2089), the murders in Easytown are rising. Where people go to purchase the services of 'pleasure droids', go clubbing all night, or just sink into the gritty nightlife offered there, the possibilities are endless for self-gratification.....but life-threatening?
Zachary Forrest is on the case, or cases, when the murders reflect no coincidences, no clues, and no evidence. With his own AI assistant, Andi, he must puzzle through the quagmire of Easytown and find a connection or just leave them unsolved. His tenacity will not allow for an easy out, and when his life is threatened, it's now personal.
A terrific story with fantastic characters keeps the reader on their toes! I fully enjoyed and heartily recommend this book. Very well done!
As a tired detective works in New Orleans (in 2089), the murders in Easytown are rising. Where people go to purchase the services of 'pleasure droids', go clubbing all night, or just sink into the gritty nightlife offered there, the possibilities are endless for self-gratification.....but life-threatening?
Zachary Forrest is on the case, or cases, when the murders reflect no coincidences, no clues, and no evidence. With his own AI assistant, Andi, he must puzzle through the quagmire of Easytown and find a connection or just leave them unsolved. His tenacity will not allow for an easy out, and when his life is threatened, it's now personal.
A terrific story with fantastic characters keeps the reader on their toes! I fully enjoyed and heartily recommend this book. Very well done!
February 11, 2017
In futuristic New Orleans, Easytown clubs are being haunted by a serial killer. But most don't care as long as the tourist still come with the money they bring. All that is but one police detective, Zack Forrest, and even an attempt on his life won't stop him. Zach is like a dog with a bone, he is not going to let go until he has it all figured out, and justice is done.
This is a very interesting book/audiobook with all the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and all the varying types and levels of AI. However, at the same time the author has them very well thought out and realistic in the story, you never once say to yourself, "yeah right", everything seems so real and plausible, and while listing to Daniel Penz narrate the book it is very easy to loose yourself in Easytown as well.
This is a very interesting book/audiobook with all the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and all the varying types and levels of AI. However, at the same time the author has them very well thought out and realistic in the story, you never once say to yourself, "yeah right", everything seems so real and plausible, and while listing to Daniel Penz narrate the book it is very easy to loose yourself in Easytown as well.
February 26, 2018
I absolutely loved this book! I love the old time film noir detectives ala Sam Spade and the protagonist in this book, Zachary Forrest, reminds me of those fedora-wearing guys. I also love the original movie, "Blade Runner", and this book reminded me of that movie many, many times.
Futuristic New Orleans has a section called Easytown (probably today's French Quarter)which specializes in sex clubs populated with sex robots. When several patrons and employees are murdered in gruesome ways, Zach has to try to find out who is doing the killing. Along the way, he becomes involved with a beautiful witness named Paxton Amora. This relationship comes to haunt Zach in more ways than one!
I love the characters, including Zach's assistant, Andi, who is little like Alexa (but much more fun). The dialogue is great and I especially enjoyed Zach and Andi's interactions. Zach has a smart-assed attitude that won't quit and adds a lot to the book. I especially loved the idea of the talking toilet that gives you an automatic urine analysis every time you use it.
The narration was wonderful. Mr. Penz didn't just read this book, he portrayed every scene and you feel like you are watching a movie while listening. When the character is in pain, you can feel it in the narration.
Brian Parker has done an excellent job with this book and I look forward to reading more of his work. I will definitely recommend his writing to my friends!
Futuristic New Orleans has a section called Easytown (probably today's French Quarter)which specializes in sex clubs populated with sex robots. When several patrons and employees are murdered in gruesome ways, Zach has to try to find out who is doing the killing. Along the way, he becomes involved with a beautiful witness named Paxton Amora. This relationship comes to haunt Zach in more ways than one!
I love the characters, including Zach's assistant, Andi, who is little like Alexa (but much more fun). The dialogue is great and I especially enjoyed Zach and Andi's interactions. Zach has a smart-assed attitude that won't quit and adds a lot to the book. I especially loved the idea of the talking toilet that gives you an automatic urine analysis every time you use it.
The narration was wonderful. Mr. Penz didn't just read this book, he portrayed every scene and you feel like you are watching a movie while listening. When the character is in pain, you can feel it in the narration.
Brian Parker has done an excellent job with this book and I look forward to reading more of his work. I will definitely recommend his writing to my friends!
April 11, 2017
The Immorality Clause feels like Bladerunner meets Sin City.
The year is 2099 and after a Nuclear war in the East, the US has suffered from extreme weather changes. The action is set in New Orleans where Detective Zach … investigates murders in the Easytown district, home to bordellos in which many of the workers are robots. His partner is an AI called Andi, who manages even the smallest aspects of his life as well as helping him investigate cases.
His latest case involves a seemingly unimportant man who is hacked to death after an appointment with a pleasure droid. The room is covered in blood, his organs have been removed and a religious message is left on the bedstead.
About ¾ of the way through I started to have a working theory of who the killer/hacker is and what motive they might have. Turns out my theory was completely wrong and the writer's story was much more gripping.
This isn't my usual genre, a noire detective story, but it did engage me and I liked the characters, especially Andi. It's definitely a book I'd recommend if you like a gritty crime thriller. What really impresses me is that even though it's book 1 of a series it's a perfectly complete stand alone story as well.
The year is 2099 and after a Nuclear war in the East, the US has suffered from extreme weather changes. The action is set in New Orleans where Detective Zach … investigates murders in the Easytown district, home to bordellos in which many of the workers are robots. His partner is an AI called Andi, who manages even the smallest aspects of his life as well as helping him investigate cases.
His latest case involves a seemingly unimportant man who is hacked to death after an appointment with a pleasure droid. The room is covered in blood, his organs have been removed and a religious message is left on the bedstead.
About ¾ of the way through I started to have a working theory of who the killer/hacker is and what motive they might have. Turns out my theory was completely wrong and the writer's story was much more gripping.
This isn't my usual genre, a noire detective story, but it did engage me and I liked the characters, especially Andi. It's definitely a book I'd recommend if you like a gritty crime thriller. What really impresses me is that even though it's book 1 of a series it's a perfectly complete stand alone story as well.
July 5, 2019
I absolutely loved this book! It's an action packed blend of SciFi and Noir-mystery that introduces us to Zack Forrest, a hardboiled homicide detective who's assigned to Easytown, the seedest part of New Orleans. It's rife with prostitutes, muggers, people looking to make a quick buck, and murderers... and Zack likes it that way. It makes his arrest record look good.
The Immortality Clause starts with Zack looking into a string of seemingly unrelated murders with the only commonality between them is they all took place in clubs offering the services of sex-bots... and all the clubs are located within Zack's beat!
Zack puts 2 and 2 together, and realizes that he's on the search for a serial killer... things definitely get personal when the killer places Zack in the cross hairs!
As far as I'm concerned, Daniel Penz isn't simply the voice of Zack Forrest... He IS Zack Forrest, and he nailed all of the other inhabitants of Easytown perfectly!
Brian Parker's vision of Easytown, is a futuristic, yet dark and gritty place... a cityscape full of tourists, broken levees, broken dreams, and mysteries... and The Immortality Clause is your guide book!
The Immortality Clause starts with Zack looking into a string of seemingly unrelated murders with the only commonality between them is they all took place in clubs offering the services of sex-bots... and all the clubs are located within Zack's beat!
Zack puts 2 and 2 together, and realizes that he's on the search for a serial killer... things definitely get personal when the killer places Zack in the cross hairs!
As far as I'm concerned, Daniel Penz isn't simply the voice of Zack Forrest... He IS Zack Forrest, and he nailed all of the other inhabitants of Easytown perfectly!
Brian Parker's vision of Easytown, is a futuristic, yet dark and gritty place... a cityscape full of tourists, broken levees, broken dreams, and mysteries... and The Immortality Clause is your guide book!
February 23, 2018
This was a good sci-fi murder mystery. This isn’t one of those mysteries where you are able to figure out the killer with the main character, but it was an interesting look at what is consciousness and what do robots and clones feel and think. If you like sci-fi and mysteries then this is a good book to read.
February 18, 2018
hard-boiled post-cyberpunk noir
July 29, 2020
I was given a free review copy of this audio book, at my request, and am voluntarily leaving this unbiased review.
I listened to this series out of order. Missing this book, I started with book 2 and then book 3 and followed with the anthology collection. The author graciously provided my missing copy of this book so I could round out the series. Thank you, Mr. Parker.
Something about this series really intrigued me. It is sci-fi (cyberpunk) and mystery, and it blends it excellently. This book is more mystery than cyberpunk and there is an evolution over the series into more sci-fi, but this book is an excellent starting point.
What this author does so well is the fine details of life. He will give an over view of the situation then go back to flesh out enough of the relevant pieces to give life to the environment, but not so much as to make the book wordy.
The main character, detective Forrest, is a believable character with straight forward motivations. His emotions are complex and his character is relatable. The supporting characters are equally interesting likeable. There are actually no characters in the book that I didn't like. Some obvious short term antagonists that are that are not meant to be related to, but the recurring characters all have something to be emphasized with.
The setting is not dystopian, but not contemporary either. It takes place in the late 2090s in a area of New Orleans, called Easytown, which is somewhere between Las Vegas and the old west in terms of concept. Detective Forrest is one of 2 homicide detectives trying to bring justice to the dance clubs, sex clubs and streets of Easytown. On the one hand the district seems lacking in cops, however, the main character does run into beat cops from time to time. His partner is seldom used, something that changes in subsequent books.
There was a lot of "ah ha" moments in this book, after reading later entries. While each book stands relatively good on its own, introducing everything involved in the story it its own pages, there were a lot of times I saw where concepts or references had their root.
I have really nothing bad to say about this book, the writing is great, the pacing is right on target, the characters and plot are excellent and the voice work is amazing. Little touches by Daniel Penz, like a voice synthesizer for AI and robots, slight distortion for phone calls, and just general acting all make his work top notch. His voice range is good and his female and male voices are believable.
I hope this series continues, because I would love to see what happens next in easy town.
I listened to this series out of order. Missing this book, I started with book 2 and then book 3 and followed with the anthology collection. The author graciously provided my missing copy of this book so I could round out the series. Thank you, Mr. Parker.
Something about this series really intrigued me. It is sci-fi (cyberpunk) and mystery, and it blends it excellently. This book is more mystery than cyberpunk and there is an evolution over the series into more sci-fi, but this book is an excellent starting point.
What this author does so well is the fine details of life. He will give an over view of the situation then go back to flesh out enough of the relevant pieces to give life to the environment, but not so much as to make the book wordy.
The main character, detective Forrest, is a believable character with straight forward motivations. His emotions are complex and his character is relatable. The supporting characters are equally interesting likeable. There are actually no characters in the book that I didn't like. Some obvious short term antagonists that are that are not meant to be related to, but the recurring characters all have something to be emphasized with.
The setting is not dystopian, but not contemporary either. It takes place in the late 2090s in a area of New Orleans, called Easytown, which is somewhere between Las Vegas and the old west in terms of concept. Detective Forrest is one of 2 homicide detectives trying to bring justice to the dance clubs, sex clubs and streets of Easytown. On the one hand the district seems lacking in cops, however, the main character does run into beat cops from time to time. His partner is seldom used, something that changes in subsequent books.
There was a lot of "ah ha" moments in this book, after reading later entries. While each book stands relatively good on its own, introducing everything involved in the story it its own pages, there were a lot of times I saw where concepts or references had their root.
I have really nothing bad to say about this book, the writing is great, the pacing is right on target, the characters and plot are excellent and the voice work is amazing. Little touches by Daniel Penz, like a voice synthesizer for AI and robots, slight distortion for phone calls, and just general acting all make his work top notch. His voice range is good and his female and male voices are believable.
I hope this series continues, because I would love to see what happens next in easy town.
May 16, 2019
*This book was given to me by the author at my request, and I provided this voluntary review.*
4.5 / 5
I really enjoyed this story. It was a fresh idea from my perspective, as I don't read detective/crime novels that often. The story may not be a new idea (detective in a high-tech future), but the presentation of it was quite the treat. It was gruff and had hard edges to it - not a story for the kids! I loved most of the characters that were portrayed in this story; each were unique and had their flaws; none 2-dimensional! The banter between the MC and his AI was funny at various times, MC's commentary and explanations of events also humorous. The story-line itself was pretty good; I had an easy time enjoying this all the way through (and only took me a couple days). I would definitely recommend this to other readers, and I will be coming back for more adventures with Zach.
Also - the audiobook performance by Daniel Penz was SUPERB!
4.5 / 5
I really enjoyed this story. It was a fresh idea from my perspective, as I don't read detective/crime novels that often. The story may not be a new idea (detective in a high-tech future), but the presentation of it was quite the treat. It was gruff and had hard edges to it - not a story for the kids! I loved most of the characters that were portrayed in this story; each were unique and had their flaws; none 2-dimensional! The banter between the MC and his AI was funny at various times, MC's commentary and explanations of events also humorous. The story-line itself was pretty good; I had an easy time enjoying this all the way through (and only took me a couple days). I would definitely recommend this to other readers, and I will be coming back for more adventures with Zach.
Also - the audiobook performance by Daniel Penz was SUPERB!
January 1, 2018
Future police drama
I enjoyed the setting and the characters the detective was gritty and tough. I think a little more interaction with the ladies would be good.
I enjoyed the setting and the characters the detective was gritty and tough. I think a little more interaction with the ladies would be good.
May 7, 2017
I really enjoyed reading this futurist robotic crime novel involving a place called 'Easytown.' Our hero is a police detective "Zach" and his computer partner is "Andi." Zach is investigating the deaths of people at sex clubs, clubs that have bots for companions. It seems a serial killer might be preying on patrons in the clubs. By why?
"As far as I know, the last time you had sex was eighteen months, twelve days, three hours and nine minutes ago. I think it's time for you to find a companion."
"Images of Paxton's lithe, naked body sliding along mine flashed through my mind. Our eagerness to explore one another had burned quite a few memorable pictures into my brain."
"Filth can be disguised in a nice package, but it always had a way of sticking to everyone nearby."
"You look like dog s*** stuck to the bristles of a street sweeper, detective."
I found the book moved right along especially after the 50% mark, parts of the story were laugh-out-loud funny and I had my detective hat on working along with our hero in solving this case.
I love a good crime story and this one was a great one, with excellent descriptive writing with easy to love characters. I especially enjoyed Andi with her relationship advice and her wit and sass.
"As far as I know, the last time you had sex was eighteen months, twelve days, three hours and nine minutes ago. I think it's time for you to find a companion."
"Images of Paxton's lithe, naked body sliding along mine flashed through my mind. Our eagerness to explore one another had burned quite a few memorable pictures into my brain."
"Filth can be disguised in a nice package, but it always had a way of sticking to everyone nearby."
"You look like dog s*** stuck to the bristles of a street sweeper, detective."
I found the book moved right along especially after the 50% mark, parts of the story were laugh-out-loud funny and I had my detective hat on working along with our hero in solving this case.
I love a good crime story and this one was a great one, with excellent descriptive writing with easy to love characters. I especially enjoyed Andi with her relationship advice and her wit and sass.
May 16, 2017
Bladerunner in the Red Light District.
This title is a bit outside my usual fare. I'm not a huge fan of noir or crime novels but it looked intriguing. Unfortunately, it turned out not to be my cup of tea. (I rated it as if it was the kind of book I would like, personal prejudices aside.)
It was a cliche in a slightly over the top kind of way. And though, that is not to my taste I'm sure many would love it. It was very tactfully written for the subject matter, neither too gory nor too timid. It was moderately well paced but I felt, at times, the clues didn't quite follow and coincidences were too pat. Otherwise, it was enjoyable.
As for the narration, it was the bright spot in this book for me. Mr. Pena sounds just like you'd expect a rough around the edges cop to sound. A likable jerk. He did a good job with the acting, this being entirely from the 1st person perspective which is a tough job. And though he did a wonderful job altering his voice to perform the voices of the robots and other characters, i felt that at times the story let him down.
If you like noir crime, I predict you will really enjoy this book. For those of us who don't, you may want to pass.
This title is a bit outside my usual fare. I'm not a huge fan of noir or crime novels but it looked intriguing. Unfortunately, it turned out not to be my cup of tea. (I rated it as if it was the kind of book I would like, personal prejudices aside.)
It was a cliche in a slightly over the top kind of way. And though, that is not to my taste I'm sure many would love it. It was very tactfully written for the subject matter, neither too gory nor too timid. It was moderately well paced but I felt, at times, the clues didn't quite follow and coincidences were too pat. Otherwise, it was enjoyable.
As for the narration, it was the bright spot in this book for me. Mr. Pena sounds just like you'd expect a rough around the edges cop to sound. A likable jerk. He did a good job with the acting, this being entirely from the 1st person perspective which is a tough job. And though he did a wonderful job altering his voice to perform the voices of the robots and other characters, i felt that at times the story let him down.
If you like noir crime, I predict you will really enjoy this book. For those of us who don't, you may want to pass.
May 5, 2019
A great Futuristic detective Story
The setting was perfect and a realistic Look at what the future could look like
Daniels narrating And production really bring the characters To life
If you like your sci-fi with more adult situations I highly recommend this
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review
The setting was perfect and a realistic Look at what the future could look like
Daniels narrating And production really bring the characters To life
If you like your sci-fi with more adult situations I highly recommend this
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review
September 21, 2017
What a fun read
5 stars because it was fresh, innovative and get paced. I would recommend this to anyone especially sci fy reactive fans. A great story written by a pretty okay but and that's a huge compliment from someone like me.
5 stars because it was fresh, innovative and get paced. I would recommend this to anyone especially sci fy reactive fans. A great story written by a pretty okay but and that's a huge compliment from someone like me.
November 20, 2016
Another great book by Brian Parker
I told Brian I would take the dive. The book did not disappoint. I look forward to " Tears of a Clone".
I told Brian I would take the dive. The book did not disappoint. I look forward to " Tears of a Clone".
May 25, 2019
Review originally published at: https://www.lomeraniel.com/audiobookr...
Zach Forrester is the cop in charge of investigating the still unresolved murders that are taking place in Easytown, the red-light district of a futuristic New Orleans. The only common point is that they are all occurring to clients in brothels of the area, in which services are provided by sex robots. Zach has never liked that kind of technology but this time he must remain closer to it in order to find the serial killer.
The setting of this novel and the characters reminded me a lot of Blade Runner, and maybe because of that, I found some parts a bit predictable. This did not deter me from fully enjoying this noir cyberpunk audiobook, which absorbed me in a way that few books do. I found myself taking long walks in the park just to keep listening and finding out what came next. The characters are well built, and the world had a decadent charm that drew me in like a moth to a flame.
Even though Zack and his virtual assistant felt a bit archetypal, I really liked their relationship and dynamics. I had more issues liking the brothel manager, but this may have to do with the fact that I suspected quite soon what was going on. Even like that,~ there were plenty of twists on the second half to keep me entertained and on the edge of my seat. This is definitely a book I would recommend to fans of the genre.
Daniel Penz’s narration was excellent, and he really became Zach in this story, transmitting his emotions and moods. He used subtle sound effects for some of the bots and phone calls, which helped to enhance the futuristic atmosphere. His female voices were also quite good, even though I don’t know if it was because Andi sounds like Andy, that I kept thinking that Zach’s assistant was a young man while knowing that she had a female personality. I noted some light volume changes throughout the book, and the sound effects parts were lower than the rest, which make listening to a bit trickier. I had to up the volume a bit, especially when I was listening on the street.
Again, this was quite an exciting ride, and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Zach Forrester is the cop in charge of investigating the still unresolved murders that are taking place in Easytown, the red-light district of a futuristic New Orleans. The only common point is that they are all occurring to clients in brothels of the area, in which services are provided by sex robots. Zach has never liked that kind of technology but this time he must remain closer to it in order to find the serial killer.
The setting of this novel and the characters reminded me a lot of Blade Runner, and maybe because of that, I found some parts a bit predictable. This did not deter me from fully enjoying this noir cyberpunk audiobook, which absorbed me in a way that few books do. I found myself taking long walks in the park just to keep listening and finding out what came next. The characters are well built, and the world had a decadent charm that drew me in like a moth to a flame.
Even though Zack and his virtual assistant felt a bit archetypal, I really liked their relationship and dynamics. I had more issues liking the brothel manager, but this may have to do with the fact that I suspected quite soon what was going on. Even like that,~ there were plenty of twists on the second half to keep me entertained and on the edge of my seat. This is definitely a book I would recommend to fans of the genre.
Daniel Penz’s narration was excellent, and he really became Zach in this story, transmitting his emotions and moods. He used subtle sound effects for some of the bots and phone calls, which helped to enhance the futuristic atmosphere. His female voices were also quite good, even though I don’t know if it was because Andi sounds like Andy, that I kept thinking that Zach’s assistant was a young man while knowing that she had a female personality. I noted some light volume changes throughout the book, and the sound effects parts were lower than the rest, which make listening to a bit trickier. I had to up the volume a bit, especially when I was listening on the street.
Again, this was quite an exciting ride, and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
August 13, 2024
Overall engaging to read but not without problems.
Pros:
·It was really fun to read. Never felt bored;
·I did enjoy the detective noir setting and the prostitution thematics;
·The AI toilet was a great character addition
Cons:
·The detective Zach is not very good at putting clues together. Which is an extension of the author underestimating the reader;
·Very obvious plot points are presented as major revelations;
·Zach clearly has problematic attitudes about prostitution and will flat out harass and insult prostitutes about their profession in order to gain control. As you are inside his head and his attitudes often go unchallenged, it is difficult to interpret what the book wants to tell you.
Overall, I couldn't quite tell if I was being presented with a multifaceted novel about prostitution and robotics where even the main character is a conservative bigot, in line with public attitudes. Or if this book was just using prostitution as a plot point, writing for a male perspective, and only using the topic because "sex is interesting".
Pros:
·It was really fun to read. Never felt bored;
·I did enjoy the detective noir setting and the prostitution thematics;
·The AI toilet was a great character addition
Cons:
·The detective Zach is not very good at putting clues together. Which is an extension of the author underestimating the reader;
·Very obvious plot points are presented as major revelations;
·Zach clearly has problematic attitudes about prostitution and will flat out harass and insult prostitutes about their profession in order to gain control. As you are inside his head and his attitudes often go unchallenged, it is difficult to interpret what the book wants to tell you.
Overall, I couldn't quite tell if I was being presented with a multifaceted novel about prostitution and robotics where even the main character is a conservative bigot, in line with public attitudes. Or if this book was just using prostitution as a plot point, writing for a male perspective, and only using the topic because "sex is interesting".
May 8, 2019
This was a fun and entertaining futuristic murder mystery. The characters were well written. The plot was handled well. The resolution was satisfying. I had thought the resolution was going to go a slightly more complicated route, but I am glad it did not.
The narrator did a good job in most aspects. The tone was appropriate. The voices and effects were done well. My only issue was more of a sound/quality issue. Quite often during the course of a chapter the volume would slowly go out. It almost sounded as though the narrator was moving away from the mic, only to return at full volume for the next chapter. I found myself increasing the volume during various chapters only to have to turn it down at the beginning of the next chapter.
Disclaimer: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
The narrator did a good job in most aspects. The tone was appropriate. The voices and effects were done well. My only issue was more of a sound/quality issue. Quite often during the course of a chapter the volume would slowly go out. It almost sounded as though the narrator was moving away from the mic, only to return at full volume for the next chapter. I found myself increasing the volume during various chapters only to have to turn it down at the beginning of the next chapter.
Disclaimer: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
September 21, 2019
I was not the target audience for this book.
Ever since reading Neuromancer, I've had a thing for cyberpunk noir. I'm always looking for a story to scratch that itch. I'll just say there is a reason that Neuromancer is a classic.
A great story doesn't draw attention to itself - to have your character commenting on the setting to draw attention to it takes the reader out of the story. I don't need to know this is a futuristic setting; please don't tell me about your self tying shoes. I don't care.
Ever since reading Neuromancer, I've had a thing for cyberpunk noir. I'm always looking for a story to scratch that itch. I'll just say there is a reason that Neuromancer is a classic.
A great story doesn't draw attention to itself - to have your character commenting on the setting to draw attention to it takes the reader out of the story. I don't need to know this is a futuristic setting; please don't tell me about your self tying shoes. I don't care.
January 1, 2020
If you are a fan of cop novels or noir novels you will definitely enjoy Brian Parker's Easytown Novel series. The first book, The Immorality Clause, introduces you to Zach Forest, a New Orleans detective. Taking place in the future after a series of catastrophic events the novel involves a world of drones, clones, and enhanced technology.
I really enjoyed the story and the characters in the novel and am looking forward to finishing the rest of the series.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed the story and the characters in the novel and am looking forward to finishing the rest of the series.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
January 23, 2020
Zack is a Police Officer that is on the case and gets himself in some trouble. I love mysteries and this us a fantastic one that grabbed me from start to finish. I hope there is more in the future this series is a fantastic listen.
Shauna Joesten
Shauna Joesten
April 5, 2018
An ok futurisitic detective novel. The story is predictable, but acceptably written. But the world is interesting, the characters are ok.
Just generally an OK story.
Just generally an OK story.
August 18, 2021
Great series
Really enjoyed this book rereading the whole series in anticipation of the fourth one being released. Highly recommended to fans of futuristic noir
Really enjoyed this book rereading the whole series in anticipation of the fourth one being released. Highly recommended to fans of futuristic noir
October 13, 2021
Amazing
Amazing story and love New Orleans as the location. The characters, plot, history and the character interactions were down so well. Moving to book 2
Amazing story and love New Orleans as the location. The characters, plot, history and the character interactions were down so well. Moving to book 2
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews