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Pulse
The story of a Boston murder that defies all expectations--optioned for film by 21 Laps, the company behind Stranger Things and Arrival
Boston, 1976. In a small apartment above Kenmore Square, sixteen-year-old Daniel Fitzsimmons is listening to his landlord describe a seemingly insane theory about invisible pulses of light and energy that can be harnessed by the human mind. He longs to laugh with his brother Harry about it, but Harry doesn't know he's there--he would never approve of Daniel living on his own. None of that matters, though, because the next night Harry, a Harvard football star, is murdered in an alley.
Detectives "Bark" Jones and Tommy Dillon are assigned to the case. The veteran partners thought they'd seen it all, but they are stunned when Daniel wanders into the crime scene. Even stranger, Daniel claims to have known the details of his brother's murder before it ever happened. The subsequent investigation leads the detectives deep into the Fitzsimmons brothers' past. They find heartbreaking loss, sordid characters, and metaphysical conspiracies. Even on the rough streets of 1970s Boston, Jones and Dillon have never had a case like this.
Pulse is a novel laced with real danger and otherworldly twists--a master class by an endlessly gifted writer.
Boston, 1976. In a small apartment above Kenmore Square, sixteen-year-old Daniel Fitzsimmons is listening to his landlord describe a seemingly insane theory about invisible pulses of light and energy that can be harnessed by the human mind. He longs to laugh with his brother Harry about it, but Harry doesn't know he's there--he would never approve of Daniel living on his own. None of that matters, though, because the next night Harry, a Harvard football star, is murdered in an alley.
Detectives "Bark" Jones and Tommy Dillon are assigned to the case. The veteran partners thought they'd seen it all, but they are stunned when Daniel wanders into the crime scene. Even stranger, Daniel claims to have known the details of his brother's murder before it ever happened. The subsequent investigation leads the detectives deep into the Fitzsimmons brothers' past. They find heartbreaking loss, sordid characters, and metaphysical conspiracies. Even on the rough streets of 1970s Boston, Jones and Dillon have never had a case like this.
Pulse is a novel laced with real danger and otherworldly twists--a master class by an endlessly gifted writer.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 23, 2018
508 people are currently reading
2605 people want to read
About the author
Michael Harvey
9 books392 followersMichael is the best-selling author of seven crime novels, The Chicago Way, The Fifth Floor, The Third Rail, We All Fall Down, The Innocence Game, The Governor’s Wife and Brighton, scheduled for release in June of 2016. Film rights to Brighton, a stand-alone thriller set in Michael’s hometown of Boston, were recently optioned by Graham King, producer of The Departed and The Town.
Michael is also an investigative reporter, documentary producer and co-creator, producer and executive producer of A&E’s groundbreaking forensic series, Cold Case Files.
Michael’s investigative journalism and documentary work has won multiple news Emmys and CableACE awards, numerous national and international film festival awards, a CINE Golden Eagle, two Prime-Time Emmy nominations, as well as an Academy Award nomination. Michael was also selected by the Chicago Tribune as Chicagoan of the Year in Literature for 2011.
Michael holds a bachelors degree, magna cum laude with honors, in classical languages from Holy Cross College, a law degree with honors from Duke University and a masters degree in journalism from Northwestern University. Michael is currently an adjunct professor at Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism.
Michael was born in Boston and lives in Chicago.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
May 15, 2018
Taking place in Boston during 1976, this is an edgy police procedural that feels new. It explores the links between quantum mechanics and consciousness. And no, no one understands what that is least of all me. Pulses of energy and light which can be channeled by the mind? Possibly.
A trippy tale of suspense, this novel reads like a mashup of Dennis Lehane and Stephen King with a potentially ambiguous ending depending on how you choose to read. I’d suggest that you just go along for the ride.
A trippy tale of suspense, this novel reads like a mashup of Dennis Lehane and Stephen King with a potentially ambiguous ending depending on how you choose to read. I’d suggest that you just go along for the ride.
October 23, 2018
This is one of those books that must give publishers the vapours. Police procedural? Sci-fi? Mystery? Grit-lit? Well….yes, it is. All of the above. So instead of trying to label it, I’ll do my best to describe this heartfelt & thought provoking read.
The first book I read by this author was the fabulous Brighton, a book that remains on my Top 10 of the last few years. This one is very different but similar in all the ways that matter. It’s essentially the story of 2 pairs of brothers. One is related by blood while the other pair are bound by shared history.
Daniel & Harry Fitzsimmons have been looking after each other since their mother died 8 years ago (Dad took a hike much earlier). They couldn’t be more different. Golden boy Harry is a football star at Harvard. He’s a straight arrow who’s determined to use his situation to provide a better life for both of them. Daniel is an insular 16 year old who will never be one of the cool kids. Instead, he hangs with fellow geeks Ben & Grace. Daniel knows he’s different. Sometimes he sees things when he touches other people, when he “entangles” his mind with theirs. It can be their darkest secret or an event that hasn’t happened yet. Either way, he always feels a pulse & knows a tiny piece of himself has been changed.
Daniel ends up renting a room from the mysterious Simon, a self professed ex-professor of quantum physics. He’s an odd duck who believes human beings transfer information across time through pulses of light & touch. And he seems to know waaaay too much about Daniel. Things are ticking along until 1 fateful night when Daniel gets a premonition & ends up stumbling across Harry’s body in one of Boston’s seedier back alleys.
Tommy Dillon & Barkley Jones are “blue” brothers, detectives & partners with the Boston PD. Barkley is a black man who’s all too aware of the racial tension simmering in Boston. It’s 1976 & only 3 years since schools became integrated. Bark is the voice of reason in the partnership, trying to keep a loose rein on the volatile Tommy. So it’s more than a little disconcerting when a woman touches him on the street one day & he feels an odd pulse. And the vision he has…well, that’s just plain weird.
They catch the call for a recent homicide & it’s the stuff of nightmares. They have a dead, white Harvard football star & a black suspect. Why was Harry Fitzsimmons in such a dangerous neighbourhood? And how did his kid brother end up at the scene? As the investigation progresses they unearth some disturbing facts about the Fitzsimmons’ past while the media has a field day with the racial implications. And Barkley will have to decide just how far he’s willing to go to protect Tommy from his personal demons.
This is a brain bender of a book. The supernatural elements & tidbits on quantum mechanics mean you have to keep an open mind & I’m not going to smugly pretend I understood all of it. But it raised fascinating questions & possibilities. If that’s not your thing, no worries. As with Brighton, Harvey gives us characters that will break your heart while stealing it. Daniel & Barkley in particular will put you through the wringer as they struggle to make the best choices. The setting is another character. From the rarified air of Harvard to the edgy neighbourhoods of Southie, Boston is portrayed in all it’s gritty, divided glory.
By the end, no one walks away unscathed & not all will survive. Daniel’s questions (and ours) are answered as the past & true identities are revealed. You’re left with a glimmer of hope that even great tragedy might eventually give way to something better. So if you’re looking for a well written & different slant on police procedurals, this should fit nicely. Besides, it’ll give you a chance to brush off all that quantum physics you’ve been dying to use. Just maybe don’t touch anyone while you’re reading 😉.
The first book I read by this author was the fabulous Brighton, a book that remains on my Top 10 of the last few years. This one is very different but similar in all the ways that matter. It’s essentially the story of 2 pairs of brothers. One is related by blood while the other pair are bound by shared history.
Daniel & Harry Fitzsimmons have been looking after each other since their mother died 8 years ago (Dad took a hike much earlier). They couldn’t be more different. Golden boy Harry is a football star at Harvard. He’s a straight arrow who’s determined to use his situation to provide a better life for both of them. Daniel is an insular 16 year old who will never be one of the cool kids. Instead, he hangs with fellow geeks Ben & Grace. Daniel knows he’s different. Sometimes he sees things when he touches other people, when he “entangles” his mind with theirs. It can be their darkest secret or an event that hasn’t happened yet. Either way, he always feels a pulse & knows a tiny piece of himself has been changed.
Daniel ends up renting a room from the mysterious Simon, a self professed ex-professor of quantum physics. He’s an odd duck who believes human beings transfer information across time through pulses of light & touch. And he seems to know waaaay too much about Daniel. Things are ticking along until 1 fateful night when Daniel gets a premonition & ends up stumbling across Harry’s body in one of Boston’s seedier back alleys.
Tommy Dillon & Barkley Jones are “blue” brothers, detectives & partners with the Boston PD. Barkley is a black man who’s all too aware of the racial tension simmering in Boston. It’s 1976 & only 3 years since schools became integrated. Bark is the voice of reason in the partnership, trying to keep a loose rein on the volatile Tommy. So it’s more than a little disconcerting when a woman touches him on the street one day & he feels an odd pulse. And the vision he has…well, that’s just plain weird.
They catch the call for a recent homicide & it’s the stuff of nightmares. They have a dead, white Harvard football star & a black suspect. Why was Harry Fitzsimmons in such a dangerous neighbourhood? And how did his kid brother end up at the scene? As the investigation progresses they unearth some disturbing facts about the Fitzsimmons’ past while the media has a field day with the racial implications. And Barkley will have to decide just how far he’s willing to go to protect Tommy from his personal demons.
This is a brain bender of a book. The supernatural elements & tidbits on quantum mechanics mean you have to keep an open mind & I’m not going to smugly pretend I understood all of it. But it raised fascinating questions & possibilities. If that’s not your thing, no worries. As with Brighton, Harvey gives us characters that will break your heart while stealing it. Daniel & Barkley in particular will put you through the wringer as they struggle to make the best choices. The setting is another character. From the rarified air of Harvard to the edgy neighbourhoods of Southie, Boston is portrayed in all it’s gritty, divided glory.
By the end, no one walks away unscathed & not all will survive. Daniel’s questions (and ours) are answered as the past & true identities are revealed. You’re left with a glimmer of hope that even great tragedy might eventually give way to something better. So if you’re looking for a well written & different slant on police procedurals, this should fit nicely. Besides, it’ll give you a chance to brush off all that quantum physics you’ve been dying to use. Just maybe don’t touch anyone while you’re reading 😉.
May 7, 2019
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Pulse by Michael Harvey. (2018).
Daniel seems like a normal American teenager. But Daniel has powers which he doesn't understand and is not sure he can control. He can't risk telling anyone but a mysterious stranger offers an insight into what he is experiencing and becomes his unofficial mentor. After a tragedy and the police becoming more interested in Daniel, his powers will finally come into their own.
An intriguing concept for a novel, the storyline is set in 1976. I found the narrative interesting and different, however fairly confusing as well. I don't know if I missed the answers to my questions, but I felt like the details around Daniel's powers weren't explained fully so I didn't really get what was happening with him. There's sort of some explanations of parts of his powers and then other things start to happen and it was just like wtf and it never really gets addressed. Perhaps best categorized as a sci fi suspense novel, the plot moves quickly and jumps mainly between the point of views of Daniel and a police officer named Barkley. Barkley and his partner Tommy are.....interesting? I'm not sure the best word to use haha. Tommy is a total loose cannon and felt a bit over the top for me.
This book was something different to read but I didn't end up finding it very satisfying overall.
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Pulse by Michael Harvey. (2018).
Daniel seems like a normal American teenager. But Daniel has powers which he doesn't understand and is not sure he can control. He can't risk telling anyone but a mysterious stranger offers an insight into what he is experiencing and becomes his unofficial mentor. After a tragedy and the police becoming more interested in Daniel, his powers will finally come into their own.
An intriguing concept for a novel, the storyline is set in 1976. I found the narrative interesting and different, however fairly confusing as well. I don't know if I missed the answers to my questions, but I felt like the details around Daniel's powers weren't explained fully so I didn't really get what was happening with him. There's sort of some explanations of parts of his powers and then other things start to happen and it was just like wtf and it never really gets addressed. Perhaps best categorized as a sci fi suspense novel, the plot moves quickly and jumps mainly between the point of views of Daniel and a police officer named Barkley. Barkley and his partner Tommy are.....interesting? I'm not sure the best word to use haha. Tommy is a total loose cannon and felt a bit over the top for me.
This book was something different to read but I didn't end up finding it very satisfying overall.
October 11, 2018
Read this for the Library Journal. A little different book than what I normally read but I enjoyed the change.
May 21, 2018
I’m not sure how to review this book; my reaction to it is complex. At times I was fully engaged with the characters and plot; other times I thought it lacked cohesion and made little sense. It is a mystery with science fiction elements that are poorly worked out. Rather than feeling awed by the science fiction, I felt bogged down by it, not my usual response. I wanted both more and less of this tale and struggle to delineate what exactly I mean by that. Usually it means better editing was required. I received my copy from the publisher through edelweiss.
October 27, 2018
Half in, half out for me. I liked reading something completely out of my zone, but perhaps it was too far out. I think I will call it dark urban fiction.
You'll get Boston from Southie perspective; metaphysical "theories" most random; strange police behavior; weird guardian angel figure; unfathomable family dynamics; schizoid theories and ramblings and a whole lot of rough language from cops and street people...ordinary Boston stuff in the 70's? And then there's Simon, or is he real?
my imagination cannot stretch far enough to see this as a movie, but that is what the blurbs say.
This was my first reading of this author, and I just got lucky when searching books on library site to be the first to grab it.
You'll get Boston from Southie perspective; metaphysical "theories" most random; strange police behavior; weird guardian angel figure; unfathomable family dynamics; schizoid theories and ramblings and a whole lot of rough language from cops and street people...ordinary Boston stuff in the 70's? And then there's Simon, or is he real?
my imagination cannot stretch far enough to see this as a movie, but that is what the blurbs say.
This was my first reading of this author, and I just got lucky when searching books on library site to be the first to grab it.
June 13, 2018
I have been a fan of Harvey's skilled writing for years, but this one kind of threw me for a loop. He brings a strong police procedural to vivid life (as always) but with PULSE, he adds some detailed science to the plot. He stays in Boston with this new novel, like BRIGHTON before it; and 1976 comes to life with all it's 'glory'. Daniel and Harry Fitzsimmons are brothers with a past, and when Harry is murdered that past comes to light by the two cops investigating the case. I mentioned science being part of the plot. Quantum mechanics, light energy being harnessed by the human mind; Daniel claiming he knew details of his brothers murder BEFORE it happened... I needed to read many parts of PULSE for a second time, not that I was totally lost, but to make sure details were sitting with me correctly. In my opinion, Harvey writes some of the best cop thrillers today. Consistent strong stories, great believable characters, and he puts you in the time/place of every novel. What a welcome 'departure' from the basic cop thriller.
July 27, 2020
It was okay.
I finished reading it without skimming but the ending was just “wrong”, raising more questions than revealing answers. Many plot lines are dropped or ignored and I personally think this was done because of a blurb hint. If its been picked up to be a series, it needs to be open. But it makes for a shitty ending to s novel.
I finished reading it without skimming but the ending was just “wrong”, raising more questions than revealing answers. Many plot lines are dropped or ignored and I personally think this was done because of a blurb hint. If its been picked up to be a series, it needs to be open. But it makes for a shitty ending to s novel.
February 2, 2019
An entangled blend of fantasy and physics
A well written novel that's gripping and heavy on topics such as friendship, discrimination, paternity, family and the laws of nature governing all energies of the universe, hence what happens based or not on our own will. Bending time and probability, the book walks seamlessly through murders and escape plans, imaginary (or not) influences and causality. I loved the writing style most of all. Then the plot was brilliant, even if thick with the physics of the actions, saturated at points with ideas and kids' energies.
“There are two major sources of energy in this world. Any idea what they are?” Daniel shook his head. “Love and hate. People think of them as feelings or emotions, but they’re actually physical, tangible, measurable forces. In fact, they provide the foundation for everything they seem to oppose.”
A well written novel that's gripping and heavy on topics such as friendship, discrimination, paternity, family and the laws of nature governing all energies of the universe, hence what happens based or not on our own will. Bending time and probability, the book walks seamlessly through murders and escape plans, imaginary (or not) influences and causality. I loved the writing style most of all. Then the plot was brilliant, even if thick with the physics of the actions, saturated at points with ideas and kids' energies.
“There are two major sources of energy in this world. Any idea what they are?” Daniel shook his head. “Love and hate. People think of them as feelings or emotions, but they’re actually physical, tangible, measurable forces. In fact, they provide the foundation for everything they seem to oppose.”
September 1, 2019
Daniel Fitzsimmons is a sixteen year old high school student with a tragic past. When he was a child, his mother was killed in a car accident. Daniel was in the same car and slipped into a coma for a few weeks but his memory of the incident involves a man strangling his mother after the accident. With his older brother Harry, Daniel manages to overcome his past and enrol in Latin School, an esteemed private school. Harry doesn't do too bad either, making it into Harvard and being named on the Ivy League All-Star football team. When Daniel takes up the offer of renting a cheap apartment from a Harvard professor known as Simon Lane, he learns about the theory of entanglement from Simon. He starts to realise that his ability of being able to peer and empathise with the minds of others is a part of this theory and Simon offers guidance on honing this ability. When Harry is murdered in what appears to be a robbery gone wrong, Daniel attempts to find the killer himself while officers Barkley and Dillon attempt to nab the criminal before Daniel does.
Pulse is the type of book where you recognise a pretty decent and exciting plot hidden underneath an execution that does not do it justice. Pulse actually has a lot going for it when it first starts out. There's the hint of science fiction when the theory of entanglement and Daniel's ability to "push" people into doing what he wants are introduced. We get a look at the dynamic between Barkley and Dillon, especially with Dillon's past as a drug addict and his apparent links with the mafia still intact. Harry is introduced too as a sympathetic character to root for given his strong moral compass and genuine care for others. There's also some racial themes that are sort of introduced given the setting of this book in the 1970s but it doesn't really go anywhere, much like the other plot points. There was also a hint that Barkley might have some kind of contact with entanglement given his vision of Dillon turning up dead right before a body of another man is recovered in the exact same conditions as Barkley's vision of Dillon but this isn't explored any further. Additionally, Daniel's powers aren't ever properly described or explained. The concept of "pushing" people is somewhat discussed but other things like Daniel's animalistic feelings when he uses his powers or the full extent of his abilities are glossed over. I'm not quite sure what Daniel is doing sometimes when he is using his powers and the metaphors get blurred with the literal descriptions.
When the ending of the book is revealed and an attempt is made in tying up all the loose ends, more questions than answers pop up. Namely, a few plot holes arise that make me puzzled about the logic behind the plot progression. When Harry was murdered, he initially suffered a superficial cut from the robber before being stabbed to death by another person. I had already suspected this second person was Dillon given his shady links to the underground world but I thought I had it wrong when Dillon showed no apparent worries at all letting Barkley interview witnesses by himself with regards to the case. There's also the crazy coincidence that during the mass riot conducted by the students of a neighbouring school on Latin School, the one student that Daniel comes into contact with turns out to be the Harry's robber, allowing Daniel to entangle with him and track him. The whole reveal that Daniel's father was behind the deaths of Harry and Daniel's mother and that Daniel's father was Nick Tomey, the photographer who acted as a witness to Harry's death, didn't really make much sense either. It felt rushed and almost meant purely for shock factor. There's also the suggestion that Simon Lane is the future version of Daniel who somehow came back into the past. I would allow it if this was revealed to simply be hallucinations since Daniel wasn't taking certain prescribed pills that were meant for his mental health but other characters like Grace, a girl that Daniel likes, witnessed the existence of Simon Lane too. Once again, it's never explained how future Daniel time travelled back or what the whole point of this time travelling was in terms of entanglement. It just feels like it's one of those times where the author thinks of twist endings that he finds brilliant but doesn't quite pave a proper way to get there. Instead of feeling impressed and mindblown, I just feel bewildered and lost.
That being said, Pulse does have its redeeming qualities. Although the explanation of time as part of the entanglement was somewhat butchered in terms of the revelation that Simon is Daniel from the future, it does give the heartbreaking scene where Daniel sees sketches of Grace in the future living out her life happily but with another man instead. Daniel's discovery of Harry's body and his flashback to the moment where they were both orphaned was emotional too. The cast of characters were sympathetic enough and I guess the plot was at its core pretty okay too. I just wish that the execution was better and more thought-out. 2.5/5
Pulse is the type of book where you recognise a pretty decent and exciting plot hidden underneath an execution that does not do it justice. Pulse actually has a lot going for it when it first starts out. There's the hint of science fiction when the theory of entanglement and Daniel's ability to "push" people into doing what he wants are introduced. We get a look at the dynamic between Barkley and Dillon, especially with Dillon's past as a drug addict and his apparent links with the mafia still intact. Harry is introduced too as a sympathetic character to root for given his strong moral compass and genuine care for others. There's also some racial themes that are sort of introduced given the setting of this book in the 1970s but it doesn't really go anywhere, much like the other plot points. There was also a hint that Barkley might have some kind of contact with entanglement given his vision of Dillon turning up dead right before a body of another man is recovered in the exact same conditions as Barkley's vision of Dillon but this isn't explored any further. Additionally, Daniel's powers aren't ever properly described or explained. The concept of "pushing" people is somewhat discussed but other things like Daniel's animalistic feelings when he uses his powers or the full extent of his abilities are glossed over. I'm not quite sure what Daniel is doing sometimes when he is using his powers and the metaphors get blurred with the literal descriptions.
When the ending of the book is revealed and an attempt is made in tying up all the loose ends, more questions than answers pop up. Namely, a few plot holes arise that make me puzzled about the logic behind the plot progression. When Harry was murdered, he initially suffered a superficial cut from the robber before being stabbed to death by another person. I had already suspected this second person was Dillon given his shady links to the underground world but I thought I had it wrong when Dillon showed no apparent worries at all letting Barkley interview witnesses by himself with regards to the case. There's also the crazy coincidence that during the mass riot conducted by the students of a neighbouring school on Latin School, the one student that Daniel comes into contact with turns out to be the Harry's robber, allowing Daniel to entangle with him and track him. The whole reveal that Daniel's father was behind the deaths of Harry and Daniel's mother and that Daniel's father was Nick Tomey, the photographer who acted as a witness to Harry's death, didn't really make much sense either. It felt rushed and almost meant purely for shock factor. There's also the suggestion that Simon Lane is the future version of Daniel who somehow came back into the past. I would allow it if this was revealed to simply be hallucinations since Daniel wasn't taking certain prescribed pills that were meant for his mental health but other characters like Grace, a girl that Daniel likes, witnessed the existence of Simon Lane too. Once again, it's never explained how future Daniel time travelled back or what the whole point of this time travelling was in terms of entanglement. It just feels like it's one of those times where the author thinks of twist endings that he finds brilliant but doesn't quite pave a proper way to get there. Instead of feeling impressed and mindblown, I just feel bewildered and lost.
That being said, Pulse does have its redeeming qualities. Although the explanation of time as part of the entanglement was somewhat butchered in terms of the revelation that Simon is Daniel from the future, it does give the heartbreaking scene where Daniel sees sketches of Grace in the future living out her life happily but with another man instead. Daniel's discovery of Harry's body and his flashback to the moment where they were both orphaned was emotional too. The cast of characters were sympathetic enough and I guess the plot was at its core pretty okay too. I just wish that the execution was better and more thought-out. 2.5/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2019
There are so many things wrong with this book
The characters motivations don't make any sense - often tied "neatly" up into "that's just how things be".
It combines the ridiculous flowery language of literary prose with a hard boiled detective setting combined with supernatural elements in a way that makes zero sense and comes across as trying way too hard.
The "twists" are not set up in any meaningful way and are there purely to stun the reader and hit without any emotional backing to them.
The way the author writes about women drips with benevolent misogyny. A passage of this, when talking about the main character's grief as, "something women seemed to understand and embrace so much better and finer than men ever could."
This is pulp vitriol trying to clothe itself as serious adult fiction.
The characters motivations don't make any sense - often tied "neatly" up into "that's just how things be".
It combines the ridiculous flowery language of literary prose with a hard boiled detective setting combined with supernatural elements in a way that makes zero sense and comes across as trying way too hard.
The "twists" are not set up in any meaningful way and are there purely to stun the reader and hit without any emotional backing to them.
The way the author writes about women drips with benevolent misogyny. A passage of this, when talking about the main character's grief as, "something women seemed to understand and embrace so much better and finer than men ever could."
This is pulp vitriol trying to clothe itself as serious adult fiction.
July 18, 2018
A tale more suited to fans of the show "Stranger Things" than readers of Richard Price or The Friends of Eddie Coyle.
December 18, 2018
|3.5 stars|
Pulse by Michael Harvey is about Daniel Fitzsimmons- a 16-year-old who has suffered severe trauma as a kid. And this trauma has also given him an extraordinary power called entanglement (you’ll learn about it in the book).
But Daniel is a subject of interest in a recent murder and the police are digging deeper into his past. Daniel has to be clever enough to achieve his goal and be discreet at the same time.
Let’s start with the plot. The plot has its own high and low. I loved the mystery, especially the ending. It’s open-ended and leaves the rest to the author’s imagination. The author seemed to get lost a couple of time, but then he got back to the path.
I am not a huge fan of the writing. Its a bit confusing and the twists aren’t placed at correct intervals. The blurb doesn’t give out enough, which made it easy for the author to play with the plots and the characters. There are very few characters and most of them are quite simple and predictable. The author also mentioned themes like quantum physics and entanglement. The plot also has a hint of a psychological thriller.
Pulse is a fast-paced thriller, that talks about the complexities of mind and the ways in which it deals with grief.
Pulse by Michael Harvey is about Daniel Fitzsimmons- a 16-year-old who has suffered severe trauma as a kid. And this trauma has also given him an extraordinary power called entanglement (you’ll learn about it in the book).
But Daniel is a subject of interest in a recent murder and the police are digging deeper into his past. Daniel has to be clever enough to achieve his goal and be discreet at the same time.
Let’s start with the plot. The plot has its own high and low. I loved the mystery, especially the ending. It’s open-ended and leaves the rest to the author’s imagination. The author seemed to get lost a couple of time, but then he got back to the path.
I am not a huge fan of the writing. Its a bit confusing and the twists aren’t placed at correct intervals. The blurb doesn’t give out enough, which made it easy for the author to play with the plots and the characters. There are very few characters and most of them are quite simple and predictable. The author also mentioned themes like quantum physics and entanglement. The plot also has a hint of a psychological thriller.
Pulse is a fast-paced thriller, that talks about the complexities of mind and the ways in which it deals with grief.
November 29, 2018
Strange- but in a completely absorbing way- I loved this mix of crime fiction and sci-fi theory.
At times the narrative is slippery and hard to grasp, but you should definitely hang in because the unsettled nature fits the story well and there are plenty of times when the tale settles next to you in perfect comfort.
Give it a try- you won't regret it!
This ARC was provided by Ecco/HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review>.
At times the narrative is slippery and hard to grasp, but you should definitely hang in because the unsettled nature fits the story well and there are plenty of times when the tale settles next to you in perfect comfort.
Give it a try- you won't regret it!
This ARC was provided by Ecco/HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review>.
December 20, 2018
This was my first book by Michael Harvey and this genre is totally out of my league. So I had no expectations before starting and it turned out to be something I really enjoyed reading. The story happens in Boston and even though I felt his writing was too descriptive at some places, most of the descriptions about the place was so vivid. And the characters were so real except for a character that was based on science fictional element. This was a story of two brothers named Harry and Daniel Fitzsimmons. Of them, the former got killed and the latter wanted to take revenge but it turns out to be something more. We get to know about Daniel's past and his power to read people's minds that is disturbing him for so long time. We also get to know the link between human consciousness and quantum mechanics which in turn explores the pulse of energy and light that can be controlled by the mind. Even though the concept was interesting, it felt too strange to grasp at some places. But overall it was really good and a perfect crime fiction to read.
December 11, 2018
This is a sweet little uncomplicated novel about a boy raised by squirrels in Central Park. OH wait, that was "Squirrel Boy...." Pulse is not a sweet uncomplicated anything. It's a hard azz cop story with lots of SCIFI/quantum mechanics? thrown in, that makes it hard to figure out what's happening and who the good guys are. Or maybe there aren't any...wife beaters, drug addicts, good cops shooting bad cops, bad cops shooting good cops, good cops shooting other good cops, you get the point. And then there's the "he turned into a bird/tiger" part of the story line. Did he really or is it part of the book that gives us hope that something cool will actually happen? I finished it and I'm still not sure what was going on. Steven King and Lee Child are two of my favorite authors and they recommended this book and that's only because they are much smarter than I am and probably discuss quantum mechanics over lunch.
December 20, 2018
1.5 stars
Different. Weird. A mix of sci-fi w/a mystery subplot thrown in.
I started this on audio. As I was halfway thru the first disc I thought, “what the heck is this book about again?”
I went on goodreads to read the summary as well as posted reviews which helped put it in perspective.
I like Michael Harvey. I LOVED his Michael Kelly series!!!!!
I think he’s a good writer though on a bit of the dark side w/his stories.
The beginning of the book is definitely sci-fi themed. I’m not a big reader in that genre so I had a little trouble following the story.
Unfortunately by the time the mystery starts, I had lost interest.
I did like the characters but I couldn’t get past the strangeness of the story.
So while I’ll still read his books I think this one was a pass for me.
I’ve accepted that just b/c I like a writer, I don’t have to like everything they do.
Different. Weird. A mix of sci-fi w/a mystery subplot thrown in.
I started this on audio. As I was halfway thru the first disc I thought, “what the heck is this book about again?”
I went on goodreads to read the summary as well as posted reviews which helped put it in perspective.
I like Michael Harvey. I LOVED his Michael Kelly series!!!!!
I think he’s a good writer though on a bit of the dark side w/his stories.
The beginning of the book is definitely sci-fi themed. I’m not a big reader in that genre so I had a little trouble following the story.
Unfortunately by the time the mystery starts, I had lost interest.
I did like the characters but I couldn’t get past the strangeness of the story.
So while I’ll still read his books I think this one was a pass for me.
I’ve accepted that just b/c I like a writer, I don’t have to like everything they do.
September 8, 2022
What A Book! #Entanglement/ Quantum Mechanics and consciousness.
How does one even begin to unpack such a mouthful book…The Novelist was very detailed in his writing quite intricately!
“I did find myself lost here and there, however; I still enjoyed it”
We follow a young man by the name of Daniel who was in an accident together with his mom as a child. His mom dies and he gets hospitalized for a very long time and gets tortured by an employee at the Hospital.. Who later commits suicide “might have been driven by Daniel” without saying or doing anything to him. “ #MindControl ”
His brother Harry “His Pure Love” kept on visiting him. Eventually Daniel is discharged and lives with him for quite some time, eventually decides to find a place of his own, that’s when he meets a man named Simon who’s a “professor” who then becomes his mentor, helping him navigate his gift/powers.
Harry dies through “planned murder ” - revealed later on. Daniel is now looking for his killer, he meets a photographer who has pictures of the incident, The photographer gave copies of the captured images to a Cop and later to Daniel whom he informs that on that day he saw Harry at a restaurant with his friends and advise them not to go at the “combat-zone” when they spoke about it, which they do, Where Harry gets murdered.
We later discover that the photographer “Mr Toney” is actually both Daniel and Harry’s Father, Toney killed their mother then planned on killing Harry, he figured Harry would recognize him after meeting him by chance at the restaurant. He also plans on killing Daniel too, whom is then saved by his mentor Mr Simon Lane who also reveals to Daniel that Toney is his Dad too. All 3 of these man had the same powers, they could get inside a person mind, see their past and even control or drive them to doing things. The cops think Daniel made everything up..they think his mentally-ill.
“One of the cop Tommy is involved in the murder” and his taken out by his partner Barkley who was the lead investigator”
How does one even begin to unpack such a mouthful book…The Novelist was very detailed in his writing quite intricately!
“I did find myself lost here and there, however; I still enjoyed it”
We follow a young man by the name of Daniel who was in an accident together with his mom as a child. His mom dies and he gets hospitalized for a very long time and gets tortured by an employee at the Hospital.. Who later commits suicide “might have been driven by Daniel” without saying or doing anything to him. “ #MindControl ”
His brother Harry “His Pure Love” kept on visiting him. Eventually Daniel is discharged and lives with him for quite some time, eventually decides to find a place of his own, that’s when he meets a man named Simon who’s a “professor” who then becomes his mentor, helping him navigate his gift/powers.
Harry dies through “planned murder ” - revealed later on. Daniel is now looking for his killer, he meets a photographer who has pictures of the incident, The photographer gave copies of the captured images to a Cop and later to Daniel whom he informs that on that day he saw Harry at a restaurant with his friends and advise them not to go at the “combat-zone” when they spoke about it, which they do, Where Harry gets murdered.
We later discover that the photographer “Mr Toney” is actually both Daniel and Harry’s Father, Toney killed their mother then planned on killing Harry, he figured Harry would recognize him after meeting him by chance at the restaurant. He also plans on killing Daniel too, whom is then saved by his mentor Mr Simon Lane who also reveals to Daniel that Toney is his Dad too. All 3 of these man had the same powers, they could get inside a person mind, see their past and even control or drive them to doing things. The cops think Daniel made everything up..they think his mentally-ill.
“One of the cop Tommy is involved in the murder” and his taken out by his partner Barkley who was the lead investigator”
January 2, 2019
Also Posted on For The Love of Fictional Worlds
Disclaimer: A physical copy was provided via Bloomsbury India in exchange for an honest review. The Thoughts, opinions & feelings expressed in the review are therefore, my own.
Daniel Fitzsimmons, a 16 year old boy who suffered as trauma as a kid – but even at the start of the book, it’s clear to the reader that Daniel is also in control of an extraordinary power – a power that is a s confusing to him as it is to the reader.
But when Daniel becomes a subject of a murder investigation that almost destroys him – it also ends up with the police digging into the past that he really doesn’t want known.
The book starts off confusing, then my feelings moved to bewildered then to interested, moving on to shocked and lastly to a little bit closure at the end.
The author had quite a bit of open ended plot to work with that he really doesn't take time to make good use of – I think that’s why the start of the book through the first few chapters, made it very confusing for me as a reader – which honestly , for me is the foundation of the book.
There are also quite a few things that the author should have explained through the course of the book & there are threads that should have been tied tighter together for the reader to enjoy a book that is different in its essence, to the fullest extent.
Pulse is a psychological thriller with a foundation in physics and time travel – but is fast paced and complex ideas of souls, minds and the way human minds can be connected with each other.
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February 10, 2022
So, this book is really something. It’s a thriller, noirish period piece (Boston, 1970s), coming-of-age story, with a soupçon of quantum physics by way of sci-fi mixed it. In short, a wholly original and thoroughly entertaining story about love, family, betrayal, redemption, how to become the best person you can be and maybe a few other things that got lost in the swirl of this mind-blowing novel. Luckily, given all that it throws at you, it’s meticulously constructed and told in a breezy but profoundly honest style, with indelible characters centered around a 16-ish kid who has a world of issues but remains true to his own essence. As a Boston area resident, I am familiar with the geography of the book, which helped make it easier to follow and also added to the dread that accompanies sections of the book. There are two cops whose story could’ve made their own novel, along with the protagonist’s older brother and assorted other characters, all believable and three-dimensional. The quantum part? It’s all about entanglement, but taken to a sci-fi level that makes the book that much more distinctive. The kid has either super-powers or untreated mental illness or both, and Harvey leans on this twist brilliantly, making the story seem both utterly true and like a parable at the same time. It all adds up to one of the best thrillers I’ve read in ages, a real tour de force for the author and a joyous ride for the reader. Highly, highly recommended.
Grade: A
Grade: A
November 28, 2018
In 1976 Boston, Daniel Fitzsimmons is alone; his father has never been around, his mother died when he was eight, and his brother, Harry, is away at Harvard. But Harry’s murder, in what appears to be a senseless street killing, leaves Daniel to face both his grief and his strange power, a power he is not certain he can control.
Detectives William Barkley “Bark” Jones and Tommy Dillon are assigned to Harry’s case. How, they wonder, can Daniel have known the details of his brother’s murder before it happened? What will the two detectives find when they dig into the Fitzsimmons family history? And what is the strange power that Daniel seems to possess?
Interesting characters, a setting that encompasses an explosive time in Boston’s history, and a captivating plot all contribute to this creative, intriguing page-turner that explores the harnessing of light energy by the human mind. However, the narrative spins out its story with a heavy dose of offensive/coarse/harsh language, ostensibly fitting for the setting, but readers will find that the continual barrage quickly becomes off-putting.
Detectives William Barkley “Bark” Jones and Tommy Dillon are assigned to Harry’s case. How, they wonder, can Daniel have known the details of his brother’s murder before it happened? What will the two detectives find when they dig into the Fitzsimmons family history? And what is the strange power that Daniel seems to possess?
Interesting characters, a setting that encompasses an explosive time in Boston’s history, and a captivating plot all contribute to this creative, intriguing page-turner that explores the harnessing of light energy by the human mind. However, the narrative spins out its story with a heavy dose of offensive/coarse/harsh language, ostensibly fitting for the setting, but readers will find that the continual barrage quickly becomes off-putting.
June 4, 2019
This book was truly just ok. It was not great but also was not terrible enough for me to say anything nasty about it. The writing was a little awkward and I didn't understand what this book was really about. There were some promising ideas here, and some interesting characters, but the way they came together did not make much sense and I did not feel personally attached to any of them. This book is similar to a Stephen King book in terms of the type of characters that are involved and the sort of quasi-fantastical element, but Harvey did not go as deeply into the emotions of the characters to really give it that connection Stephen King makes with his readers. At the same time he didn't have a lot of the cheesy sort of dialogue King has either, or the cliched All-American personalities, so that was refreshing. I'm still not 100% sure what happened in the end of this book, and parts of it were simply too vague to be really good, but it did show promise and it was entertaining.
June 4, 2021
I'm a big fan of Michael Harvey's books. This is his eighth novel. It's a gritty look at murder, loss, and family loyalty. Set in Boston's seamy Combat Zone, in the 1970s, this story revolves around the unconditional love between two brothers, and the impact of a murder on them both. This is a departure from Harvey's prior books, for he adds a supernatural element into the story. It elevates this crime novel into a psychological mind-spin, that kept this reader guessing and contemplating what was real and what was imagined?? I would wholeheartedly recommend this book. Happy reading all you awesome peeps!!!
May 3, 2019
This was weird. A urban crime novel set in Boston in the 70s would sound pretty cool. This however mixes quantum physics, supernatural elements and weird characters who make strange decisions. I got a little lost in the last 40-50 pages. It kinda had that Blake Crouch feel but Blake does it better. I know Harvey normally writes crime but Ive never read any. I just have a feeling the scifi elements are new and might have been experimental in nature.
July 29, 2019
This was a very different book and it had a lot of potential, but sometimes missed the mark. The author used the concept of quantum physics and specifically “entanglement” to explain shape shifting, parallel existences and other plot devices that underpinned this story. The story was tragic and intense. It left me somewhat unsettled.
December 8, 2018
Not sure about this one. Not the usual Michael Harvey book. Takes place in his beloved Boston with the usual suspects cops but that’s where it ends. Crime novel mixed with Syfi...not so sure. Steven King mentions the book and I normally like what he recommends but not this time.
December 15, 2018
I was very interested in it. But. He lost me in the last 75 pages. I don’t understand what happened or why. I’m giving it a 4 because it was interesting enough that I read the whole thing, and I can’t give it a 3.5.
December 6, 2018
Michael Harvey's recently published book, "Pulse," combines fantasy, based on some actual metaphysics, and suspenseful detective story into an innovative novel worth the read.
Whenever a reader enters into a fantasy novel or a science fiction novel, the reader must "suspend the disbelief," or accept the basic underlying premise of the book, even when it's a real stretch to do so. If the book is based on time travel, for example, the reader must read as if he believes time travel occurs; if taking a potion turns a scientist into a monster (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde), the reader must accept that a potion can perform that kind of change. Even in fantasy novels, a modicum of plausibility must be maintained. Once established, however, the "fantastical" premise must be protected and maintained.
I enter into reading fantasy gingerly because, so often, the author violates the premise he has asked me to accept by including story elements which are inconsistent with the premise. I have rated two books I read this year with 2 stars because they did this (regretting reading them at all), but I have begun and discarded many more because when the violation occurs, when the hole in the plot becomes unbearable, I stop reading.
Happily this does not occur in Pulse. The author initiates a premise, makes it more or less plausible, and never violates or compromises it. He then weaves the premise deftly into the story line and plot and, in the end, turns our a good book. Primarily a suspense/mystery novel, Pulse propels the reader through a story of murder and intrigue, twisting and turning the events of the story just enough to keep the reader riveted to the book, never quite sure how it will turn out.
The fantasy feature of the novel is a sort of metaphysical theology that does not interfere with the story but becomes an element of it that must be resolved.
For me, finding and reading Pulse was a sort of metaphysical event of its own.
I usually select books to read based on reviews, recommendations and sample portions I preview. For Pulse, however, I was at my local library, already carrying a load of books to the circulation desk. I veered off from the direct route to the counter to pass by a set of shelves that happened to be the "New Books" shelves. I impulsively reached for the first one that came to hand--Pulse. I figured that if it wasn't any good, it didn't matter because I was checking out 4 other books I had already researched and wanted to read. This ended up being a happy decision. The book was wonderful.
But to extend that a sort of metaphysical happenstance lead me to select this book, what happened when I got to the end of the story startled me even more than deciding to read it in the first place. The author, Michael Harvey, included a list of "Notes and Acknowledgements" that, like most readers, I usually skip. In this case, however, I was struck by the titles and authors he had listed.
The list included the Dalai Lama, Richard Rohr, Matthieu Ricard and others, and many of the exact titles of their works that I had read. To see these religious, spirituality and philosophic writers as inspirations for the novel absolutely amazed me. In thinking back on the book when I had finished it, however, I did see the influence and thinking of these writers in the metaphysical part of the novel's story. In fact, I have to believe that the ideas they expressed were probably the entire catalyst to Harvey in creating this novel in the first place.
At any rate, this book is a good read. I am glad I literally happened into it, and I recommend it to anyone seeking an interesting and innovative work of fiction.
Whenever a reader enters into a fantasy novel or a science fiction novel, the reader must "suspend the disbelief," or accept the basic underlying premise of the book, even when it's a real stretch to do so. If the book is based on time travel, for example, the reader must read as if he believes time travel occurs; if taking a potion turns a scientist into a monster (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde), the reader must accept that a potion can perform that kind of change. Even in fantasy novels, a modicum of plausibility must be maintained. Once established, however, the "fantastical" premise must be protected and maintained.
I enter into reading fantasy gingerly because, so often, the author violates the premise he has asked me to accept by including story elements which are inconsistent with the premise. I have rated two books I read this year with 2 stars because they did this (regretting reading them at all), but I have begun and discarded many more because when the violation occurs, when the hole in the plot becomes unbearable, I stop reading.
Happily this does not occur in Pulse. The author initiates a premise, makes it more or less plausible, and never violates or compromises it. He then weaves the premise deftly into the story line and plot and, in the end, turns our a good book. Primarily a suspense/mystery novel, Pulse propels the reader through a story of murder and intrigue, twisting and turning the events of the story just enough to keep the reader riveted to the book, never quite sure how it will turn out.
The fantasy feature of the novel is a sort of metaphysical theology that does not interfere with the story but becomes an element of it that must be resolved.
For me, finding and reading Pulse was a sort of metaphysical event of its own.
I usually select books to read based on reviews, recommendations and sample portions I preview. For Pulse, however, I was at my local library, already carrying a load of books to the circulation desk. I veered off from the direct route to the counter to pass by a set of shelves that happened to be the "New Books" shelves. I impulsively reached for the first one that came to hand--Pulse. I figured that if it wasn't any good, it didn't matter because I was checking out 4 other books I had already researched and wanted to read. This ended up being a happy decision. The book was wonderful.
But to extend that a sort of metaphysical happenstance lead me to select this book, what happened when I got to the end of the story startled me even more than deciding to read it in the first place. The author, Michael Harvey, included a list of "Notes and Acknowledgements" that, like most readers, I usually skip. In this case, however, I was struck by the titles and authors he had listed.
The list included the Dalai Lama, Richard Rohr, Matthieu Ricard and others, and many of the exact titles of their works that I had read. To see these religious, spirituality and philosophic writers as inspirations for the novel absolutely amazed me. In thinking back on the book when I had finished it, however, I did see the influence and thinking of these writers in the metaphysical part of the novel's story. In fact, I have to believe that the ideas they expressed were probably the entire catalyst to Harvey in creating this novel in the first place.
At any rate, this book is a good read. I am glad I literally happened into it, and I recommend it to anyone seeking an interesting and innovative work of fiction.
June 16, 2019
My rating for 'Pulse' might have been two stars if I hadn't recently read 'Vita Nostra' by the Dyachenkos.
The latter was elegantly done and intellectually intriguing. The former is not. Harvey tries so hard to attain some level of sophistication and novelty in his imagery, that he ends up flailing about in an awkward, Creative Writing 101 way. For instance: "...powder that smelled like the notes spinning off an old jazz record on a phonograph in a picture hanging on a wall..." The metaphor struggles and its death throes go on way too long.
I do understand he's striving for a certain style. Maybe he'll achieve it in the future. I was amazed to find out this isn't his first book, since it has so many unfortunate failings of the first-time writer.
And why do authors who have lived in Boston and wandered about the too-hallowed grounds of Harvard feel it's necessary to describe every street, every turn, every alley, every dive of an eatery...ad infinitum? It's as though their lives stopped and Boston sucked them dry or trapped them in its stale orbit.
So, writing style aside, the plot is an undecided mass of confusion, too. Again, Harvey is trying so damn hard for originality, but he's mired in a gentle, but still annoying, misogyny and stereotypical characters. Better luck next time.
The latter was elegantly done and intellectually intriguing. The former is not. Harvey tries so hard to attain some level of sophistication and novelty in his imagery, that he ends up flailing about in an awkward, Creative Writing 101 way. For instance: "...powder that smelled like the notes spinning off an old jazz record on a phonograph in a picture hanging on a wall..." The metaphor struggles and its death throes go on way too long.
I do understand he's striving for a certain style. Maybe he'll achieve it in the future. I was amazed to find out this isn't his first book, since it has so many unfortunate failings of the first-time writer.
And why do authors who have lived in Boston and wandered about the too-hallowed grounds of Harvard feel it's necessary to describe every street, every turn, every alley, every dive of an eatery...ad infinitum? It's as though their lives stopped and Boston sucked them dry or trapped them in its stale orbit.
So, writing style aside, the plot is an undecided mass of confusion, too. Again, Harvey is trying so damn hard for originality, but he's mired in a gentle, but still annoying, misogyny and stereotypical characters. Better luck next time.
March 30, 2019
This was such a bizarre book! I’m not sure what to write about it!
While at the centre is a murder mystery, there is so much else going on - strange, out of body experiences, corruption in the police force, time distortion and travel, oh, and just for good measure, teenage love!
I’ve read, and enjoyed, other books by this author, but this one took me to places I just couldn’t follow.
While at the centre is a murder mystery, there is so much else going on - strange, out of body experiences, corruption in the police force, time distortion and travel, oh, and just for good measure, teenage love!
I’ve read, and enjoyed, other books by this author, but this one took me to places I just couldn’t follow.
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