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Lingering
Death doesn't have to be the end.
With Lingering, your departed loved ones are only ever a phone call or text message away.*
Say all those things you should have said. Get their advice, hear their comforting words. Let them celebrate your achievements and soothe your fears like they used to.
Everyone is welcome, and consultations are always free.
*Some conditions may apply. Please call our office for details.
With Lingering, your departed loved ones are only ever a phone call or text message away.*
Say all those things you should have said. Get their advice, hear their comforting words. Let them celebrate your achievements and soothe your fears like they used to.
Everyone is welcome, and consultations are always free.
*Some conditions may apply. Please call our office for details.
326 pages, ebook
Published March 31, 2019
6 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Simonson
10 books71 followersSlave/mother to a herd of animals, Loch Ness monster enthusiast, breaker of many a wine glass.
Do not challenge her to Harry Potter trivia unless you wish to be slaughtered.
Do not challenge her to Harry Potter trivia unless you wish to be slaughtered.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 7, 2026
Ben and Carissa were in love.
"What would you say if I told you you could talk to her again?"
They were going to get married.
They had a whole future together.
Until...it happened.
Just a few months shy of the wedding, Carissa is brutally ripped from this world and Ben is left with nothing.
"Carissa would have said she was too important to just be murdered...She'd insist I say assassinate. She was funny like that."
He's trying so hard to hold it together, but he constantly finds himself drifting away.
But then one day as Ben is approached by Jess (a self-proclaimed "Lingering Expert" ).
"She was the most complicated, infuriating person I'd ever met, but I loved her anyway."
Jess begins prying into Ben's life (and Carissa's lack-there-of right on top of her grave. Jess makes grandiose promises and Ben instantly dislikes her.
"Looks like you've had a bad day."
"Well this is a cemetery."
And yet, what Jess said lingers. What if Ben really could hear Carissa's voice one last time? What would that truly be like?
"It's none of your business."
"It could be."
"Fuck off."
Will it save him? Or set him down a spiral?
The more he thinks about it... the more his mind is made up. Surely hearing her voice one last time couldn't be that bad of an idea...
Simonson's Lingering is an uniquely addictive book and I was wholly immersed in this world.
I liked the way the plot developed - I really had no idea where anything was going but I definitely enjoyed the journey.
Be warned though - this book focuses heavily on the character development so it can feel a bit slow if you aren't into that.
The Lingering company relies on your "digital voice" to create an AI that reacts (relatively) the same as the recently deceased person.
So one of the more interesting aspects is how Simonson explores many ethical (and moral) dilemmas associated with "bringing back the dead" in a modern(ish) world.
I think that the characters were rather well done. Ben was wonderfully fleshed out and Jess, Ben's niece and his friends were rather solid.
The "mad scientist" of the bunch was a bit left-field for me. I think if we would have gotten more time in his perspective earlier in the book, his actions would have felt more grounded.
If you are looking for a non-traditional story with strong characters, an intriguing plot and (above all) the sweetest seven-year-old niece you ever did see, look no further! Check this one out!!
With many thanks to the author for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
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April 12, 2019
*Thank you to the author for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!*
Actual Rating: 4.3
This book definitely not what I'd expected! The first thing that caught my eye was the blurb, which was immersive and engaging right off the bat.
The blurb in simpler terms: Ben is still grieving over the ugly death of his girlfriend Carissa. Then he runs into someone who tells him—it doesn't have to be over.
The writing style for this was, without a doubt, the most engaging part of this book. A lot of the writing, especially near the beginning, described what was going on inside the mind of the main character, and I loved how much of his thoughts we could read. All the narrative paragraphs in the book were captivating, and I loved the use of figurative language.
The character development for the main character was extremely strong and I felt as though I got to know Carissa as well, which is ironic and MESSES WITH MY HEAD when I think about it. I do wish we got to see more of some of the other characters; for example, I loved Kylie a lot, and I wish she had a bigger role and got more screentime.
The plot for Lingering was super exciting as well! Even though it wasn't always exactly "action-packed," I felt as though the emotional storyline was written very well and I definitely felt the build-up and anxiety as the story progressed. I think the climax scenes could have been drawn out a little longer because, compared to the rest of the book, it was less in Ben's head, and I wouldn't have been opposed to reading more of that!
The premise for this book was already super interesting, and I've always loved thinking about how "humanity" could be defined and how easily it can be manipulated. This book definitely made me think a lot, and I found thinking about how feasible this actually could be. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes contemporary science fiction!
Actual Rating: 4.3
This book definitely not what I'd expected! The first thing that caught my eye was the blurb, which was immersive and engaging right off the bat.
The blurb in simpler terms: Ben is still grieving over the ugly death of his girlfriend Carissa. Then he runs into someone who tells him—it doesn't have to be over.
The writing style for this was, without a doubt, the most engaging part of this book. A lot of the writing, especially near the beginning, described what was going on inside the mind of the main character, and I loved how much of his thoughts we could read. All the narrative paragraphs in the book were captivating, and I loved the use of figurative language.
The character development for the main character was extremely strong and I felt as though I got to know Carissa as well, which is ironic and MESSES WITH MY HEAD when I think about it. I do wish we got to see more of some of the other characters; for example, I loved Kylie a lot, and I wish she had a bigger role and got more screentime.
The plot for Lingering was super exciting as well! Even though it wasn't always exactly "action-packed," I felt as though the emotional storyline was written very well and I definitely felt the build-up and anxiety as the story progressed. I think the climax scenes could have been drawn out a little longer because, compared to the rest of the book, it was less in Ben's head, and I wouldn't have been opposed to reading more of that!
The premise for this book was already super interesting, and I've always loved thinking about how "humanity" could be defined and how easily it can be manipulated. This book definitely made me think a lot, and I found thinking about how feasible this actually could be. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes contemporary science fiction!
March 13, 2019
"Whenever I think of Clarissa, I always think of her mind. I told her that once, but she called me a liar around a plume of smoke she'd been exhaling."
Lingering by Melissa Simonson is a story about a man who is dealing with the sudden and violent death of his fiance and the grief exploitation thereof. The story begins with the main protagonist, Ben visiting the graveyard of his newly deceased fiance. He is a mess, as one would be after experiencing his loss. Simonson talks a lot about the all-consuming viciousness of grief and how it can change your perspective and personality. This particular day at the cemetery Ben is accosted by a woman named Jess, much like a dealer to a junky, Jess mentions that she has a way for Joe to speak to his fiance Clarissa again.
"She examined the dismal paint job on a thumbnail. "What would you say if I told you you could talk to her again?"
I pressed a hand to my eye hard enough to make red patterns bloom. "I'd say you're a real bitch with a serious lack of anything better to do, trolling around a cemetery. What is this: your singles lounge?"
She has a way to alleviate Joe's pain, and it is rather disgusting. Her character comes off as a used car salesman selling pain relief. She claims she is a Lingering Specialist.
After a challenging evening, Ben closes his hand around something like a receipt in his pocket but it wasn't a receipt but the card he had received in the cemetery. On a whim, he calls Jess and sets up a meeting to find out what she can do for him. After the initial call, the story moves at a quick pace. Ben is drawn into the world of Jess and Nick. Nick is the technology behind the company Lingering. A revolutionary way to speak to your deceased loved ones via gathered social media data that is collated into a profile and voice of your loved one. Something of a painkiller for your grief. The new reincarnation of an almost-but-not-quite perfect Clarissa pulls Ben from the world and his friends. Specifically, a man named Joe, who is also dealing with the grief of losing his wife. Joe acts as a counterpoint to Lingering. He is dealing with his grief in a real an entirely human way unlike Lingering that is exploitation and has a wrongness to it. The story progresses, and Ben gets pulled further and further into Lingering until the story has a very dramatic emotional climax and cliffhanger.
Simonson has written some very believable but not entirely relatable characters. Specifically in the character Nick. I can see a person like him existing in the world. His ethical boundaries are non-existent, and he seeks to exploit a piece of technology that he has created. I find him a completely irredeemable and well-written character. His smug smarminess practically dripped off off the page. The issue that I have with the story is Ben. He is a well-written character but, for me, he jumped the shark a few times and threw me out of the story. I had a few times where I thought, "absolutely no way would someone do this." Maybe they would? But, I had a difficult time understanding his choices. This led to a level of disbelief for the story. I couldn't wrap my mind around the premise.
The story is marketed as science fiction; however, I found that it had a tough time finding its voice. Was it a murder mystery, a treatise on guilt and grief, or a science fiction about AI? I think if Simonson focused more on the science fiction aspect of it and less on the grief and murder aspect it would be a more successful read for me. To her credit though, Simonson created a very original idea. It is an intriguing, AI to deal with grief. Science Fiction has explored a lot of the AI plot ideas; power, desire, sexuality but this is the first I have read about grief. Although I might not be the correct reader for this story, I am looking forward to Simonson's next read. She has a great voice inside of her, and her next book will be even better.
Lingering by Melissa Simonson is a story about a man who is dealing with the sudden and violent death of his fiance and the grief exploitation thereof. The story begins with the main protagonist, Ben visiting the graveyard of his newly deceased fiance. He is a mess, as one would be after experiencing his loss. Simonson talks a lot about the all-consuming viciousness of grief and how it can change your perspective and personality. This particular day at the cemetery Ben is accosted by a woman named Jess, much like a dealer to a junky, Jess mentions that she has a way for Joe to speak to his fiance Clarissa again.
"She examined the dismal paint job on a thumbnail. "What would you say if I told you you could talk to her again?"
I pressed a hand to my eye hard enough to make red patterns bloom. "I'd say you're a real bitch with a serious lack of anything better to do, trolling around a cemetery. What is this: your singles lounge?"
She has a way to alleviate Joe's pain, and it is rather disgusting. Her character comes off as a used car salesman selling pain relief. She claims she is a Lingering Specialist.
After a challenging evening, Ben closes his hand around something like a receipt in his pocket but it wasn't a receipt but the card he had received in the cemetery. On a whim, he calls Jess and sets up a meeting to find out what she can do for him. After the initial call, the story moves at a quick pace. Ben is drawn into the world of Jess and Nick. Nick is the technology behind the company Lingering. A revolutionary way to speak to your deceased loved ones via gathered social media data that is collated into a profile and voice of your loved one. Something of a painkiller for your grief. The new reincarnation of an almost-but-not-quite perfect Clarissa pulls Ben from the world and his friends. Specifically, a man named Joe, who is also dealing with the grief of losing his wife. Joe acts as a counterpoint to Lingering. He is dealing with his grief in a real an entirely human way unlike Lingering that is exploitation and has a wrongness to it. The story progresses, and Ben gets pulled further and further into Lingering until the story has a very dramatic emotional climax and cliffhanger.
Simonson has written some very believable but not entirely relatable characters. Specifically in the character Nick. I can see a person like him existing in the world. His ethical boundaries are non-existent, and he seeks to exploit a piece of technology that he has created. I find him a completely irredeemable and well-written character. His smug smarminess practically dripped off off the page. The issue that I have with the story is Ben. He is a well-written character but, for me, he jumped the shark a few times and threw me out of the story. I had a few times where I thought, "absolutely no way would someone do this." Maybe they would? But, I had a difficult time understanding his choices. This led to a level of disbelief for the story. I couldn't wrap my mind around the premise.
The story is marketed as science fiction; however, I found that it had a tough time finding its voice. Was it a murder mystery, a treatise on guilt and grief, or a science fiction about AI? I think if Simonson focused more on the science fiction aspect of it and less on the grief and murder aspect it would be a more successful read for me. To her credit though, Simonson created a very original idea. It is an intriguing, AI to deal with grief. Science Fiction has explored a lot of the AI plot ideas; power, desire, sexuality but this is the first I have read about grief. Although I might not be the correct reader for this story, I am looking forward to Simonson's next read. She has a great voice inside of her, and her next book will be even better.
dnf-shelf
May 12, 2019I am done with this one. DNF @ 39%
I am DNFing because this book is actually making me depressed and it's a chore even thinking of going back to it. It's brutally dark and basically for no reason at all. Terrible things happen, and all the book is basically meant to keep bringing you back to the fact that the fiance of the main character was brutally murdered and he's depressed about it, and now there's someone who wants to steal her memory and her identity. I can REALLY not recommend it. Especially if you're sensitive.
Thanks to the author for the free review copy. It hasn't affected my opinion.
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I am DNFing because this book is actually making me depressed and it's a chore even thinking of going back to it. It's brutally dark and basically for no reason at all. Terrible things happen, and all the book is basically meant to keep bringing you back to the fact that the fiance of the main character was brutally murdered and he's depressed about it, and now there's someone who wants to steal her memory and her identity. I can REALLY not recommend it. Especially if you're sensitive.
Thanks to the author for the free review copy. It hasn't affected my opinion.
Book Blog | Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
March 12, 2019
There are times when books intrigue me because there is so little to go on. I get sucked in by the possibilities, I find myself curious as to what kind of story will be given, and I’ll create all kinds of notions. Often, when this happens, I find myself tentative when I finally start the book. I will have created ideas only to be given something very different, which can either be a good or a bad thing.
Such was the case with Lingering. I was intrigued, I was unsure as to what I would expect, and by the time I started the book I was nervous. Fortunately, my nerves quickly vanished. Lingering sucks me in on so many levels, hooking me and leaving me unable to put the book down. It was even more than I imagined, not at all what I had expected, and I adored the journey.
Lingering is a book with much more to it than you see on the surface. It is a story of grief, a story of artificial intelligence, a story of humanity, and so much more. I could sit and list all the little aspects that come into play, but I’d be sure to miss some. It has much more to the story than you would think, pulling you in with various aspects.
The characters may be the thing to initially grab your attention (as they are great), or it could be the underlying mystery (one that plays out well), or it could be the possibilities we are introduced to (possibilities that continue to grow throughout the book). Whatever it is that initially grabs your attention, in a very short space of time it will be just one of many things you’re addicted to.
Wonderfully written, with so much to it, Lingering has me desperate for more of Melissa Simonson’s work. If the author’s other work is as good as this, I’ve stumbled upon a hidden gem.
Such was the case with Lingering. I was intrigued, I was unsure as to what I would expect, and by the time I started the book I was nervous. Fortunately, my nerves quickly vanished. Lingering sucks me in on so many levels, hooking me and leaving me unable to put the book down. It was even more than I imagined, not at all what I had expected, and I adored the journey.
Lingering is a book with much more to it than you see on the surface. It is a story of grief, a story of artificial intelligence, a story of humanity, and so much more. I could sit and list all the little aspects that come into play, but I’d be sure to miss some. It has much more to the story than you would think, pulling you in with various aspects.
The characters may be the thing to initially grab your attention (as they are great), or it could be the underlying mystery (one that plays out well), or it could be the possibilities we are introduced to (possibilities that continue to grow throughout the book). Whatever it is that initially grabs your attention, in a very short space of time it will be just one of many things you’re addicted to.
Wonderfully written, with so much to it, Lingering has me desperate for more of Melissa Simonson’s work. If the author’s other work is as good as this, I’ve stumbled upon a hidden gem.
April 2, 2019
★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
Typically, when I just quote the official blurb, it's because I'm feeling lazy -- or I don't like the book and don't want to spend energy coming up with my own synopsis. But this time, it's because I just like this so much:
That's all Simonson said when she pitched me the book. And it absolutely worked. Now, maybe it's because of what people typically try to get me to read, maybe it's because of what I was reading at the time -- I don't know why, but I took this to be a supernatural/urban fantasy/beyond the grave thing. It's not there in what she said about the book, but that's the impression that I walked away with.
It couldn't be further from the case, actually. In this case, the grieving client gives Lingering access to the dead person's social media, texts, emails, etc. and then using the kind of social engineering that Identity Thieves dream about, come up with an approximation of the dearly departed. Obviously, the more data given them, the better the approximation will be.
When Ben is approached by a strange woman while he's visiting his fiance's grave about five months after she was murdered, he obviously has no idea what he's in for. This stranger wants him to be a beta user for Lingering's services. Not only was his fiancé a prolific texter, she was a fashion blogger and vlogger -- so there was a lot of data to use as a source. After weeks of texting back and forth -- in which the software was able to imitate Carissa pretty well, they move on to voice calls, and so on.
Lingering is made up of one engineer/developer and his girlfriend who's in charge of recruitment and the business side of operations. We don't get to meet other clients, but they do exist (or at least did -- maybe they only have one beta at a time -- it doesn't matter). The engineer is a creep, and is clearly invested wholeheartedly (and maybe unhealthily) in this project. The recruiter, on the other hand, isn't as invested, but does believe in the project (or at least her boyfriend). Their involvement in this story keeps it from being your typical "Boy meets AI/Computer Simulation of a Girl" story.
Because in many ways this is that kind of story -- with the added twist of Carissa being the victim of an unsolved murder. But for anyone who's watched Her, Ex Machina, or even Electric Dreams most of this story goes just like you anticipate. The Lingering duo add in some interesting complications, as does the murder investigation looming over portions of it. Simonson tells this familiar(ish) story in a compelling way, with a hint of menace mixed into star-crossed love. It's tense, taut and heartfelt.
As the reader knows -- and Ben does, too -- he's not talking to Carissa. In his own words, it's "a machine pretending to be Carissa." But that doesn't stop him from sort of falling for her, and for the reader to wonder if there's a way for it to work out for them. Even as the reader and Ben both feel the wrongness inherent in it all. A feeling that's compounded as more about Lingering is shown to Ben.
Just with this, I'd recommend the novel. But that's not what makes this book a keeper.
Simonson gives us a protagonist that you can't help but feel for. The woman of his dreams, a woman out of his league that somehow truly loved him, his friends and family (well, maybe not his mother -- but she wanted to), the woman he would die for was stolen from him in the worst possible way. They have a big fight, he storms out and hits a bar for a couple hours only to come back to discover her body.
Ben plunges into depression and grief -- the only good thing to come out of things immediately is that Carissa's cat suddenly decides she doesn't hate him. His work suffers, his friendships and family relationships do, too (we'll come back to that in a minute). He eventually finds a friend in his grief -- Joe's wife died from cancer around the same time as the murder and the graves are near each other. As the two men visit the graves they eventually visit each other and establish a mutual support system (that involves a lot of alcohol).
While we get to know Ben, we get to know the (real) Carissa and those in his life. We can see the devastation that Carissa's murder has left in everyone's life. His grief is real, and his efforts to move on aren't that successful (they are half-hearted at best, too). Yes, Ben has a secret crutch helping him -- but this really could be diving into work, substance abuse or something else -- in a sense Simonson could've used anything here to give Ben a reason to keep going, she simply chose a machine pretending to be a person.
Joe doesn't have Lingering, and he doesn't seem to have much of a support network, either. He has Ben and alcohol. And memories. Many, many memories. As wrong as Ben's "relationship" with cyber-Carissa is, he does seem to be functioning better than Joe, and the reader has many opportunities to see that. But man, Joe's experiences are genuine, his pain is real. Ben's got something keeping him from those experiences, and you can't help but think how bad this is for him.
One of the many people almost as devastated by Carissa's death was his young cousin, Kylie. I'm sure we're told her age, but I don't remember -- I'm going to guess 8. Young enough that Goosebumps and Baby Sitters Club books are age-appropriate, but maybe a little advanced. She's a good enough reader that they aren't really her speed anymore, though. She calls Ben her uncle (he's too old to be a cousin in her view). The two of them have a very close relationship, and Kylie will spend time at Ben's house after school and the two of them make regular runs ot the library and read together frequently. While there's almost nothing in this book that I didn't like -- my favorite parts involve Kylie.
Early on, they find themselves at a Library book sale and Kylie talks him into buying her The Art of War as well as Little Women (they only tell mom about one of the purchases). Throughout the book the two will read Sun Tzu together, Ben helping Kylie understand (and apply!) the classic. He picks up a handy tip or two from the old warrior/philosopher, too. Those scenes are priceless -- warm, cute and insightful. Kylie's a great addition to the book and humanizes Ben in ways that nothing else can. If Simonson needs a side project, an edition of The Art of War annotated with commentary by Ben and Kylie would be an insta-buy from me.
Thanks to watching Ben with Dexter (Carissa's cat), Joe, his friends and, most importantly, Kylie you learn to care about him and his loss. You understand what he's missing in his life and the degree it's affecting him. So when things happen with Lingering and cyber-Carissa, you care about that. It's not just some dopey guy being taken in by a computer generated fraud (that he signed up for, don't get me wrong) -- it's this character you care about risking everything for some clever software.
The writing was excellent -- I don't think I had a negative note anywhere. The closest came when Ben was trying to box up Carissa's clothes and I said something about how hard it was to read. The grief is real and palpable throughout the book, and really strong in others. All the characters are well drawn and developed -- even those we spend only a few paragraphs with. The merging of the SF-ish elements with the story of Ben trying to recover from the death is really well done and adds shades and nuances to both, making the novel stronger.
Simonson took a lot of care about the appearance of the book, too. Which is important (maybe more so for a self-published book than one put out by one of the bigger houses). That's an eye-catching and fitting cover -- but even the graphic elements dividing up the text aren't run of the mill and are attractive (I read a book a couple of weeks ago that went for an atypical graphic element, but I couldn't tell what it was -- nor could other readers that I talked to). I really appreciate it when people go to the extra trouble that someone clearly did here.
I'm not sure if this is really Science Fiction, but it has some SF elements. There's a touch of a thriller about it, too. But I wouldn't categorize it there. Maybe just General Fiction? But it feels too genre-adjacent for that. Eh, just categorize it as a read for people who like good things.
I can't think of anything else to say here, really. This is an excellent read that totally sucked me in and wouldn't let go. I spent a lot of time thinking about it between reading sessions, and have mused about it frequently since I finished, too. I guess you could say it's lingering on in my mind. But you shouldn't, because that's just lazy word play, and we're all better than that here. Just go read the book, okay?
Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for this post and my honest opinion.
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
Typically, when I just quote the official blurb, it's because I'm feeling lazy -- or I don't like the book and don't want to spend energy coming up with my own synopsis. But this time, it's because I just like this so much:
Death doesn't have to be the end.
With Lingering, your departed loved ones are only ever a phone call or text message away.*
Say all those things you should have said. Get their advice, hear their comforting words. Let them celebrate your achievements and soothe your fears like they used to.
Everyone is welcome, and consultations are always free.
*Some conditions may apply. Please call our office for details.
That's all Simonson said when she pitched me the book. And it absolutely worked. Now, maybe it's because of what people typically try to get me to read, maybe it's because of what I was reading at the time -- I don't know why, but I took this to be a supernatural/urban fantasy/beyond the grave thing. It's not there in what she said about the book, but that's the impression that I walked away with.
It couldn't be further from the case, actually. In this case, the grieving client gives Lingering access to the dead person's social media, texts, emails, etc. and then using the kind of social engineering that Identity Thieves dream about, come up with an approximation of the dearly departed. Obviously, the more data given them, the better the approximation will be.
When Ben is approached by a strange woman while he's visiting his fiance's grave about five months after she was murdered, he obviously has no idea what he's in for. This stranger wants him to be a beta user for Lingering's services. Not only was his fiancé a prolific texter, she was a fashion blogger and vlogger -- so there was a lot of data to use as a source. After weeks of texting back and forth -- in which the software was able to imitate Carissa pretty well, they move on to voice calls, and so on.
Lingering is made up of one engineer/developer and his girlfriend who's in charge of recruitment and the business side of operations. We don't get to meet other clients, but they do exist (or at least did -- maybe they only have one beta at a time -- it doesn't matter). The engineer is a creep, and is clearly invested wholeheartedly (and maybe unhealthily) in this project. The recruiter, on the other hand, isn't as invested, but does believe in the project (or at least her boyfriend). Their involvement in this story keeps it from being your typical "Boy meets AI/Computer Simulation of a Girl" story.
Because in many ways this is that kind of story -- with the added twist of Carissa being the victim of an unsolved murder. But for anyone who's watched Her, Ex Machina, or even Electric Dreams most of this story goes just like you anticipate. The Lingering duo add in some interesting complications, as does the murder investigation looming over portions of it. Simonson tells this familiar(ish) story in a compelling way, with a hint of menace mixed into star-crossed love. It's tense, taut and heartfelt.
As the reader knows -- and Ben does, too -- he's not talking to Carissa. In his own words, it's "a machine pretending to be Carissa." But that doesn't stop him from sort of falling for her, and for the reader to wonder if there's a way for it to work out for them. Even as the reader and Ben both feel the wrongness inherent in it all. A feeling that's compounded as more about Lingering is shown to Ben.
Just with this, I'd recommend the novel. But that's not what makes this book a keeper.
Simonson gives us a protagonist that you can't help but feel for. The woman of his dreams, a woman out of his league that somehow truly loved him, his friends and family (well, maybe not his mother -- but she wanted to), the woman he would die for was stolen from him in the worst possible way. They have a big fight, he storms out and hits a bar for a couple hours only to come back to discover her body.
Ben plunges into depression and grief -- the only good thing to come out of things immediately is that Carissa's cat suddenly decides she doesn't hate him. His work suffers, his friendships and family relationships do, too (we'll come back to that in a minute). He eventually finds a friend in his grief -- Joe's wife died from cancer around the same time as the murder and the graves are near each other. As the two men visit the graves they eventually visit each other and establish a mutual support system (that involves a lot of alcohol).
While we get to know Ben, we get to know the (real) Carissa and those in his life. We can see the devastation that Carissa's murder has left in everyone's life. His grief is real, and his efforts to move on aren't that successful (they are half-hearted at best, too). Yes, Ben has a secret crutch helping him -- but this really could be diving into work, substance abuse or something else -- in a sense Simonson could've used anything here to give Ben a reason to keep going, she simply chose a machine pretending to be a person.
Joe doesn't have Lingering, and he doesn't seem to have much of a support network, either. He has Ben and alcohol. And memories. Many, many memories. As wrong as Ben's "relationship" with cyber-Carissa is, he does seem to be functioning better than Joe, and the reader has many opportunities to see that. But man, Joe's experiences are genuine, his pain is real. Ben's got something keeping him from those experiences, and you can't help but think how bad this is for him.
One of the many people almost as devastated by Carissa's death was his young cousin, Kylie. I'm sure we're told her age, but I don't remember -- I'm going to guess 8. Young enough that Goosebumps and Baby Sitters Club books are age-appropriate, but maybe a little advanced. She's a good enough reader that they aren't really her speed anymore, though. She calls Ben her uncle (he's too old to be a cousin in her view). The two of them have a very close relationship, and Kylie will spend time at Ben's house after school and the two of them make regular runs ot the library and read together frequently. While there's almost nothing in this book that I didn't like -- my favorite parts involve Kylie.
Early on, they find themselves at a Library book sale and Kylie talks him into buying her The Art of War as well as Little Women (they only tell mom about one of the purchases). Throughout the book the two will read Sun Tzu together, Ben helping Kylie understand (and apply!) the classic. He picks up a handy tip or two from the old warrior/philosopher, too. Those scenes are priceless -- warm, cute and insightful. Kylie's a great addition to the book and humanizes Ben in ways that nothing else can. If Simonson needs a side project, an edition of The Art of War annotated with commentary by Ben and Kylie would be an insta-buy from me.
Thanks to watching Ben with Dexter (Carissa's cat), Joe, his friends and, most importantly, Kylie you learn to care about him and his loss. You understand what he's missing in his life and the degree it's affecting him. So when things happen with Lingering and cyber-Carissa, you care about that. It's not just some dopey guy being taken in by a computer generated fraud (that he signed up for, don't get me wrong) -- it's this character you care about risking everything for some clever software.
The writing was excellent -- I don't think I had a negative note anywhere. The closest came when Ben was trying to box up Carissa's clothes and I said something about how hard it was to read. The grief is real and palpable throughout the book, and really strong in others. All the characters are well drawn and developed -- even those we spend only a few paragraphs with. The merging of the SF-ish elements with the story of Ben trying to recover from the death is really well done and adds shades and nuances to both, making the novel stronger.
Simonson took a lot of care about the appearance of the book, too. Which is important (maybe more so for a self-published book than one put out by one of the bigger houses). That's an eye-catching and fitting cover -- but even the graphic elements dividing up the text aren't run of the mill and are attractive (I read a book a couple of weeks ago that went for an atypical graphic element, but I couldn't tell what it was -- nor could other readers that I talked to). I really appreciate it when people go to the extra trouble that someone clearly did here.
I'm not sure if this is really Science Fiction, but it has some SF elements. There's a touch of a thriller about it, too. But I wouldn't categorize it there. Maybe just General Fiction? But it feels too genre-adjacent for that. Eh, just categorize it as a read for people who like good things.
I can't think of anything else to say here, really. This is an excellent read that totally sucked me in and wouldn't let go. I spent a lot of time thinking about it between reading sessions, and have mused about it frequently since I finished, too. I guess you could say it's lingering on in my mind. But you shouldn't, because that's just lazy word play, and we're all better than that here. Just go read the book, okay?
Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for this post and my honest opinion.
April 10, 2019
pooled ink Reviews:
This was definitely an interesting read…If you’re into science fiction, not the space stuff but the wild technological type, then this is a book for you. AI is always an uneasy yet unrelentingly intriguing puzzle to ponder and I really liked how this book posed the possibility through the lens of love and loss. And not only do we get to witness a plot threaded with technology both amazing and terrifying, but the fast-paced plot weaves together characters that come together in connection to Clarissa: her fiancé, her murderer, and her creator. If you like science fiction, artificial intelligence, crime thrillers, and an unexpected depth and weight beneath it all, then seriously, check this one out.
Read my review here: https://pooledink.com/2019/04/10/ling...
This was definitely an interesting read…If you’re into science fiction, not the space stuff but the wild technological type, then this is a book for you. AI is always an uneasy yet unrelentingly intriguing puzzle to ponder and I really liked how this book posed the possibility through the lens of love and loss. And not only do we get to witness a plot threaded with technology both amazing and terrifying, but the fast-paced plot weaves together characters that come together in connection to Clarissa: her fiancé, her murderer, and her creator. If you like science fiction, artificial intelligence, crime thrillers, and an unexpected depth and weight beneath it all, then seriously, check this one out.
Read my review here: https://pooledink.com/2019/04/10/ling...
March 31, 2019
That's an interesting prospect, isn't it? To still be able to communicate with those that have died. To see their words, hear their voices? Who would be able to say no to that? You might think that you are that person, but when it comes down to it, would you really be able to walk away?
That's where Ben finds himself when approached by Jess, "Lingering Specialist" as her card says. At first, Ben is angry that someone would approach him at the cemetery of all places, as he is visiting his murdered fiancée's gravesite and try to capitalize on his grief. However, he quickly finds himself in the lobby of what appears to be an old, abandoned mill, turning over Carissa's cell phone to Jess in return for getting even a tiny spark of her back. Soon he's getting text messages seemingly from Carissa, and phone calls speaking in her voice. Is it enough to have this small part of her back? Does it assuage his grief, or it is only a crutch? When Jess and her boyfriend Nick, tell Ben that they can build an AI wearing Carissa's face, how far is too far?
Read more at Cats Luv Coffee
That's where Ben finds himself when approached by Jess, "Lingering Specialist" as her card says. At first, Ben is angry that someone would approach him at the cemetery of all places, as he is visiting his murdered fiancée's gravesite and try to capitalize on his grief. However, he quickly finds himself in the lobby of what appears to be an old, abandoned mill, turning over Carissa's cell phone to Jess in return for getting even a tiny spark of her back. Soon he's getting text messages seemingly from Carissa, and phone calls speaking in her voice. Is it enough to have this small part of her back? Does it assuage his grief, or it is only a crutch? When Jess and her boyfriend Nick, tell Ben that they can build an AI wearing Carissa's face, how far is too far?
Read more at Cats Luv Coffee
March 19, 2019
Full disclosure – I was provided a copy of this book by the author; however, I have voluntarily chosen to write a review. All opinions are my own.
Death is the end… or is it?
When a loved one passes, that’s the end. With a life snuffed out, phone calls and text messages stop and all that’s left is a gaping hole were a life once stood. But what if that didn’t have to be the end? What if you could communicate with your deceased beloved family from beyond the grave? The chance to hear their voice one more time would be very enticing indeed, and Ben is faced with this exact dilemma while mourning his murdered fiancée. With his life in upheaval and days spent getting drunk at Carissa’s graveside Ben is approached by Jess. Her boyfriend, Nick, has pioneered technology that uses known elements of a person to generate a program that can be used to communicate with grieving family members, and she feels that Ben would be an ideal “Lingering” beta test subject. With Carissa’s death shrouded in mystery and her murderer still on the loose, Ben warily takes Nick and Jess up on their offer. If nothing else, maybe he can learn something from the Beta test that can bring some closure, answer questions and possibly even catch a killer. What starts out as an awkwardly surreal conversation via text message with his dead fiancée turns into a full-blown obsession for Ben. But the more Ben gets to know Nick and Jess the less he feels comfortable continuing the program. Unfortunately, Ben has progressed so far down the slippery slope of the Lingering project that it may be difficult, if not impossible to fully break ties.
Lingering is the newest book by author Melissa Simonson and is the first that I have read from this author. While the premise starts out simple enough, the story quickly develops and morphs into something not quite like anything I have read before. Ben goes from a grieving fiancée to obsessed addict within the span of the book that is almost frightening to witness. Watching the story unfold, I tried to imagine how I would react if ever in a situation such as his and I can say that I doubt my results would have been any more favorable.
In truth, the concept of masterminding an AI device that can mimic any person isn’t really a hard thing to imagine in fact it’s already in use to some extent. What makes Lingering especially compelling to the point of cringy is when the AI is designed to take the place, however temporary, of someone you love. Even with that being said and with sanity temporarily out the window for those grieving the departure of one taken by violent or premature means, this seems to be just the thing that they would crave. How many times have you heard a friend or family member say about a deceased mom or lover “If I could only talk to them again”? Lingering explores this concept in a way that sucks the reader in and leaves them thinking for a long time after the final scene has ended.
If you like your stories dark, humorous and just close enough to feasible that it could keep you up at night Lingering may be the book for you. I previously mentioned by this was the first book I have read by this author, but if Lingering is any indication of her talent it will not be my last.
Death is the end… or is it?
When a loved one passes, that’s the end. With a life snuffed out, phone calls and text messages stop and all that’s left is a gaping hole were a life once stood. But what if that didn’t have to be the end? What if you could communicate with your deceased beloved family from beyond the grave? The chance to hear their voice one more time would be very enticing indeed, and Ben is faced with this exact dilemma while mourning his murdered fiancée. With his life in upheaval and days spent getting drunk at Carissa’s graveside Ben is approached by Jess. Her boyfriend, Nick, has pioneered technology that uses known elements of a person to generate a program that can be used to communicate with grieving family members, and she feels that Ben would be an ideal “Lingering” beta test subject. With Carissa’s death shrouded in mystery and her murderer still on the loose, Ben warily takes Nick and Jess up on their offer. If nothing else, maybe he can learn something from the Beta test that can bring some closure, answer questions and possibly even catch a killer. What starts out as an awkwardly surreal conversation via text message with his dead fiancée turns into a full-blown obsession for Ben. But the more Ben gets to know Nick and Jess the less he feels comfortable continuing the program. Unfortunately, Ben has progressed so far down the slippery slope of the Lingering project that it may be difficult, if not impossible to fully break ties.
Lingering is the newest book by author Melissa Simonson and is the first that I have read from this author. While the premise starts out simple enough, the story quickly develops and morphs into something not quite like anything I have read before. Ben goes from a grieving fiancée to obsessed addict within the span of the book that is almost frightening to witness. Watching the story unfold, I tried to imagine how I would react if ever in a situation such as his and I can say that I doubt my results would have been any more favorable.
In truth, the concept of masterminding an AI device that can mimic any person isn’t really a hard thing to imagine in fact it’s already in use to some extent. What makes Lingering especially compelling to the point of cringy is when the AI is designed to take the place, however temporary, of someone you love. Even with that being said and with sanity temporarily out the window for those grieving the departure of one taken by violent or premature means, this seems to be just the thing that they would crave. How many times have you heard a friend or family member say about a deceased mom or lover “If I could only talk to them again”? Lingering explores this concept in a way that sucks the reader in and leaves them thinking for a long time after the final scene has ended.
If you like your stories dark, humorous and just close enough to feasible that it could keep you up at night Lingering may be the book for you. I previously mentioned by this was the first book I have read by this author, but if Lingering is any indication of her talent it will not be my last.
July 5, 2019
In this very imaginative book, death doesn't have to be the end as with certain conditions, Lingering can be just a phone call or text message away. You can get advice from them, and they can help celebrate your achievements or soothe your fears. All through the clever use of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics.
I loved the concept of this story and the result (even though I can imagine it would freak me out big time if it was possible for real). I can imagine this happing for real one day, so maybe the author is a fortune teller too? Well written and very enjoyable I could relate to all of the characters and understand the thoughts and emotions they were experiencing. Very enjoyable.
I loved the concept of this story and the result (even though I can imagine it would freak me out big time if it was possible for real). I can imagine this happing for real one day, so maybe the author is a fortune teller too? Well written and very enjoyable I could relate to all of the characters and understand the thoughts and emotions they were experiencing. Very enjoyable.
August 25, 2019
Lingering by Melissa Simonson is an incredible psychological thriller with sci-fi overtones. It makes you wonder exactly how you would react in Ben’s place. Sudden death is so difficult, there’s no time to say goodbyes.
AI has come so far in recent years, it’s not hard to believe this story. The characters are fully fleshed out making it easy to love or hate them. The dialogue Is snappy and the whole book is paced well to make you keep turning page after page.
I would recommend Lingering to all readers.
AI has come so far in recent years, it’s not hard to believe this story. The characters are fully fleshed out making it easy to love or hate them. The dialogue Is snappy and the whole book is paced well to make you keep turning page after page.
I would recommend Lingering to all readers.
February 28, 2019
Lingering is a fast-paced captivating read that I could not put down. Simonson has created a unique story with intriguing characters that are sure to take you to a world unlike any other. A story of love, loss, survival and second chances. Lingering is a remarkable read and I look forward to reading more from the author.
September 20, 2019
Full review: www.jessreviews.co.uk
April 15, 2024
See this and other book reviews at https://www.thebookdragondotblog.word...
In this novel, Melissa Simonson takes us on a crazy sci-fi ride not so distant from our present world. In this book, a genius man and his quirky sidekick girlfriend take on the task of creating a way for people to talk to their loved ones after death, and so is born Lingering. This is where our main character Ben falls into their clutches. He recently lost his fiance Carissa, and he would do just about anything to get a piece of her back. At first, it starts off as relatively harmless texting back and forth, as Ben talks to a computerized mimicry of the girl he loved. But then Lingering takes this a step further, and they are able to create a a copy of Carissa’s voice, so now Ben is able to talk with her on the phone, whenever he wants. He can vent to her, get advice on what to buy his little cousin for her birthday, can even reminisce with her on times past… But will Lingering take it even further than that? Will Ben have the willpower to stop this facade before it becomes too crazy? Will he ever be able to cope with her death if her voice is always at his fingertips?
This was one amazing sci fi. It was so realistic, because I could totally believe that there is some tech genius out there in our world right now, trying to create this exact program. Death is one of the hardest things we go through, so who wouldn’t try to create a computer program able to mimic a person based off of their social media presence? It seems almost too easy for it not to already be a thing! That’s where the scary part comes in. This novel is so close to reality, so close to changing our entire perspective on death, forever. It definitely makes you question the morality of the program, as well as the function of coping itself. If you could talk to someone after death, would death lose its potency? Would people be less cautious, because they know that their loved ones would never be let down by their death? Would suicide rates increase? It is an interesting concept to ruminate over.
Aside from the plot being absolutely amazing and realistic, and downright relatable, the character building was simply phenomenal. As I said above, I already felt like I knew Carissa from that first chapter… And it just continued on from there; with Carissa, with Ben, Riley, Jess, Nick, Joe, etc. Almost any character I came across, I felt as though I would recognize them walking down my street. I knew exactly how they would react in a situation because I knowthem. It made the novel so much more important to me! I cared so much about the characters and their happiness that every decision, every event held a measure of anxiety and suspense as I waited to see what would happen next.
In addition to this, the writing itself was very eloquent. The language and syntax was a pleasure to read, and it quickened my normal reading pace substantially. I was never bogged down in the actual process of reading, because the language transformed my experience to where I was actually a third party looking down from above at my characters. I was no longer reading this novel, but living it.
Definitely worth the read! Whether you are a sci-fi buff or simply someone who would like a vacation read or a short escape from reality, this is the book to choose. It is quick, easy to read, and will keep you engaged the entire time! You may be confronted with uncomfortable questions of death and your morality, but who wouldn’t like a bit of a challenge?
In this novel, Melissa Simonson takes us on a crazy sci-fi ride not so distant from our present world. In this book, a genius man and his quirky sidekick girlfriend take on the task of creating a way for people to talk to their loved ones after death, and so is born Lingering. This is where our main character Ben falls into their clutches. He recently lost his fiance Carissa, and he would do just about anything to get a piece of her back. At first, it starts off as relatively harmless texting back and forth, as Ben talks to a computerized mimicry of the girl he loved. But then Lingering takes this a step further, and they are able to create a a copy of Carissa’s voice, so now Ben is able to talk with her on the phone, whenever he wants. He can vent to her, get advice on what to buy his little cousin for her birthday, can even reminisce with her on times past… But will Lingering take it even further than that? Will Ben have the willpower to stop this facade before it becomes too crazy? Will he ever be able to cope with her death if her voice is always at his fingertips?
This was one amazing sci fi. It was so realistic, because I could totally believe that there is some tech genius out there in our world right now, trying to create this exact program. Death is one of the hardest things we go through, so who wouldn’t try to create a computer program able to mimic a person based off of their social media presence? It seems almost too easy for it not to already be a thing! That’s where the scary part comes in. This novel is so close to reality, so close to changing our entire perspective on death, forever. It definitely makes you question the morality of the program, as well as the function of coping itself. If you could talk to someone after death, would death lose its potency? Would people be less cautious, because they know that their loved ones would never be let down by their death? Would suicide rates increase? It is an interesting concept to ruminate over.
Aside from the plot being absolutely amazing and realistic, and downright relatable, the character building was simply phenomenal. As I said above, I already felt like I knew Carissa from that first chapter… And it just continued on from there; with Carissa, with Ben, Riley, Jess, Nick, Joe, etc. Almost any character I came across, I felt as though I would recognize them walking down my street. I knew exactly how they would react in a situation because I knowthem. It made the novel so much more important to me! I cared so much about the characters and their happiness that every decision, every event held a measure of anxiety and suspense as I waited to see what would happen next.
In addition to this, the writing itself was very eloquent. The language and syntax was a pleasure to read, and it quickened my normal reading pace substantially. I was never bogged down in the actual process of reading, because the language transformed my experience to where I was actually a third party looking down from above at my characters. I was no longer reading this novel, but living it.
Definitely worth the read! Whether you are a sci-fi buff or simply someone who would like a vacation read or a short escape from reality, this is the book to choose. It is quick, easy to read, and will keep you engaged the entire time! You may be confronted with uncomfortable questions of death and your morality, but who wouldn’t like a bit of a challenge?
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