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A Killer Harvest
A new thriller from the Edgar-nominated author of Trust No One and Joe Victim about a blind teenager who receives new eyes through corneal donation and begins to see and feel memories that he believes belong to the previous owners a detective and a serial killer.
Joshua is convinced there is a family curse. It's taken away his biological parents, robbed him of his eyesight, and is the reason his father Logan, the detective who raised him, is killed while investigating the homicide of a young woman. The suspect, Simon Bowers, is killed by Logan's partner Ben, whose intentions are murkier than expected.
After this tragedy Joshua is handed an opportunity he can't refuse: a new pair of eyes. But a mishap during the surgery leads to Joshua unknowingly getting one eye from his father, and the other from Simon. As Joshua navigates a world of sight, he gets glimpses of what his eyes might have witnessed in their previous life. Memories, truths, and lies Joshua discovers a world darker than the one he has emerged from. What else has he failed to see?
Meanwhile, Simon's accomplice Vincent is bent on revenge, going after the loved ones of those involved in Simon's death and Vincent is drawing closer and closer to Joshua.
Thriller virtuoso Paul Cleave is back with another riveting story of hidden secrets and unspeakable horrors that will keep readers guessing until the very last page.
Joshua is convinced there is a family curse. It's taken away his biological parents, robbed him of his eyesight, and is the reason his father Logan, the detective who raised him, is killed while investigating the homicide of a young woman. The suspect, Simon Bowers, is killed by Logan's partner Ben, whose intentions are murkier than expected.
After this tragedy Joshua is handed an opportunity he can't refuse: a new pair of eyes. But a mishap during the surgery leads to Joshua unknowingly getting one eye from his father, and the other from Simon. As Joshua navigates a world of sight, he gets glimpses of what his eyes might have witnessed in their previous life. Memories, truths, and lies Joshua discovers a world darker than the one he has emerged from. What else has he failed to see?
Meanwhile, Simon's accomplice Vincent is bent on revenge, going after the loved ones of those involved in Simon's death and Vincent is drawing closer and closer to Joshua.
Thriller virtuoso Paul Cleave is back with another riveting story of hidden secrets and unspeakable horrors that will keep readers guessing until the very last page.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2017
83 people are currently reading
2284 people want to read
About the author
Paul Cleave
44 books858 followersPaul Cleave is an internationally bestselling author who is currently dividing his time between his home city of Christchurch, New Zealand, where all of his novels are set, and Europe, where none of his novels are set. His work has been translated into fifteen languages. He has won the Ngaio Marsh award for best crime novel in New Zealand, he won the Saint-Maur book festival's crime novel of the year in France, has been shortlisted for the Edgar Award and the Barry Award in the US, and shortlisted for the Ned Kelly award in Australia. When he's not writing, he spends his time swearing on a golf course, swearing on a tennis court, or trying to add to his list of 25 countries where he's thrown his Frisbee.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 250 reviews
May 18, 2017
Have you ever discovered an author that you felt was immensely talented but widely under appreciated? This is exactly how I feel regarding Paul Cleave. Don’t let the description suggest that this book contains a B-rated story; it’s precisely the opposite. I’m glad the cover includes the insinuation of cellular memory in the description, as I think many readers would be turned off if this was somehow the big twist of the book. Knowing that going in led me to open my imagination and suspend my need for a realistic plot. If you can do that, you might have the same 5 star experience that I did while reading A Killer Harvest.
So yes, cellular memory is the backbone of the theme of this novel, but it’s just a fraction of what makes this book so neat. Cleave has taken care in crafting a story that is both complex and layered, thus revealing a web of multiple POV snippets that complete the big picture. The first few chapters really gripped my attention, followed by about 25% character building scenes with a slow burning suspense. This worked REALLY well for me, as I’ve been craving contemporary mystery/thrillers with a combination of the slow burn and high action. There are quite a few characters in this story, which made me appreciate the way the author chose to ensure we had all the important details down and a connection to our characters before yanking the chain and pulling us quickly through the remainder of the book. I read 75% of this book in one sitting; I literally didn’t even break for the bathroom or food. GO CHELSEA!
I was also extremely pleased with the pacing between twists, big and small. There were lots of smaller AHA moments alongside major, jaw dropping twists, and I can honestly say I didn’t see the biggest reveal during the final 100 pages. I’m still trying to shove my tongue back in my mouth and force myself to blink. If you are like me and are tired of thrillers that boast a Gone Girl level twist which the entire plot depends upon, you’re in luck! A Killer Harvest is not one of those tales; the twists are fantastic and unexpected, but the relationships and emotions between the characters are what really drew me in to caring about what happened, more so than figuring out the ending. Speaking of, no spoilers here, but I REALLY love how he chose to end this book. Let’s just say it gave me the heebie jeebies and the creepy crawlies. :)
I haven’t had the pleasure of reading Cleave’s series yet, but if it’s anything like A Killer Harvest then I’ll need to read them stat. The cover gives off such a creepy vibe and really portrays the tone of the book well. I think readers who are looking for a little variety in their thrillers will appreciate what the author has created with this story; while cellular memory has become quite a popular theme amongst psychological thrillers and mysteries recently, I feel this one stands out due to the sheer fact the author had me constantly questioning “But what if this COULD happen?” This book was able to take a science fiction like topic and ground it as a contemporary story unlike any I’ve read before. Highly recommended to the reader who is looking to expand their appetite for delicious thrillers and add a little variety to their TBR stacks. I can’t wait to find out if this book thrills you the way it did me!
*Many thanks to Atria Mystery Bus for providing my copy; it was a pleasure to provide my honest thoughts here on the blog.
So yes, cellular memory is the backbone of the theme of this novel, but it’s just a fraction of what makes this book so neat. Cleave has taken care in crafting a story that is both complex and layered, thus revealing a web of multiple POV snippets that complete the big picture. The first few chapters really gripped my attention, followed by about 25% character building scenes with a slow burning suspense. This worked REALLY well for me, as I’ve been craving contemporary mystery/thrillers with a combination of the slow burn and high action. There are quite a few characters in this story, which made me appreciate the way the author chose to ensure we had all the important details down and a connection to our characters before yanking the chain and pulling us quickly through the remainder of the book. I read 75% of this book in one sitting; I literally didn’t even break for the bathroom or food. GO CHELSEA!
I was also extremely pleased with the pacing between twists, big and small. There were lots of smaller AHA moments alongside major, jaw dropping twists, and I can honestly say I didn’t see the biggest reveal during the final 100 pages. I’m still trying to shove my tongue back in my mouth and force myself to blink. If you are like me and are tired of thrillers that boast a Gone Girl level twist which the entire plot depends upon, you’re in luck! A Killer Harvest is not one of those tales; the twists are fantastic and unexpected, but the relationships and emotions between the characters are what really drew me in to caring about what happened, more so than figuring out the ending. Speaking of, no spoilers here, but I REALLY love how he chose to end this book. Let’s just say it gave me the heebie jeebies and the creepy crawlies. :)
I haven’t had the pleasure of reading Cleave’s series yet, but if it’s anything like A Killer Harvest then I’ll need to read them stat. The cover gives off such a creepy vibe and really portrays the tone of the book well. I think readers who are looking for a little variety in their thrillers will appreciate what the author has created with this story; while cellular memory has become quite a popular theme amongst psychological thrillers and mysteries recently, I feel this one stands out due to the sheer fact the author had me constantly questioning “But what if this COULD happen?” This book was able to take a science fiction like topic and ground it as a contemporary story unlike any I’ve read before. Highly recommended to the reader who is looking to expand their appetite for delicious thrillers and add a little variety to their TBR stacks. I can’t wait to find out if this book thrills you the way it did me!
*Many thanks to Atria Mystery Bus for providing my copy; it was a pleasure to provide my honest thoughts here on the blog.
January 3, 2018
EXCERPT: "It's all fairly routine," Mitchell says - only it isn't. None of this is. Mitchell is forty years old, and is fast approaching the date when he will have spent exactly half his life on the force, and in that time he's learned that the bigger the lie, the bigger the secret. Today the lie is going to be massive. The man they are here to see is going to tell them he was on the other side of the planet visiting his sick mother in hospital. He was on a boat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean rescuing dolphins. He was orbiting the moon. He was anywhere except the one place they know he had been - Andrea Walsh's car. And where is Andrea Walsh? They don't know. But the bloody power saw found near her car suggests she could be discovered in a variety of places - all at the same time. Not only was there blood on the saw, but hair and bone and pieces of flesh, some no bigger than a splinter, others the size of a knuckle, including, what the coroner told them, was an actual knuckle. The car was found abandoned two nights ago, pulled up off the motorway, out of petrol. A motorist who had almost run into it reported it. The police had not been able to contact the owner and, the following day, had begun to search the area. The bloody saw was found in a ditch fifty metres off the side of the road with the knuckle lodged under the retractable guard.
THE BLURB: A new thriller from the Edgar-nominated author of Trust No One and Joe Victim about a blind teenager who receives new eyes through corneal donation and begins to see and feel memories that he believes belong to the previous owners a detective and a serial killer.
Joshua is convinced there is a family curse. It's taken away his biological parents, robbed him of his eyesight, and is the reason his father Logan, the detective who raised him, is killed while investigating the homicide of a young woman. The suspect, Simon Bowers, is killed by Logan's partner Ben, whose intentions are murkier than expected.
After this tragedy Joshua is handed an opportunity he can't refuse: a new pair of eyes. But a mishap during the surgery leads to Joshua unknowingly getting one eye from his father, and the other from Simon. As Joshua navigates a world of sight, he gets glimpses of what his eyes might have witnessed in their previous life. Memories, truths, and lies Joshua discovers a world darker than the one he has emerged from. What else has he failed to see?
Meanwhile, Simon's accomplice Vincent is bent on revenge, going after the loved ones of those involved in Simon's death and Vincent is drawing closer and closer to Joshua.
MY THOUGHTS: OMG! I read the majority of A Killer Harvest by Paul Cleave in one day with, I must add, my gut muscles clenched and the fingernails of my right hand firmly gripped between my teeth. And I DO NOT chew my fingernails!
Paul Cleave specialises in the 'moral dilemma', good cop frustrated with 'the system' taking things into his own hands in order to make the world a better/safer place. Add to this mix a bit of medical intrigue, in this case organ transplants, and you have the recipe for a great thriller.
Cleave's bad guys are always chillingly evil, usually masquerading as a perfectly normal (or almost normal) members of society. His good guys (or gals as the case may be), are dedicated to their jobs, their families, their communities. They don't like that after all their hard work catching the criminals, that the justice system is so lenient. They don't like it that bad things happen to good people, and bad people just keep on doing bad things, and even worse things.
If you like a dark thriller, Paul Cleave is an excellent choice. Cleave is a New Zealand author from Christchurch in the South Island, the setting for his books. He is an author of whom we can feel justifiably proud.
All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
THE BLURB: A new thriller from the Edgar-nominated author of Trust No One and Joe Victim about a blind teenager who receives new eyes through corneal donation and begins to see and feel memories that he believes belong to the previous owners a detective and a serial killer.
Joshua is convinced there is a family curse. It's taken away his biological parents, robbed him of his eyesight, and is the reason his father Logan, the detective who raised him, is killed while investigating the homicide of a young woman. The suspect, Simon Bowers, is killed by Logan's partner Ben, whose intentions are murkier than expected.
After this tragedy Joshua is handed an opportunity he can't refuse: a new pair of eyes. But a mishap during the surgery leads to Joshua unknowingly getting one eye from his father, and the other from Simon. As Joshua navigates a world of sight, he gets glimpses of what his eyes might have witnessed in their previous life. Memories, truths, and lies Joshua discovers a world darker than the one he has emerged from. What else has he failed to see?
Meanwhile, Simon's accomplice Vincent is bent on revenge, going after the loved ones of those involved in Simon's death and Vincent is drawing closer and closer to Joshua.
MY THOUGHTS: OMG! I read the majority of A Killer Harvest by Paul Cleave in one day with, I must add, my gut muscles clenched and the fingernails of my right hand firmly gripped between my teeth. And I DO NOT chew my fingernails!
Paul Cleave specialises in the 'moral dilemma', good cop frustrated with 'the system' taking things into his own hands in order to make the world a better/safer place. Add to this mix a bit of medical intrigue, in this case organ transplants, and you have the recipe for a great thriller.
Cleave's bad guys are always chillingly evil, usually masquerading as a perfectly normal (or almost normal) members of society. His good guys (or gals as the case may be), are dedicated to their jobs, their families, their communities. They don't like that after all their hard work catching the criminals, that the justice system is so lenient. They don't like it that bad things happen to good people, and bad people just keep on doing bad things, and even worse things.
If you like a dark thriller, Paul Cleave is an excellent choice. Cleave is a New Zealand author from Christchurch in the South Island, the setting for his books. He is an author of whom we can feel justifiably proud.
All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
June 7, 2018
Gritty, dark and undoubtedly one of the best surprises of the year!
A Killer Harvest is a spine-chilling, often macabre, well-crafted thriller, with a side order of science fiction, that takes us on the hunt to find a missing woman and the vicious, sadistic serial killer responsible for her disappearance.
The characters are intriguing, well-developed, and complex. And the story starts off with a bang, simmers nicely with some mild action and character development, and then quickly spins at breakneck speed through unforeseen twists, well-timed surprises, murder, depravity, and unimaginable wickedness right up to the very last page and the fantastically creepy ending.
A Killer Harvest truly is an exceptionally riveting novel that will not only fascinate, shock, disturb, and frighten you, but will also leave you contemplating the idea of cellular memory and the potentially horrific consequences of "evil" being stored in all cells.
I have to admit when I requested this book I was expecting a good book, but this book is not only a good book it's a great book. I loved it, and I can guarantee this will not be the last time a book by Paul Cleave will be on my TBR list.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada (Atria Books) for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at http://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
A Killer Harvest is a spine-chilling, often macabre, well-crafted thriller, with a side order of science fiction, that takes us on the hunt to find a missing woman and the vicious, sadistic serial killer responsible for her disappearance.
The characters are intriguing, well-developed, and complex. And the story starts off with a bang, simmers nicely with some mild action and character development, and then quickly spins at breakneck speed through unforeseen twists, well-timed surprises, murder, depravity, and unimaginable wickedness right up to the very last page and the fantastically creepy ending.
A Killer Harvest truly is an exceptionally riveting novel that will not only fascinate, shock, disturb, and frighten you, but will also leave you contemplating the idea of cellular memory and the potentially horrific consequences of "evil" being stored in all cells.
I have to admit when I requested this book I was expecting a good book, but this book is not only a good book it's a great book. I loved it, and I can guarantee this will not be the last time a book by Paul Cleave will be on my TBR list.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada (Atria Books) for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at http://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
August 2, 2017
This book is intense in every way. There are moments that feel like the grand finale... but the book just keeps going. It deals with a lot of really fascinating topics... cellular memory, questions of morality, the bonds of friendship, and a teenager experiencing vision for the very first time in his entire life. It's very twisted and definitely threw me for a couple of loops, I was almost having a hard time keeping up!
This is my first Paul Cleave read and I'm impressed. He's an author I plan to add to my "must read" list. The chapters are short and relatively concise. The stress I felt for the characters was real!
One niggle: some of the dialogue. I rarely hear anyone use the word "nor" but at least two of the characters did, one being a teenager. Some of the speech just sounded unnatural to me, especially coming for someone so young. Very small issue in an incredibly well done book, so it doesn't really affect my opinion.
Joshua firmly believes that he's cursed. In his defense, he has experienced a lot in his short life. He was born blind, and his biological parents both died very young in separate incidents when he was a baby. He's been cared for since by his aunt and uncle, who've become his mother and father... so I'll refer to them as such, as he does. They all seem to have a healthy and loving relationship... until his dad is killed in the line of duty. His partner Ben then kills his murderer, a man named Simon that was known to them.
His dad has one last gift for Josh: his eyes. He had informed his partner that he wanted them given to his son. A local doctor has performed the groundbreaking operation several times. Left no time to grieve for his father or even begin to accept his death, Josh is rushed into the operating theater.
Thanks to an inept intern, there's a mix up... Josh does get one eye from his father, but the other came from the man that killed him, Simon. He can now see, but he starts to experience strange dreams and memories... glimpses into a past he didn't experience. His troubles are far from over.
Meanwhile, the best friend of the slain murderer is out for revenge. He's determined to get retribution for his loss, and it's not long before Josh and his loved ones are in his sights. (Sights, get it? I'll stop.)
An extremely well put together story. Suspend any disbelief you may experience and enjoy the crazy ride.
I was given an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Atria Books, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
August 27, 2017
Good cops/bad cops.
Innocent people.
A doctor.
Good intentions.
A blind eye. Several, in fact.
Moral compasses turned off kilter.
Ethics.
Guilt.
Cellular memory. True or false?
This book started off with a bang. I honestly flinched a few times.
The book is really good, and parts of it are great. Cleave made me feel the wonder and amazement Joshua Logan experienced after his eye transplants. The changes in Joshua’s life as he enters the “seeing” world are things we sighted people would never consider.
The crimes are gruesome and shocking. I love how Cleave doles out clues and then lets the reader connect the dots just when the detective does. He lets the reader in on the details while temporarily hiding the big picture. Then he starts opening little windows and the big picture becomes evident. One might think Paul Cleave has one twisted mind.
Scary premise for this book, if you stop and think about the ramifications.
Innocent people.
A doctor.
Good intentions.
A blind eye. Several, in fact.
Moral compasses turned off kilter.
Ethics.
Guilt.
Cellular memory. True or false?
This book started off with a bang. I honestly flinched a few times.
The book is really good, and parts of it are great. Cleave made me feel the wonder and amazement Joshua Logan experienced after his eye transplants. The changes in Joshua’s life as he enters the “seeing” world are things we sighted people would never consider.
The crimes are gruesome and shocking. I love how Cleave doles out clues and then lets the reader connect the dots just when the detective does. He lets the reader in on the details while temporarily hiding the big picture. Then he starts opening little windows and the big picture becomes evident. One might think Paul Cleave has one twisted mind.
Scary premise for this book, if you stop and think about the ramifications.
August 2, 2017
One thing after another happened to Joshua Logan so he figured he and his family had a life-long curse.
Joshua was born blind, his parents died, he grew up with his loving aunt and uncle as his parents, and then his father got killed in the line of duty.
A KILLER HARVEST was a very tense thriller. At first I thought it was going to go the route of Stephen King, and that almost scared me away, but I kept on going and am glad I did.
The characters were believable and authentic for their roles, but were they connected by chance, by fate, or by corruption?
A KILLER HARVEST was an excellent thriller packed with an amazing storyline, multiple murderers, and a lot of secrets.
Every time you moved to the next chapter the intensity increased and made A KILLER HARVEST difficult to put down.
If you enjoy thrillers, characters hiding things, and non-stop tension, you will enjoy A KILLER HARVEST.
The ending will have you on the edge of your seat and feeling as though you can’t turn the pages fast enough. 5/5
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.
December 15, 2017
SO GOOD! As soon as I read the premise for this, I knew I had to check it out ASAP. Organ procurement/transplants has always been a topic of interest, one that I personally believe should have more light shed on. Anyways. This also included the concept of cellular memory, i.e. a person who was a painter---> person who receives their (organ) suddenly gets the desire to become a painter as well. But what I really appreciated in A KILLER HARVEST is the moral attributes Cleave brought to the table. Without giving too much away, I began thinking about Dexter & how it's easy to glamorize murder when it can be construed as justified. When the lines are blurred, what defines a person as good or bad? Can you do unspeakable things & still be "good"- what are the boundaries? More importantly, are there really any boundaries in the first place?
Joshua knows he's cursed- there's no reasonable explanation for why he was born blind, lost his biological parents at a young age, only to have his cop father die as well. After his death, Joshua is informed that his father wished for him to receive his eyes, so that he would have a chance to see the world. It's still a very risky procedure, but Josh wants to grant his father's wish & fortunately makes it through, now learning to live life differently. Only, he begins to have strange dreams. Dreams involving blood, violence & death. How did this happen- where is all this coming from? And how can he make all of this stop?
Cleave did an excellent job of penning a combination of characters that are well flushed-out & intriguing. I could empathize with Joshua as all the shit was hitting the fan & trying to deal with that as well as grieve his dad. (The bullying he endures at school certainly hit home.) He's a really sweet kid who has gotten the rotten end of the stick. The friendship he has with Olillia was nice to see & I liked how they worked together to try to solve the things that have been occurring since Joshua's surgery. (Thank you for not attempting to automatically shove insta-love down our throats!!)
What I truly believe caught my attention was the fact this was written with the possibility of what happens when you receive eyes from two completely different people? What is it like to perceive the world as a cop & as a serial killer? A KILLER HARVEST definitely has its creepy factors, but I was so anxious to see Joshua's outcome as well as the supporting characters in his life that it was so hard to turn away & take a break when life got in the way. :( This was my first book by Cleave & I can say with the upmost certainty that it will not be my last. The closing was open-ended (possibility of a sequel?) & I wouldn't hesitate to read more of these characters; Joshua did the best he could with the cards he was dealt.
Such an underrated read- what a shame! This was one of the best thrillers I've read all year & recommend to anyone who enjoys both fright & compassion in their adventures. Or, for those looking for ways to stay up past their bedtime, look no further than Joshua's world. Because when you get down to it, the ripples of consequence is a lot closer than it appears. Be prepared to think long & hard after finishing- this is one of those titles that will sink its teeth into you & refuse to let go.
Joshua knows he's cursed- there's no reasonable explanation for why he was born blind, lost his biological parents at a young age, only to have his cop father die as well. After his death, Joshua is informed that his father wished for him to receive his eyes, so that he would have a chance to see the world. It's still a very risky procedure, but Josh wants to grant his father's wish & fortunately makes it through, now learning to live life differently. Only, he begins to have strange dreams. Dreams involving blood, violence & death. How did this happen- where is all this coming from? And how can he make all of this stop?
Cleave did an excellent job of penning a combination of characters that are well flushed-out & intriguing. I could empathize with Joshua as all the shit was hitting the fan & trying to deal with that as well as grieve his dad. (The bullying he endures at school certainly hit home.) He's a really sweet kid who has gotten the rotten end of the stick. The friendship he has with Olillia was nice to see & I liked how they worked together to try to solve the things that have been occurring since Joshua's surgery. (Thank you for not attempting to automatically shove insta-love down our throats!!)
What I truly believe caught my attention was the fact this was written with the possibility of what happens when you receive eyes from two completely different people? What is it like to perceive the world as a cop & as a serial killer? A KILLER HARVEST definitely has its creepy factors, but I was so anxious to see Joshua's outcome as well as the supporting characters in his life that it was so hard to turn away & take a break when life got in the way. :( This was my first book by Cleave & I can say with the upmost certainty that it will not be my last. The closing was open-ended (possibility of a sequel?) & I wouldn't hesitate to read more of these characters; Joshua did the best he could with the cards he was dealt.
Such an underrated read- what a shame! This was one of the best thrillers I've read all year & recommend to anyone who enjoys both fright & compassion in their adventures. Or, for those looking for ways to stay up past their bedtime, look no further than Joshua's world. Because when you get down to it, the ripples of consequence is a lot closer than it appears. Be prepared to think long & hard after finishing- this is one of those titles that will sink its teeth into you & refuse to let go.
August 23, 2017
I received a copy of A Killer Harvest from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked the premise of A Killer Harvest and was excited to dive into it. A blind teenager, Joshua, receives a double corneal transplant following the death of his policeman father but (and it’s a big but) something goes wrong and he receives one cornea from his father and the other from the man who murdered him. Soon after, Joshua begins to see things he doesn’t understand, almost as if these things he sees are memories - but someone else’s memories.
The book opens with Joshua’s adoptive father, DI Mitchell Logan, and his partner DI Ben Kirk, at a construction site asking questions about a missing, and presumed dead, woman. Things quickly escalate to a dangerous situation and Mitchell is killed by their suspect, Simon Bower, who, in turn, is killed by Ben. As this all plays out, it’s clear that the two policemen may not have been acting above board. What exactly they were up to before Mitchell is killed is unclear and there are a lot more questions than answers.
Mitchell wanted Joshua to have his “eyes” in case of his death and the teenager is quickly taken to the hospital to undergo the procedure. No one knows there has been a mix-up with the eyes. The procedure is successful and Joshua can see for the first time. You feel for Joshua not just because he has lost his father but also because his friends almost immediately distance themselves from him. They are blind and the teens had all been attending a special school which Joshua can no longer attend. He has gained his sight but has lost so much.
When Simon Bower’s partner decides to exact revenge for his friend’s death, things start to get complicated. At this time, I feel the story starts to get a bit out of control. The violence increases as the believability factor decreases. The idea of cellular memory is interesting and while I was initially intrigued, the more I read, the more I felt it was a bit over the top here. There is suspension of belief and then there is you’re kidding me, right? The implausibility of the story was too much for me in the end.
I like the basic idea in A Killer Harvest and the writing is solid and the story moves quickly. There are quite a few characters and, unfortunately, not all are well-developed. Joshua is a good character that evokes sympathy in the reader. He rarely catches a break and, even with his newly-gained sight, things are difficult for him and you can’t help but root for the teenager. Aside from the far-fetched elements, there is an underlying mystery which is good and there is a twist that I didn’t see coming.
A lot of readers love A Killer Harvest and I think those who are better able to suspend their belief will enjoy it more than I did.
I really liked the premise of A Killer Harvest and was excited to dive into it. A blind teenager, Joshua, receives a double corneal transplant following the death of his policeman father but (and it’s a big but) something goes wrong and he receives one cornea from his father and the other from the man who murdered him. Soon after, Joshua begins to see things he doesn’t understand, almost as if these things he sees are memories - but someone else’s memories.
The book opens with Joshua’s adoptive father, DI Mitchell Logan, and his partner DI Ben Kirk, at a construction site asking questions about a missing, and presumed dead, woman. Things quickly escalate to a dangerous situation and Mitchell is killed by their suspect, Simon Bower, who, in turn, is killed by Ben. As this all plays out, it’s clear that the two policemen may not have been acting above board. What exactly they were up to before Mitchell is killed is unclear and there are a lot more questions than answers.
Mitchell wanted Joshua to have his “eyes” in case of his death and the teenager is quickly taken to the hospital to undergo the procedure. No one knows there has been a mix-up with the eyes. The procedure is successful and Joshua can see for the first time. You feel for Joshua not just because he has lost his father but also because his friends almost immediately distance themselves from him. They are blind and the teens had all been attending a special school which Joshua can no longer attend. He has gained his sight but has lost so much.
When Simon Bower’s partner decides to exact revenge for his friend’s death, things start to get complicated. At this time, I feel the story starts to get a bit out of control. The violence increases as the believability factor decreases. The idea of cellular memory is interesting and while I was initially intrigued, the more I read, the more I felt it was a bit over the top here. There is suspension of belief and then there is you’re kidding me, right? The implausibility of the story was too much for me in the end.
I like the basic idea in A Killer Harvest and the writing is solid and the story moves quickly. There are quite a few characters and, unfortunately, not all are well-developed. Joshua is a good character that evokes sympathy in the reader. He rarely catches a break and, even with his newly-gained sight, things are difficult for him and you can’t help but root for the teenager. Aside from the far-fetched elements, there is an underlying mystery which is good and there is a twist that I didn’t see coming.
A lot of readers love A Killer Harvest and I think those who are better able to suspend their belief will enjoy it more than I did.
July 21, 2017
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Paul Cleave is severely underrated here in the US. He's a big deal, I think, in the thriller market. I've read four of his books now, and every time, I read that final page and shut the back cover thinking, "Damn, this guy is GOOD at writing." Seriously, he writes page-turners with good characterizations, twisted plots, and creative scenarios.
This creative scenario is based around the concept of cellular memory -- that donated organs can pass on memories and feelings. Interesting spark for a story, and this tale definitely weaves that scientific potentiality into the story well.
Ironically enough, I didn't see the ending coming (bad pun intended -- SEE, blind kid getting his sight from donated eyes, come on, that's funny!) even though, after reading through the final twists, I feel like I *should* have seen it coming. That's yet another reason Cleave is one of my favorite thriller writers, and I'm savoring working my way through his works without rushing to burn through them all -- I don't want to run out before more are on their way.
Pick up a Paul Cleave book. I doubt you'll be disappointed. 4.5 stars, highly recommended.
Paul Cleave is severely underrated here in the US. He's a big deal, I think, in the thriller market. I've read four of his books now, and every time, I read that final page and shut the back cover thinking, "Damn, this guy is GOOD at writing." Seriously, he writes page-turners with good characterizations, twisted plots, and creative scenarios.
This creative scenario is based around the concept of cellular memory -- that donated organs can pass on memories and feelings. Interesting spark for a story, and this tale definitely weaves that scientific potentiality into the story well.
Ironically enough, I didn't see the ending coming (bad pun intended -- SEE, blind kid getting his sight from donated eyes, come on, that's funny!) even though, after reading through the final twists, I feel like I *should* have seen it coming. That's yet another reason Cleave is one of my favorite thriller writers, and I'm savoring working my way through his works without rushing to burn through them all -- I don't want to run out before more are on their way.
Pick up a Paul Cleave book. I doubt you'll be disappointed. 4.5 stars, highly recommended.
August 10, 2017
Check out all of my reviews at: http://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
Paul Cleave is now on my MUST READ list and I feel he should be on every fan of thrillers book shelves, too!
I read “Trust No One” and loved it, so I was very happy to get this ARC of his new book. Now I can add A KILLER HARVEST to this year’s list of my favorite books. I am in love with this author’s writing, plotting and pacing. When you think you are at the climax or you have everything figured out Mr. Cleave continually throws another plot twist, big or small, into the mix which makes you even more anxious and desperate to continue reading.
Joshua Logan believes he is cursed. He was born blind and lost his biological parents at a young age. He was taken in by his uncle and aunt, who he now calls mom and dad, but he can never take his happiness for granted.
While investigating a suspect believed to be a serial killer, Joshua’s detective father is killed. His partner kills the killer, but the curse has struck again. Joshua’s dad left a specific request in his will. If he was ever killed, his eyes would go to Joshua for a transplant and a chance at sight. As the donated eyes are transported to Joshua’s operating room, there is a mishap and Joshua receives one of his father’s eyes and one of the serial killer’s eyes which were also taken for donation.
After the surgery, Joshua begins to have strange and disturbing dreams. Sometimes he feels like he is seeing his father’s death from his father’s perspective and sometimes from the killer’s. He is also able to identify people that he has never seen before. As Joshua tries to deal with all the changes in his life, the serial killer’s accomplice is out to avenge his friend’s death. Joshua and all those close to him are in danger.
You may believe that you know how this will end from the brief summary above and past thriller plots, but in the hands of this author, you are so wrong! I could not stop thinking about this book when I had to put it down and could not wait to get back to it. Mr. Cleave knows how to masterfully take the reader on a journey that makes the unbelievable possible. I definitely need to start working my way through this author’s past catalogue. I highly recommend this book to all and especially those who love older Dean Koontz and Stephen King works that take a normal situation and twist it.
Thank you so much to Atria Books and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review. It was my pleasure!
Paul Cleave is now on my MUST READ list and I feel he should be on every fan of thrillers book shelves, too!
I read “Trust No One” and loved it, so I was very happy to get this ARC of his new book. Now I can add A KILLER HARVEST to this year’s list of my favorite books. I am in love with this author’s writing, plotting and pacing. When you think you are at the climax or you have everything figured out Mr. Cleave continually throws another plot twist, big or small, into the mix which makes you even more anxious and desperate to continue reading.
Joshua Logan believes he is cursed. He was born blind and lost his biological parents at a young age. He was taken in by his uncle and aunt, who he now calls mom and dad, but he can never take his happiness for granted.
While investigating a suspect believed to be a serial killer, Joshua’s detective father is killed. His partner kills the killer, but the curse has struck again. Joshua’s dad left a specific request in his will. If he was ever killed, his eyes would go to Joshua for a transplant and a chance at sight. As the donated eyes are transported to Joshua’s operating room, there is a mishap and Joshua receives one of his father’s eyes and one of the serial killer’s eyes which were also taken for donation.
After the surgery, Joshua begins to have strange and disturbing dreams. Sometimes he feels like he is seeing his father’s death from his father’s perspective and sometimes from the killer’s. He is also able to identify people that he has never seen before. As Joshua tries to deal with all the changes in his life, the serial killer’s accomplice is out to avenge his friend’s death. Joshua and all those close to him are in danger.
You may believe that you know how this will end from the brief summary above and past thriller plots, but in the hands of this author, you are so wrong! I could not stop thinking about this book when I had to put it down and could not wait to get back to it. Mr. Cleave knows how to masterfully take the reader on a journey that makes the unbelievable possible. I definitely need to start working my way through this author’s past catalogue. I highly recommend this book to all and especially those who love older Dean Koontz and Stephen King works that take a normal situation and twist it.
Thank you so much to Atria Books and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review. It was my pleasure!
Read
August 24, 2017Did not Finish. One quarter of the way into this book and I can't read it. It is just too sick and depraved and I can only imagine what is coming. Nope, this one isn't for me. This book is so completely different from Trust No One which I thought was a very good book. This one borders on the horror genre, most defintely. I'm so disappointed :(
April 6, 2021
Joshua don't have it easy, being blind and losing his parents and he even lost the man who toke care of him, a detective who died on a case and the suspect was killed soon after. But Joshua got a chance to be able to see, with the detective's eyes and the story unfolds from there. Had a very interesting and compelling premise and the story was somewhat entertaining. Don't feel like a waste of time but at the same time it wasn't something amazing but an decent read with some suspense and intriguing plot.
December 8, 2017
For all of my reviews: www.readingbetweenthepagesblog.wordpr...
When I saw the cover of this book, I judged it and assumed it would be a very dark, heavy, creepy book. I was pleasantly surprised that it was not nearly as dark of a story as I had assumed it would be. Now don’t get me wrong, this is definitely a mystery/thriller, with many secrets to be revealed. It is dark at times and not for the faint of heart, but there is a lot more to this story than I had assumed there would be.
Joshua Logan is a high school student at Canterbury School for the blind and he is convinced that he is cursed! Even when something good happens to him, he has no doubt that it will eventually turn bad. The story opens with the death of his father, who has just been killed and is giving his son the gift of a lifetime, his eyes.
This book revolves around the notion of cellular memory, the idea that donated organs can hold memories of the person that has died and be passed onto the recipient of the organ. I found this to be a very unique and interesting jumping off point in which to form a story around.
I was surprised, in a good way, by how much of this book was about Josh and his new eyes. We get a glimpse into what it would be like to go from being blind to seeing the world for the first time. It is a lot to take in for Joshua who is still mourning the passing of his father and yet he has this beautiful gift from him to explore the world with.
I love when an author can shock me and make me laugh out loud – there was one situation that occurred and my first reaction was, ewww and then found myself laughing. I read this part out loud to my husband and I think I found it a lot more amusing than he did. I guess my mind is just a little more twisted than his is.
I really enjoyed the way this book continuously shifted perspective, it kept me on my toes and taught me not to get too comfortable with where I thought the story was headed.
I am thrilled to have picked up my first Paul Cleave book and cannot wait to read more!
When I saw the cover of this book, I judged it and assumed it would be a very dark, heavy, creepy book. I was pleasantly surprised that it was not nearly as dark of a story as I had assumed it would be. Now don’t get me wrong, this is definitely a mystery/thriller, with many secrets to be revealed. It is dark at times and not for the faint of heart, but there is a lot more to this story than I had assumed there would be.
Joshua Logan is a high school student at Canterbury School for the blind and he is convinced that he is cursed! Even when something good happens to him, he has no doubt that it will eventually turn bad. The story opens with the death of his father, who has just been killed and is giving his son the gift of a lifetime, his eyes.
This book revolves around the notion of cellular memory, the idea that donated organs can hold memories of the person that has died and be passed onto the recipient of the organ. I found this to be a very unique and interesting jumping off point in which to form a story around.
I was surprised, in a good way, by how much of this book was about Josh and his new eyes. We get a glimpse into what it would be like to go from being blind to seeing the world for the first time. It is a lot to take in for Joshua who is still mourning the passing of his father and yet he has this beautiful gift from him to explore the world with.
I love when an author can shock me and make me laugh out loud – there was one situation that occurred and my first reaction was, ewww and then found myself laughing. I read this part out loud to my husband and I think I found it a lot more amusing than he did. I guess my mind is just a little more twisted than his is.
I really enjoyed the way this book continuously shifted perspective, it kept me on my toes and taught me not to get too comfortable with where I thought the story was headed.
I am thrilled to have picked up my first Paul Cleave book and cannot wait to read more!
August 10, 2017
Believe it or not, I have never read a Paul Cleave novel before! I know, I know, from what I hear, I am seriously missing out. I was pretty pumped when #cjsreads decided to pick up A Killer Harvest, the newest publication by Paul Cleave for one of our August reads. Chelsea, my good friend from The Suspense Is Thrilling Me, had raved about this one to me months ago so I was going in with pretty high expectations. I am glad to report that this novel met (and surpassed!) all my expectations. I binge read this one over the course of a few hours and was left with a serious book hangover.
Sort of a mix between sci-fi, thriller, and mystery, Cleave weaves a seriously addicting novel from the first pages. A detective is killed in the line of duty and his murderer (a known serial killer) is also killed. Hours later, a blind teenager, Joshua, goes into surgery to receive a set of eyes to try and restore his vision; after a mishap, the teenager receives his sight after obtaining one eye from the detective and the other from the serial killer. As Joshua gains his sight, he begins to recognize people he shouldn’t recognize (after all he has never seen them before) and seeing memories from someone else’s life, leading him to realize that perhaps he is dealing with cellular memory. As Joshua begins to discover what this means, and another murderer hell bent on avenging his partner’s death, Joshua finds himself in grave danger.
Crazy, right??
I loved how this novel sort of had a sci-fi, medical thriller vibe but it was extremely realistic. Could this potentially happen in real life? Maybe? I’m not sure but it absolutely had me thinking there was a truth to be told. Cleave has a serious honesty about his writing that had me hooked. I loved the characters and found Joshua extremely likeable and relatable, even as a young adult character. The story never felt young or over exaggerated (which is a problem I often find in adult literature with a YA narrator). Cleave was able to find a perfect balance.
This book was non-stop action and I found myself violently flipping pages as I devoured this novel. The ending was my absolute favourite. I loved how Cleave chose to tie all the various storylines together.
Overall, I would highly recommend this novel for anyone who enjoys a fast paced, thrilling read. I gave it 5/5 stars.
Sort of a mix between sci-fi, thriller, and mystery, Cleave weaves a seriously addicting novel from the first pages. A detective is killed in the line of duty and his murderer (a known serial killer) is also killed. Hours later, a blind teenager, Joshua, goes into surgery to receive a set of eyes to try and restore his vision; after a mishap, the teenager receives his sight after obtaining one eye from the detective and the other from the serial killer. As Joshua gains his sight, he begins to recognize people he shouldn’t recognize (after all he has never seen them before) and seeing memories from someone else’s life, leading him to realize that perhaps he is dealing with cellular memory. As Joshua begins to discover what this means, and another murderer hell bent on avenging his partner’s death, Joshua finds himself in grave danger.
Crazy, right??
I loved how this novel sort of had a sci-fi, medical thriller vibe but it was extremely realistic. Could this potentially happen in real life? Maybe? I’m not sure but it absolutely had me thinking there was a truth to be told. Cleave has a serious honesty about his writing that had me hooked. I loved the characters and found Joshua extremely likeable and relatable, even as a young adult character. The story never felt young or over exaggerated (which is a problem I often find in adult literature with a YA narrator). Cleave was able to find a perfect balance.
This book was non-stop action and I found myself violently flipping pages as I devoured this novel. The ending was my absolute favourite. I loved how Cleave chose to tie all the various storylines together.
Overall, I would highly recommend this novel for anyone who enjoys a fast paced, thrilling read. I gave it 5/5 stars.
July 2, 2017
What if you could see the world through the eyes of others?
A blind teenager receives the gift of bilateral corneal transplants. Joshua has been blind since birth and on his father's death, receives his eyes. A surgical mishap leaves Joshua unknowingly receiving one eye from his father and the other from another body. The retinas of these new eyes are like memory film in a camera, and suddenly Joshua has access to his father's memory and the memory of Simon Bowers, a killed murder suspect. Joshua's dad, Inspector Mitchell Logan and his partner Ben Kirk, were the detectives involved in Simon's case. Joshua has to find the strength to brave himself into a new visual world with an all-access pass into danger, deception, and unspeakable horror.
Wow. What an intense and well-written book. Paul Cleave is a master of suspense. He carefully and timely takes you down a path of multiple points until the surprising twists of in last few pages. The details of the scenes are so realistic with details of time, space, and senses. (Can you feel the nail gun firing in you cause I did?) Cleave develops his characters right from page one. Subtle comments, thoughts, and behaviors give his characters a multidimensionality, even if they have a brief cameo.
The phenomenon of cellular memory provides the underlying backbone of this tale. As a person living with a spouse with an organ transplant, the subject of cell memory was a personal draw to Cleave's novel. The first two chapters are gripping and confounding and lay the groundwork for the plot. Following, we meet Joshua, our engaging protagonist. Joshua has lived a life through his senses, his mind, and his cane. His vulnerability is displayed when his father dies and after he sees for the first time since birth. Joshua navigates through newfound flashbacks and terrifying realities from the donors' eyes. We rally alongside Joshua as he learns the truth about his new world. Can he trust what he sees?
I highly recommend this book by Paul Cleave, and I look forwards to discovering more of his novels.
Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
A blind teenager receives the gift of bilateral corneal transplants. Joshua has been blind since birth and on his father's death, receives his eyes. A surgical mishap leaves Joshua unknowingly receiving one eye from his father and the other from another body. The retinas of these new eyes are like memory film in a camera, and suddenly Joshua has access to his father's memory and the memory of Simon Bowers, a killed murder suspect. Joshua's dad, Inspector Mitchell Logan and his partner Ben Kirk, were the detectives involved in Simon's case. Joshua has to find the strength to brave himself into a new visual world with an all-access pass into danger, deception, and unspeakable horror.
Wow. What an intense and well-written book. Paul Cleave is a master of suspense. He carefully and timely takes you down a path of multiple points until the surprising twists of in last few pages. The details of the scenes are so realistic with details of time, space, and senses. (Can you feel the nail gun firing in you cause I did?) Cleave develops his characters right from page one. Subtle comments, thoughts, and behaviors give his characters a multidimensionality, even if they have a brief cameo.
The phenomenon of cellular memory provides the underlying backbone of this tale. As a person living with a spouse with an organ transplant, the subject of cell memory was a personal draw to Cleave's novel. The first two chapters are gripping and confounding and lay the groundwork for the plot. Following, we meet Joshua, our engaging protagonist. Joshua has lived a life through his senses, his mind, and his cane. His vulnerability is displayed when his father dies and after he sees for the first time since birth. Joshua navigates through newfound flashbacks and terrifying realities from the donors' eyes. We rally alongside Joshua as he learns the truth about his new world. Can he trust what he sees?
I highly recommend this book by Paul Cleave, and I look forwards to discovering more of his novels.
Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 20, 2017
The 30 Best Books of 2017
Paul Cleave, the internationally bestselling powerhouse New Zealand author returns following Trust No One landing on my Top 10 Books of 2015 and Five Minutes Alone making its way to my Top 30 Books of 2014 with yet another jaw-dropping twisty suspense horror thriller — A KILLER HARVEST. It is indeed "Killer."
An avid Cleave fan: What sets this author apart from the competition? Many things. Tops: His creativity, talent, and his wicked dark humor!
Oh, and what a cover! Dynamite. Atria is killing it! I kept swiping the last page, hoping for inspiration from the author. Would love to know the spark which ignited this story.
Those who enjoyed the movie Blink (1993) and Seven Pounds (2008) will be fascinated with A KILLER HARVEST — a new unique twist which keeps on spinning . . .
Now back to the book. Cellular Memory Horror. Dark secrets.
Poor Joshua Logan. He has had a run of horrible luck. A family curse. (I would say he is on to something here, for sure).
His dad jumped in front of a bus a few months before Joshua was born. He did it to save a small girl he never met who had slipped away from her mother’s grasp and had stumbled into the street.
A hero? A dad who was missing in his life. His mom was in his life for five months before meeting a bus of her own, in the form of a brain embolism.
Predestination.
Blind from birth. Biological parents gone. Joshua’s world is black. It has been his entire sixteen years. The curse made sure of that.
Now his current father (his aunt and uncle), Detective Mitchell Logan is killed. On a case. The suspect construction foreman, Simon Bowers. What do a killer and a cop have in common? Eyes.
Detective Inspector Ben Kirk (Logan’s partner) takes out Simon. However, before he takes him out, he needs to get answers to a few health questions.
The clock is ticking. Mitchell and Ben wanted to improve the world. Taking organs from the evil to give to the good.
The four best friends through high school: Mitchell (cop), Michelle (vet), Ben (police), and Ben’s brother Jesse (teacher).
A dad's promise. He wanted his eyes to go to his son, Joshua.
Detective Vega, once again states his dad was a hero. No hero left for him. The guy that killed his dad was a bad guy, and his dad makes sure that guy could not hurt anyone else.
However, now there is Simon’s friend, Vincent who wants revenge. He is a nasty one as well.
Joshua is the recipient of his dad’s eyes. He is hoping to be able to see the world his dad saw it. The new Joshua Logan is going to see for the first time, something he has wanted more than anything—just not at this price. The curse is not about balance. It takes and takes.
However, there was a mishap by a technician. His dad’s eyes and the killer’s eyes dropped. Switched in error. Now, Josh has one of each.
The exciting twist is how he knows, or suspects. His mom says he owes it to his dad to be the best man he can. Was his dad a criminal as well?
The Doctor: Twenty-eight years of harvesting organs. For the last five years, a doctor has been harvesting them from the likes of Simon Bower.
Persons killed in the commission of crime have had their names retroactively added to the database of organ donors whether they want to donate or not.
From a cabin in the woods, abduction, dogs, torture, blood, a woman, death. Josh begins seeing things. A nightmare or is he seeing things from the owner of his new eyes? Will his eyes and cellular memory give him two perspectives to solve a crime?
A vampire named Frederick in his books, to bullying, a partner in crime, danger, a serial killer, a girl named Ruby Carter, and a scar he has inherited. How many others are having weird dreams from their donor?
Wow, Cleave knows how to create complex plot twists and intensity! Cellular memory takes on an evil twist (s), and no one does it better than Cleave. Lines between good and evil are blurred.
The secrets of the past refuse to keep quiet in this razor-sharp, unputdownable, taut thriller. Readers will be immersed until the final page while never trusting a surgeon again in this lifetime.
I am beginning to suspect Paul Cleave/Stephen King may be long lost, brothers.
Looking forward to someone picking up his Cleave’s books for the wide screen. I want a front row seat! Also how about Cleave for a guest appearance on Younger (TV series) with Atria.
A special thank you to Atria and NetGalley for an early reading copy. Once again, top book list for the year.
JDCMustReadBooks
Paul Cleave, the internationally bestselling powerhouse New Zealand author returns following Trust No One landing on my Top 10 Books of 2015 and Five Minutes Alone making its way to my Top 30 Books of 2014 with yet another jaw-dropping twisty suspense horror thriller — A KILLER HARVEST. It is indeed "Killer."
An avid Cleave fan: What sets this author apart from the competition? Many things. Tops: His creativity, talent, and his wicked dark humor!
Oh, and what a cover! Dynamite. Atria is killing it! I kept swiping the last page, hoping for inspiration from the author. Would love to know the spark which ignited this story.
Those who enjoyed the movie Blink (1993) and Seven Pounds (2008) will be fascinated with A KILLER HARVEST — a new unique twist which keeps on spinning . . .
Now back to the book. Cellular Memory Horror. Dark secrets.
Poor Joshua Logan. He has had a run of horrible luck. A family curse. (I would say he is on to something here, for sure).
His dad jumped in front of a bus a few months before Joshua was born. He did it to save a small girl he never met who had slipped away from her mother’s grasp and had stumbled into the street.
A hero? A dad who was missing in his life. His mom was in his life for five months before meeting a bus of her own, in the form of a brain embolism.
Predestination.
Blind from birth. Biological parents gone. Joshua’s world is black. It has been his entire sixteen years. The curse made sure of that.
Now his current father (his aunt and uncle), Detective Mitchell Logan is killed. On a case. The suspect construction foreman, Simon Bowers. What do a killer and a cop have in common? Eyes.
Detective Inspector Ben Kirk (Logan’s partner) takes out Simon. However, before he takes him out, he needs to get answers to a few health questions.
The clock is ticking. Mitchell and Ben wanted to improve the world. Taking organs from the evil to give to the good.
The four best friends through high school: Mitchell (cop), Michelle (vet), Ben (police), and Ben’s brother Jesse (teacher).
A dad's promise. He wanted his eyes to go to his son, Joshua.
Detective Vega, once again states his dad was a hero. No hero left for him. The guy that killed his dad was a bad guy, and his dad makes sure that guy could not hurt anyone else.
However, now there is Simon’s friend, Vincent who wants revenge. He is a nasty one as well.
Joshua is the recipient of his dad’s eyes. He is hoping to be able to see the world his dad saw it. The new Joshua Logan is going to see for the first time, something he has wanted more than anything—just not at this price. The curse is not about balance. It takes and takes.
However, there was a mishap by a technician. His dad’s eyes and the killer’s eyes dropped. Switched in error. Now, Josh has one of each.
The exciting twist is how he knows, or suspects. His mom says he owes it to his dad to be the best man he can. Was his dad a criminal as well?
The Doctor: Twenty-eight years of harvesting organs. For the last five years, a doctor has been harvesting them from the likes of Simon Bower.
Persons killed in the commission of crime have had their names retroactively added to the database of organ donors whether they want to donate or not.
From a cabin in the woods, abduction, dogs, torture, blood, a woman, death. Josh begins seeing things. A nightmare or is he seeing things from the owner of his new eyes? Will his eyes and cellular memory give him two perspectives to solve a crime?
A vampire named Frederick in his books, to bullying, a partner in crime, danger, a serial killer, a girl named Ruby Carter, and a scar he has inherited. How many others are having weird dreams from their donor?
Wow, Cleave knows how to create complex plot twists and intensity! Cellular memory takes on an evil twist (s), and no one does it better than Cleave. Lines between good and evil are blurred.
The secrets of the past refuse to keep quiet in this razor-sharp, unputdownable, taut thriller. Readers will be immersed until the final page while never trusting a surgeon again in this lifetime.
I am beginning to suspect Paul Cleave/Stephen King may be long lost, brothers.
Looking forward to someone picking up his Cleave’s books for the wide screen. I want a front row seat! Also how about Cleave for a guest appearance on Younger (TV series) with Atria.
A special thank you to Atria and NetGalley for an early reading copy. Once again, top book list for the year.
JDCMustReadBooks
August 18, 2018
Did I have to suspend belief while reading this? Yep! But the author sucked me in and created enough suspense that I wanted to keep reading to find out what happens. There was a good twist I did not see coming!
August 9, 2017
A Killer Harvest by Paul Cleave
5★'s
A blind teenager receives a corneal donation and begins to see and feel memories from their previous owner...a homicide detective who was also his father. Joshua is convinced there is a family curse. It’s taken loved ones from him, it’s robbed him of his eyesight, and it’s the reason why his father is killed while investigating the homicide of a young woman. Joshua is handed an opportunity he can’t refuse: an operation that will allow him to see the world through his father’s eyes. As Joshua navigates a world of sight, he gets glimpses of what these eyes might have witnessed in their previous life. What exactly was his dad up to in his role as a police officer? There are consequences to the secret life his father was living, including the wrath of a man hell bent on killing, a man who is drawing closer and closer to Joshua. Joshua soon discovers a world darker than the one he has emerged from.
What did I think?
I have read almost all of Paul Cleave's books and found each one to be equally as interesting and entertaining as the one before. I would be hard pressed to choose a favorite...but this one...A Killer Harvest would have to be very close. The "bad guy" characters who received the organ transplants, are nearly all drawn so that you have to feel some empathy if not actual sympathy for them. The "good guys" are not as good as they should be...but you have to wonder if they meant to do the right thing and just got caught up in the tangled web they created. I can't say much more without giving away a lot of spoilers but anyone that loves spending time with a good mystery will find that A Killer Harvest>/b> just might be what you're looking for.
5★'s
A blind teenager receives a corneal donation and begins to see and feel memories from their previous owner...a homicide detective who was also his father. Joshua is convinced there is a family curse. It’s taken loved ones from him, it’s robbed him of his eyesight, and it’s the reason why his father is killed while investigating the homicide of a young woman. Joshua is handed an opportunity he can’t refuse: an operation that will allow him to see the world through his father’s eyes. As Joshua navigates a world of sight, he gets glimpses of what these eyes might have witnessed in their previous life. What exactly was his dad up to in his role as a police officer? There are consequences to the secret life his father was living, including the wrath of a man hell bent on killing, a man who is drawing closer and closer to Joshua. Joshua soon discovers a world darker than the one he has emerged from.
What did I think?
I have read almost all of Paul Cleave's books and found each one to be equally as interesting and entertaining as the one before. I would be hard pressed to choose a favorite...but this one...A Killer Harvest would have to be very close. The "bad guy" characters who received the organ transplants, are nearly all drawn so that you have to feel some empathy if not actual sympathy for them. The "good guys" are not as good as they should be...but you have to wonder if they meant to do the right thing and just got caught up in the tangled web they created. I can't say much more without giving away a lot of spoilers but anyone that loves spending time with a good mystery will find that A Killer Harvest>/b> just might be what you're looking for.
July 13, 2017
This is going to seem like a schizophrenic review. On one hand, I really really enjoyed this and was spellbound from beginning to end. On the other hand, I thought the basic premise so absurd that I had to keep myself from smirking. With full disclosure, I am medical so it prejudiced me in a way that might not affect other readers. A blind teenage boy's detective father is killed by a criminal in a horrific scene. However, his father's wish is that his son receive his eyes as a gift. When both the criminal and father's eyes are mixed up prior to surgery, the boy receives one eye from his father and another from the criminal. When the son begins to have vivid dreams that seem to come from the criminal's vision, the theory of "cellular memory" is introduced. That, along with the tension from someone who is trying to destroy anyone who was loved by his father's work partner, leads to a game of who-dun-it! In the course of this , I found some elements more silly than realistic, but still was enthralled. Morality issues of good vs evil, and how do you define those parameters plays out throughout the novel as well. Despite my misgivings, I couldn't put this quick read down. It is a perfect beach read and if one can just enjoy the plot you will have a rollicking good time.
August 12, 2017
Let me just start by saying right off the bat : if you’ve never read a Paul Cleave book, you are seriously missing out! It seems to me like not enough people are talking about him and they should be as he’s a fantastic voice in the thriller genre! I was introduced to him a few years ago by my dear friend Dom and I’ve not looked back since. I always expect some level of uniqueness from this author and once again, he absolutely delivers.
Joshua was born blind and is convinced he’s been cursed from birth. But when the man who was raising him, a police officer, is killed along with the murder suspect he was chasing, things will start to look very differently. In more ways than one. Joshua gets a new pair of eyes but due to a bit of an incident, he ends up with one eye from the police officer and one eye from the killer.
This is the sort of premise only a genius like Paul Cleave can come up with. A Killer Harvest has such a complicated and intricate plot, yet it’s executed brilliantly. There’s quite a large cast of characters but it never gets confusing. While the storyline is rather dark and disturbing at times, you can always count on the author to somehow add a dash of humour along the way. There were moments where I surprisingly snorted with laughter while being simultaneously utterly grossed out.
This is one of those books you just can’t put down, perfect for binge-reading. Well-paced, suspenseful and with a spine-chilling conclusion, it held my attention from start to finish. Yet it’s also quite thought-provoking at times as some murkier intentions come to the fore. Absolutely phenomenal! This is a must-read and I highly recommend you pick this one up and also check out Cleave’s other work. He deserves to be on everyone’s list of go-to authors and I absolutely can’t wait for whatever Paul Cleave comes up with next!
Joshua was born blind and is convinced he’s been cursed from birth. But when the man who was raising him, a police officer, is killed along with the murder suspect he was chasing, things will start to look very differently. In more ways than one. Joshua gets a new pair of eyes but due to a bit of an incident, he ends up with one eye from the police officer and one eye from the killer.
This is the sort of premise only a genius like Paul Cleave can come up with. A Killer Harvest has such a complicated and intricate plot, yet it’s executed brilliantly. There’s quite a large cast of characters but it never gets confusing. While the storyline is rather dark and disturbing at times, you can always count on the author to somehow add a dash of humour along the way. There were moments where I surprisingly snorted with laughter while being simultaneously utterly grossed out.
This is one of those books you just can’t put down, perfect for binge-reading. Well-paced, suspenseful and with a spine-chilling conclusion, it held my attention from start to finish. Yet it’s also quite thought-provoking at times as some murkier intentions come to the fore. Absolutely phenomenal! This is a must-read and I highly recommend you pick this one up and also check out Cleave’s other work. He deserves to be on everyone’s list of go-to authors and I absolutely can’t wait for whatever Paul Cleave comes up with next!
December 19, 2018
I loved this story. Cellular memory is an interesting concept - two people are given new eyes, but there is a mix-up. Each person gets one eye from a killer and one eye from the detective on that case. They start having bad dreams about killing. Fun thrilling book.
August 7, 2017
I fear I'm sounding like a broken record when it comes to Paul Cleave's thrillers - book after book he shows himself to be one of the world's finest authors when it comes to creating page-turners with real depth that dance along the darker edge of the crime and thriller genre.
His tenth novel is something of a departure: there's a teenage protagonist (but this is very much an adult thriller with a teen hero, rather than a young adult novel), and Cleave veers towards his horror roots with the inclusion of an eye transplant and the idea of 'cellular memory', where an organ recipient feels that they've inherited memories or feelings from the donor. Long-time Cleave fans shouldn't worry though - these aspects just add fascination to his tale, rather than overwhelming it.
If Cleave was a literary author - particularly one from Latin America - A Killer Harvest might be considered 'magic realism'; a story with a single fantastical element intertwined in a rich portrayal of an otherwise very realistic, grounded world. As Cleave showed with his previous novel, the superb psychological thriller Trust No One, he's not afraid to stretch his literary legs within the crime genre.
Despite its slightly experimental feel, A Killer Harvest is still one of those thrillers that you can absolutely tear through in one sitting, while never feeling like it's 'thin' or 'breezy'. It's a terrific read, darkly hypnotic, that entices you through the power of Cleave's characterisation and storytelling even more so than its high-concept hook. As we've come to expect from Cleave, there's a delicious malevolence, tempered by his trademark obsidian humour and prose that crackles like a campfire.
The narrative switches between teenager Joshua, struggling with the tragedy and opportunity surrounding his new eyesight, and several other characters. Cleave masterfully builds the tension as we shift perspectives; A Killer Harvest dances along assuredly through all the movements.
At its heart, A Killer Harvest is a tale of an isolated boy struggling to fit in, who now feels like 'a freak' in both the blind world and the sighted one. Who's faced tragedy from his earliest days, and must find something deep within himself as the sins of the father threaten to be visited upon the son.
Overall, A Killer Harvest is a superb read from a virtuoso of the darker edge of crime that is firmly in the mix for my 'best read of the year'. Very highly recommended.
His tenth novel is something of a departure: there's a teenage protagonist (but this is very much an adult thriller with a teen hero, rather than a young adult novel), and Cleave veers towards his horror roots with the inclusion of an eye transplant and the idea of 'cellular memory', where an organ recipient feels that they've inherited memories or feelings from the donor. Long-time Cleave fans shouldn't worry though - these aspects just add fascination to his tale, rather than overwhelming it.
If Cleave was a literary author - particularly one from Latin America - A Killer Harvest might be considered 'magic realism'; a story with a single fantastical element intertwined in a rich portrayal of an otherwise very realistic, grounded world. As Cleave showed with his previous novel, the superb psychological thriller Trust No One, he's not afraid to stretch his literary legs within the crime genre.
Despite its slightly experimental feel, A Killer Harvest is still one of those thrillers that you can absolutely tear through in one sitting, while never feeling like it's 'thin' or 'breezy'. It's a terrific read, darkly hypnotic, that entices you through the power of Cleave's characterisation and storytelling even more so than its high-concept hook. As we've come to expect from Cleave, there's a delicious malevolence, tempered by his trademark obsidian humour and prose that crackles like a campfire.
The narrative switches between teenager Joshua, struggling with the tragedy and opportunity surrounding his new eyesight, and several other characters. Cleave masterfully builds the tension as we shift perspectives; A Killer Harvest dances along assuredly through all the movements.
At its heart, A Killer Harvest is a tale of an isolated boy struggling to fit in, who now feels like 'a freak' in both the blind world and the sighted one. Who's faced tragedy from his earliest days, and must find something deep within himself as the sins of the father threaten to be visited upon the son.
Overall, A Killer Harvest is a superb read from a virtuoso of the darker edge of crime that is firmly in the mix for my 'best read of the year'. Very highly recommended.
March 20, 2017
Paul Cleave is one of my favorite authors and his new suspense thriller does not disappoint. this is his 2nd standalone in a row, and I found this even better than last years very good Trust No One. the premise this time sounds like a supernatural b-movie, a cop requests his eyes be transplanted to his blind teenage son in the event of his death. this happens early on but is just the tip of the iceberg in this fast paced page turner. Cleave writes this in a believable way as the repercussions of the operation have far ranging effects. the great thing about Cleaves writing is he gives most of his characters edges, so even if they seem like a minor character they have color, personality and confliction beyond the 2 dimensional. you can really feel for the teenage son in this one as he experiences his new world opening up to him with not just the changes to his sight, but the danger he gets caught in as the events leading to his fathers death start to impact him and his loved ones. this likely 4.5 stars , but the great writing, twists and suspense move this up to 5. when you finish a book and wish you could spend more time with the characters and story, you know it was a pretty great book. looks like there is enough story possibilities if Cleave were to revisit this story and I for one would look forward to that. thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance review copy.
July 30, 2017
A blind teenager named Joshua gets the opportunity of a lifetime, to be the recipient of a new set of eyes that will allow him to see the world. When his eye bandages are removed, Joshua is in awe of this new world. But then things go horribly wrong….
The reader knows early on something that Joshua doesn’t. The eye transplant surgery was bungled and he has received one eye from his murdered detective father and one from a serial killer. A struggle between good and evil ensues. The idea of cellular memory and how it is incorporated into this novel is clever. To think that memories stored in a donor’s transplanted body part (in this case, eyes) is retained by the recipient is creepy and downright fascinating. Sure, the author created suspension of disbelief as the story builds but this is fiction, imaginative fiction which drew me in and I enjoyed the ride. This is my second novel read by Kiwi author Paul Cleave and hope to next read his Theodore Tate series of novels. Thanks to Atria Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The reader knows early on something that Joshua doesn’t. The eye transplant surgery was bungled and he has received one eye from his murdered detective father and one from a serial killer. A struggle between good and evil ensues. The idea of cellular memory and how it is incorporated into this novel is clever. To think that memories stored in a donor’s transplanted body part (in this case, eyes) is retained by the recipient is creepy and downright fascinating. Sure, the author created suspension of disbelief as the story builds but this is fiction, imaginative fiction which drew me in and I enjoyed the ride. This is my second novel read by Kiwi author Paul Cleave and hope to next read his Theodore Tate series of novels. Thanks to Atria Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 18, 2017
The more I think about it, the more I think this book deserves like... ten stars. Really phenomenal, gripping writing, an amazing storyline with a large cast of characters that are expertly juggled. I was driving after finishing this book and couldn't stop thinking about it, realizing little things that came back to me. It's like when I watched The Sixth Sense and you see the twist at the end and you have to go back and watch it again, knowing what you know.
For example... I thought he meant actual dogs. I'll just leave that tidbit right there.
This book is grisly, gritty and violent and... disturbing. it definitely shows you the worst side of humanity and what can happen when you let that side take over.
I was captivated. I loved it. Bravo, Paul Cleave!
So when is the next book coming???
For example... I thought he meant actual dogs. I'll just leave that tidbit right there.
This book is grisly, gritty and violent and... disturbing. it definitely shows you the worst side of humanity and what can happen when you let that side take over.
I was captivated. I loved it. Bravo, Paul Cleave!
So when is the next book coming???
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2018
A SOLID 4 star read- so why the 5 stars? Easy- Paul Cleave! The stories that this man comes up with is totally amazingly creepy! If you never picked up a Paul Cleave book- star with publication order- he has a few running series- but with the exception of his standalone novels, his books seems to intertwine with characters of the past.
It is amazing that Cleave can give you a creepy, insane, psycho-killer and yet at the same time you seem to LIKE him too! One minute a psycho - dude is doing the most awful things to another human and Cleave has the ability to have his character say something and you start to laugh!
This is a stand alone - another great book- Creep factor and all - I just cannot get enough of Paul Cleave and I'm slowly coming down to the end of me reading all of his books- So Mr. Cleave- hurry up and write some more- your fans are waiting.....!!
It is amazing that Cleave can give you a creepy, insane, psycho-killer and yet at the same time you seem to LIKE him too! One minute a psycho - dude is doing the most awful things to another human and Cleave has the ability to have his character say something and you start to laugh!
This is a stand alone - another great book- Creep factor and all - I just cannot get enough of Paul Cleave and I'm slowly coming down to the end of me reading all of his books- So Mr. Cleave- hurry up and write some more- your fans are waiting.....!!
June 22, 2017
Well this was creepy as hell! If you start thinking of the cellular memory too much it freaks you out! What an interesting spin on organ transplant & donation. Quite a few twists and turns that really keep it hopping especially at the end.
November 8, 2017
I'm going to preface this by saying that I think if I had read this at a different time I would have enjoyed it much more and read it much faster. It just happened to be the book I started when a lot of life stuff happened and I didn't really feel like reading. I can't really tell if I just didn't find this that interesting or if it was my mood. Maybe a little of both? I did like the general concept and the multiple perspectives. I liked Joshua. I liked the ending. I thought the writing was a little too wordy at times. I felt like it over-explained a lot of things. Overall, it was a decent book, but I didn't love it. Again, it might have just been my reading mood.
July 23, 2018
Stell dir vor, du bekommst ein Herz transplantiert, und hast danach ständig Lust auf ein Bier, obwohl du vor der Transplantation keinen Alkohol getrunken hast. Oder du bekommst eine neue Niere und willst danach Autorennen fahren, obwohl du nie den Führerschein gemacht hast. Es gibt die Theorie, dass in Körperzellen Erinnerungen gespeichert werden können. Die Theorie ist umstritten – aber nicht in der Welt der Literatur, denn Paul Cleave hat die Theorie zur Grundlage seines neuestem Buch gemacht.
Joshua ist 16 und geht auf eine Blindenschule. Sein Leben ist schwarz und das ist auch methaphorisch gemeint – denn er glaubt, dass seine Familie unter einen Fluch leidet. Seine Eltern sind beide tot, deshalb wohnt er bei seiner Tante und seinem Onkel. Da seine Eltern schon sehr lange tot sind, nennt er sie Mom und Dad. Doch jetzt schlägt der Familienfluch wieder zu und macht ihn abermals zum Halbwaisen – doch diesmal hinterlässt ihm sein zweiter etwas; nämlich seine Augen. Und so erfährt Joshua endlich, wie seine Mutter aussieht, wie Farben aussehen, er lernt lesen und will bald Autofahren lernen – doch er hat merkwürdige Träume und weiß nicht, was er davon halten, wie er damit umgehen soll.
Zum zweiten Mal nach „Zerschnitten“ wählt Paul Cleave ein medizinisches Thema. Im Mittelpunkt des Buches steht das zelluläre Gedächtnis, das medizinisch umstritten ist. Das bestätigt auch der Wikipedia-Eintrag darüber, der sehr kurz ist. Dass in dem Buch Augen transplantiert werden und blinde Menschen sehend machen, führt uns dann vollends in die Welt der Fabelwesen, denn zum Thema Augentransplantation gibt Google nichts her. Aber die Idee an sich und die Umsetzung ist grandios. Alleine wie Cleave den Protagonisten Joshua beschreibt, wenn er vom Blinden zum Sehenden wird, wirkt grandios recherchiert. Wenn er beschreibt, wie Joshua plötzlich nicht mehr nur von Formen und Gerüchen träumt, sondern von Menschen, Farben, Gegenständen – oder wie er das Fernsehen entdeckt und die Hörbücher links liegen lässt; da kann einem schon die Gänsehaut kommen, weil allein die Vorstellung, dass es so etwas geben könnte, wunderschön ist.
Zunächst lässt sich Cleave etwas Zeit mit dem Aufbau, führt neben Joshua unter anderem noch den Antagonisten Vincent ein, der der beste Freund von Simon Bower war, der nun tot ist – getötet von Joshuas Onkel-Vater Ben. Vincent heckt nun einen Plan aus, wie er nach dessen Leben trachten könnte. Das ist anfangs etwas zäh, weil Vincent davor das Leben von Simon aufarbeiten muss und dabei merkt, dass dieser ein ziemlich böser Bube war, was Vincent nicht klar war – aber nach ein paar Kapitel liest sich das Buch ziemlich flüssig und es macht ziemlich Spaß. Später stößt dann noch Olilia zum restlichen Ensemble hinzu, die sich wirklich sehr rührend Joshua – oder wie sie ihn nennt: „Junge, der früher mal blind war“ – annimmt.
Gegen Ende gibt es dann eine Sequenz, bei der ich fünf Minuten Abstand vom Buch brauchte, weil sie einerseits so schrecklich ist, und andererseits, weil es das, was darin passiert, wirklich geben könnte. Da kann man schon mal anfangen, an der Menschheit zu zweifeln. Und eigentlich wäre das für mich das perfekte Ende gewesen, denn das hätte – vermutlich nicht nur bei mir – einen enormen Nachhall hinterlassen.
Aber es geht weiter und damit verschlimmbessert Cleave das Ende leider etwas. Beim Showdown tritt der Protagonist für meine Begriffe für einen 16-jährigen viel zu souverän auf und auch generell übertreibt es Cleave etwas. Dazu kommt, dass man von ein paar Figuren nach dem Showdown überhaupt nicht mehr erfährt, was aus ihnen wurde – das macht die sonst wirklich großartige Geschichte leider etwas madig.
Tl;dr: „Die Saat des Killers“ von Paul Cleave ist ein mitreißender Thriller über ein strittiges medizinisches Thema und der Frage, ob in menschlichen Zellen Erinnerungen gespeichert werden können. Der Autor beantwortet diese sehr deutlich anhand eines grundsympathischen Protagonisten, der nach einer Augentransplantation zum ersten Mal sehen kann. Hintenraus übertreibt es Cleave allerdings etwas und macht die sonst großartige Geschichte leider etwas kaputt.
Joshua ist 16 und geht auf eine Blindenschule. Sein Leben ist schwarz und das ist auch methaphorisch gemeint – denn er glaubt, dass seine Familie unter einen Fluch leidet. Seine Eltern sind beide tot, deshalb wohnt er bei seiner Tante und seinem Onkel. Da seine Eltern schon sehr lange tot sind, nennt er sie Mom und Dad. Doch jetzt schlägt der Familienfluch wieder zu und macht ihn abermals zum Halbwaisen – doch diesmal hinterlässt ihm sein zweiter etwas; nämlich seine Augen. Und so erfährt Joshua endlich, wie seine Mutter aussieht, wie Farben aussehen, er lernt lesen und will bald Autofahren lernen – doch er hat merkwürdige Träume und weiß nicht, was er davon halten, wie er damit umgehen soll.
Zum zweiten Mal nach „Zerschnitten“ wählt Paul Cleave ein medizinisches Thema. Im Mittelpunkt des Buches steht das zelluläre Gedächtnis, das medizinisch umstritten ist. Das bestätigt auch der Wikipedia-Eintrag darüber, der sehr kurz ist. Dass in dem Buch Augen transplantiert werden und blinde Menschen sehend machen, führt uns dann vollends in die Welt der Fabelwesen, denn zum Thema Augentransplantation gibt Google nichts her. Aber die Idee an sich und die Umsetzung ist grandios. Alleine wie Cleave den Protagonisten Joshua beschreibt, wenn er vom Blinden zum Sehenden wird, wirkt grandios recherchiert. Wenn er beschreibt, wie Joshua plötzlich nicht mehr nur von Formen und Gerüchen träumt, sondern von Menschen, Farben, Gegenständen – oder wie er das Fernsehen entdeckt und die Hörbücher links liegen lässt; da kann einem schon die Gänsehaut kommen, weil allein die Vorstellung, dass es so etwas geben könnte, wunderschön ist.
Zunächst lässt sich Cleave etwas Zeit mit dem Aufbau, führt neben Joshua unter anderem noch den Antagonisten Vincent ein, der der beste Freund von Simon Bower war, der nun tot ist – getötet von Joshuas Onkel-Vater Ben. Vincent heckt nun einen Plan aus, wie er nach dessen Leben trachten könnte. Das ist anfangs etwas zäh, weil Vincent davor das Leben von Simon aufarbeiten muss und dabei merkt, dass dieser ein ziemlich böser Bube war, was Vincent nicht klar war – aber nach ein paar Kapitel liest sich das Buch ziemlich flüssig und es macht ziemlich Spaß. Später stößt dann noch Olilia zum restlichen Ensemble hinzu, die sich wirklich sehr rührend Joshua – oder wie sie ihn nennt: „Junge, der früher mal blind war“ – annimmt.
Gegen Ende gibt es dann eine Sequenz, bei der ich fünf Minuten Abstand vom Buch brauchte, weil sie einerseits so schrecklich ist, und andererseits, weil es das, was darin passiert, wirklich geben könnte. Da kann man schon mal anfangen, an der Menschheit zu zweifeln. Und eigentlich wäre das für mich das perfekte Ende gewesen, denn das hätte – vermutlich nicht nur bei mir – einen enormen Nachhall hinterlassen.
Aber es geht weiter und damit verschlimmbessert Cleave das Ende leider etwas. Beim Showdown tritt der Protagonist für meine Begriffe für einen 16-jährigen viel zu souverän auf und auch generell übertreibt es Cleave etwas. Dazu kommt, dass man von ein paar Figuren nach dem Showdown überhaupt nicht mehr erfährt, was aus ihnen wurde – das macht die sonst wirklich großartige Geschichte leider etwas madig.
Tl;dr: „Die Saat des Killers“ von Paul Cleave ist ein mitreißender Thriller über ein strittiges medizinisches Thema und der Frage, ob in menschlichen Zellen Erinnerungen gespeichert werden können. Der Autor beantwortet diese sehr deutlich anhand eines grundsympathischen Protagonisten, der nach einer Augentransplantation zum ersten Mal sehen kann. Hintenraus übertreibt es Cleave allerdings etwas und macht die sonst großartige Geschichte leider etwas kaputt.
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