A Select Group

by Blaine Readler

Divorced, broke, and jobless, Caleb believes he's found a reprieve from a life on the streets when he answers an ad calling for volunteers in an extended university study. Along with a dozen others, he trades his clothes for a simple uniform, and boards a bus for an undisclosed destination. As the driver takes them higher and higher into the remote California mountains, the hapless volunteers debate what exactly they've signed up for. Just before their phones are confiscated, they find a paper published by the sponsor professor, predicting the effects on groups when confronted with dire dangers. As Caleb watches miles of wilderness glide past, he wonders if he should have settled for a life under a city overpass.

A Select Group is a simmering thriller that explores the tribal tendency within us all--and the dark potential of a few--when groups are threatened. Against the doomed us-versus-them defense, one woman stands determined that people can rise above primal instincts to cooperate and persevere against those who seek to capitalize on human fears.

225 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 27, 2018

Reviews

[Kimberlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning and unputdownable.

This is a riveting look at human behaviors and interactions when all the rules of society change. I love it when I have high expectations starting a book and it not only meets, but surpasses them. I had been waiting a long time to buy this one, as the concept was fascinating to me, and once I did I tore into it right away.

The story builds quite a bit of suspense very early and will not let you stop turning pages. When put into a living situation without modern conveniences, minor irritations and aggravations turn into major ones. Add severe manipulation and intimidation to the mix and things turn ugly real fast.

This book kept me interested from beginning to end, and I'm adding it to my "favorites to be read again" folder.

[Kimberly Vanderbloom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

I won this book in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.

I was excited to read this book because it sounded interesting and boy was it. I enjoyed the story line and characters. I found it to be overall fast paced and thrilling. There were a few parts that dragged but it didn’t ruin anything. It was actually nice in a few parts to take a breathe from the wild adventures that were happening. It was graphic and violent and I enjoyed every second of it. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Diane Griffiths · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book on Goodreads in one of the giveaways.

The story sounded interesting, and it did grab my interest. Some of the story dragged a little and I sped read past those parts. It was intriguing and interesting in the story line about how tribes would work and alliances are made. I pretty much enjoyed the story, but it did not totally grab me like some books do. I would still say it is a good book to read though!

[Julie Powers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this fictional take on what might happen when a group of humans end up in an experiment run by a crazy person. Thinking they are taking part in a study, they end up in an isolated situation and are cut off and put in dangerous situations which results in "tribes" fighting against each other for their very survival. They book was well written and moved along at a brisk pace.

[Juju · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story and interesting characters. Figured out what was going to happen early on in first chapters but still good.