Outcast

by Darren Greer

When his best friend goes missing, a man already haunted by the disappearance of his brother twenty-five years earlier begins to think the elaborate game he’s been drawn into is more than just a game.

Genres: Fiction

162 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2018

About the author

Darren Greer is the author of five novels and a book of essays. His novel Still Life With June was the winner of the 2004 Relit Award in Canada, a top three finalist for the Ferro-Grumley award in Manhattan, and was nominated for the Pearson Canada Readers’ Choice Award.

His novel, Just Beneath My Skin, was short-listed for the Jim Connors Dartmouth Book Award, the 2015 ReLit award, and won the 2015 Thomas H Raddall Atlantic Fiction Award. His novel Advocate was short-listed for the 2017 Thomas H. Raddall Atlantic Fiction Award, the 2017 Ferro-Grumley Award and won the Jim Connors Dartmouth Book Award. His latest novel Outcast was released October 1st, 2018.

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outcast by Darren Greer is a mix of psychology, puzzle, mystery, thriller, mourning, and friendship woven together into a nail biting, edge-of-your-seat read. The book will sweep you up and carry you away on a frenzied wild ride that's a real brain tease. The main character, Peter, finds a puzzle on a school bulletin board that he believes is directed at him because the puzzle contains the initials of his brother who has been missing for 25 years. Peter's roommate, super-intelligent Randy, is all too eager to assist him with the clues. Once the attempt to solve the puzzle is initiated, the clues continue. Peter does not believe that he is smart enough to solve this puzzle on his own and counts on Randy's assistance. Randy also acknowledges Peter's intelligence is less than his. The clues are difficult to understand and they cover a diverse range of medium. It's difficult to predict where the next clue will lead.
As the puzzle intensifies, and Peter is pulled further into the mystery, the stranger life becomes for him. Life as he knows it is no longer the same, everything changes, and he's pulled into a despair that he knows only solving the puzzle will cure. His family helps to a point. His lover does also. He soon realizes that against the advice of those who love him, he has to follow his own instincts.
The trip that Peter takes in solving this puzzle is a wild and exciting ride. The twists and turns lift Peter from his comfort zone but he continues his journey to see it through to the end. The journey for the reader is also mysterious and there are many times that it feels like the book is the puzzle and the ending will reveal that you are part of the puzzle also. It's an unsettling feeling expertly pulled off by the author.
Peter believes all of the puzzle clues will bring past pains resulting from his brother's disappearance to rest and will change the course of his future. He has no idea what the changes might include but the story does culminate in life changing surprises for all characters.
Outcast was an exciting and quick read. I wanted to stay awake all night reading. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

I received this Kindle book from a Goodreads giveaway.

[Amber J (Thereadingwitch) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Randy claimed he had Alberti notices on bulletin boards all over the city.”"-I was rarely tempted by them. Until now."

As always my reviews are based off of my true and honest opinion and I do my best to keep all reviews spoiler free.

I received a free e-copy of this book through the goodreads giveaway. This is my honest opinion and is in no way affected by this.

Peter finds a notice on a school bulletin board. He feels drawn to it and feels it has to do with his missing brother. His roommate Randy tells him its a game. One were you have to solve puzzles. With the help of Randy he plays the game and progresses as it goes, but then Randy goes missing. Now he is on his own. Trying to figure out the clues himself. Hoping they will uncover the truth, not only about his missing roommate, but also his brother.

It was a great read. Shorter than most but a real page turner. At times I found it a bit unsettling like something scary might happen at any second. I didn't really understand what was happening most of the time, but it didn't stop me from wanting to read on and find out what happened next, and even now I'm not sure I understand the ending but at the same time I do feel a sense of closure.

I got this book on kindle from a free giveaway and I'm so glad I got to read it. The puzzles and codes in the book were way over my head and sometimes even after they were explained, but still I really did enjoy it. I can't compare it with anything similar I've read, because it is so far from anything I have previously enjoyed. It really makes you think and just when you think you know where its headed it spins around you and you end up somewhere completely different.

[K.S. Covert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outcast, the latest novel by Darren Greer, is a story about friendship, and how the people to whom we are the most attracted might not always be good for us. The friendship between this novel's two main characters, Peter and Randy, is unequal, somewhat reminiscent of the relationship between Fight Club's Narrator and Tyler Durden -- Tyler is the rebel, the guy who knows things, who thinks the big philosophical thoughts. While Peter isn't as much of a loser as Fight Club's narrator, he toes society's line for the most part. He admires Randy's intellect and louche approach to life, is flattered that Randy thinks enough of him to be friends with him, and so follows where he is led. And where he is being led, through a series of mysterious encryptions that start off seemingly random and anonymous but become unmistakably about him -- by someone who knows him more intimately than seems possible -- is to a place where he must decide who he is at his very core. Is he a housecat, tame, content to be content, or will he answer the call of the wild that the messages represent? Interesting premise, fast-paced and engaging.

[Isabella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a strange and interesting concept. Not my typical genre but it was definitely entertaining and keeps you on the edge of your seat. It’s written by a Canadian author and the book takes place in toronto so he calls out a lot of familiar streets which is cool. The plot itself is a mindfuck but pretty intriguing and also very strange.

[Noah P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this novel as a Canadian teenage boy, it was the first time I could relate to the "where" of a story and understand the lifestyle of the characters. The structure of this story lends itself to reading chunks at a time, with very subtle yet intriguing cliffhangers that kept me happily interested in the plight of the main character.

The mysterious element that remains ever present in "Outcast" is a suspenseful but realistic framework for the story to take place in, that not only allows the unknown to reign over the main character Peter's life, but also our own. While reading, you are kept unaware of the surrounding conspiracy, creating an eventually tightening spiral around the main characters that ends in a satisfying but entirely open way.

Darren Greer writes comfortably about relationships and sexuality in this story by developing three-dimensional characters who take center stage at their given moments. No character feels unnecessary, and many of the secondary characters provide further insight into the deeply distraught mind of Peter. The atmosphere of surrealism that he is thrust into exists as a tool of development, proposing truly life-altering philosophical and moral boundaries that he must choose to turn away from or break down.

A passage that struck me from Outcast is this:
"We've had 500 year of movements. Renaissance. Baroque. Classical. Reformation. The Enlightenment. Romantic. The dadaists come along at the end of the first World War and smash all preconceived notions about art, authority, society and structure. They turn everything upside down, and they do so because they see that the established system, in all areas - politics, art, music, philosophy - is literally murderous. Not just Germany, but Rembrandt and Plato are responsible for the carnage in Europe. We've got to find a way to shock the world into submission again. And how we do that is to destroy the concept of human, the thing that all human beings hold most dear, no matter what their political stripe. It's the only thing we have left that we hold sacred."

I'd recommend this to anyone who likes conspiracy, crime, mystery, and also to anyone who lives in Canada. This is a great read that explored philosophical depths, all while remaining entertaining and satisfying to a teenage boy.

5/5 stars!

[Tracy Wondrasek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darren has done a wonderful job of capturing the feelings of his protagonist and painting a picture of pain and despair or happiness and pride. His story builds on these emotions by adding intrigue and uncertainty to Peter's reality.

This is a very engaging story that will allows you to feel what Peter feels and revel in his achievements in this mystery puzzle.

Beware reading this on the bus, you may end up in another city.

[Colleen Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful love story. Evolves slowly and mysteriously creating increasing suspense and psychological nuance. Frank honesty Greer spares no expense to confront his reader. It is lovely and contemporary with an unforeseen positive ending that feels warm and joyful. I look forward to more from this favourite author

[Crystal Conrad-Hagen · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first page in Darren Greer had me, had me engrossed in the chase for truth and following the clues along with the lead character....a page turner for sure. Pick it up, and I dare you to put it down.

[Gwenn Oakes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, once you start reading you can't put it down till you're finished! Need to read it again as I'm sure I'll get more out of it the second time around. Great work, Darren!

[Riley Hobbes · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride! An addictive read that I didn't want to end.

[Debra Barstad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure how I feel about this book. It was very different that is for sure. Overall the story was compelling so it kept my interest.

[HadiDee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't quite know what to make of this. I liked the clean, at times sparse, writing style and I trusted the author enough that I kept reading even though I didn't quite know what was going on. I didn't get the attraction of Randy though, and I didn't understand how Peter could be so sucked in to the code/mystery. I found the ending callous and faintly disgusting he allows his death to be faked, letting his parents believe they've lost their second son and rejoins with Randy.

It read like part one of series - is it?

[Hugh Mosher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently took this little book on vacation with me. Between the flight and first day on the beach I had trouble putting it down. Meant to be a bit far fetched it was still very believable. Thanks again to Darren for taking me on an enjoyable journey.

[Shane C · Rating 5 out of 5]

A convoluted yet enthralling and ultimately satisfying read. Throughout, I felt as if I was a step or two behind the narrative but in the end it did not matter one whit. Beautiful!