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Interference
From international bestselling author Brad Parks comes an emotional, heart-pounding thriller that explores the scientific unknown—and one woman’s efforts to save her husband from its consequences.
Quantum physicist Matt Bronik is suffering from strange, violent seizures that medical science seems powerless to explain—much to the consternation of his wife, Brigid.
Matt doesn’t think these fits could be related to his research, which he has always described as benign and esoteric. That, it turns out, is not quite true: Matt has been prodding the mysteries of the quantum universe, with terrible repercussions for his health. And perhaps even for humanity as a whole.
Then, in the midst of another seizure, Matt disappears. When foul play is feared, there is no shortage of suspects. Matt’s research had gained the attention of Chinese competitors, an unscrupulous billionaire, and the Department of Defense, among others.
With Matt’s life in clear danger, Brigid sets out to find him. Will Matt be killed before she reaches him, or could the physics that endangered him actually be used to save his life?
Quantum physicist Matt Bronik is suffering from strange, violent seizures that medical science seems powerless to explain—much to the consternation of his wife, Brigid.
Matt doesn’t think these fits could be related to his research, which he has always described as benign and esoteric. That, it turns out, is not quite true: Matt has been prodding the mysteries of the quantum universe, with terrible repercussions for his health. And perhaps even for humanity as a whole.
Then, in the midst of another seizure, Matt disappears. When foul play is feared, there is no shortage of suspects. Matt’s research had gained the attention of Chinese competitors, an unscrupulous billionaire, and the Department of Defense, among others.
With Matt’s life in clear danger, Brigid sets out to find him. Will Matt be killed before she reaches him, or could the physics that endangered him actually be used to save his life?
399 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2020
5271 people are currently reading
6320 people want to read
About the author
Brad Parks
25 books778 followersInternational bestseller author Brad Parks is the only writer to have won the Shamus, Nero, and Lefty Awards, three of American crime fiction's most prestigious prizes. His books have been translated into 16 languages and have earned starred reviews from every major pre-publication journal.
A father of two terrific kids, Brad runs slowly, is bad at yoga, and occasionally performs as a very semi-professional singer. He's grateful for his readers, because otherwise he'd just be a guy who has a lot of conversations with himself in his own head.
For more information -- or to sign up for the newsletter written by his impertinent interns -- visit his website at www.bradparksbooks.com.
To find Brad on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BradParksBooks
A father of two terrific kids, Brad runs slowly, is bad at yoga, and occasionally performs as a very semi-professional singer. He's grateful for his readers, because otherwise he'd just be a guy who has a lot of conversations with himself in his own head.
For more information -- or to sign up for the newsletter written by his impertinent interns -- visit his website at www.bradparksbooks.com.
To find Brad on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BradParksBooks
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December 7, 2020Be sure to check for my review, first posted on Mystery and Suspense, as well as a number of other insightful comments by other reviewers.
https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/re...
Brad Parks is never one to lead the reader down a straightforward path in his thrillers, and Interference does not buck this trend. A seemingly mysterious medical ailment turns into something a lot more impactful as the story progresses, straddling the line between thriller and quasi-sci fi at times. With a race to discover the truth and a time limit imposed by a hostage taker, this is one book that does not have time to rest on its laurels. Perfect for the reader who needs a little science in their thriller reader experience.
Brigid Bronik has been enjoying her life, even with some of the hurdles its tossed in her direction. When she receives word that her husband, Matt, has collapsed at work, she is frantic. His apparent seizure is nothing that Brigid can understand, but she’s not alone. Doctors have no clue as to what might have befallen Dr. Matt Bronik. He’s a quantum physicist, so it’s not as though he’s come across anything that could knowingly have caused this inexplicable medical issue.
When it happens again a few days later, Brigid is beside herself. It’s only then that Matt admits that he has been working on something top secret for the Department of Defence. It would seem that America is dabbling in quantum viruses, particularly of the tobacco mosaic variety. This means little to everyone who is listening, but Matt assures them that there’s something going on.
After Matt goes missing when he’s seen being carted off by some EMTs, Brigid is as panicked as ever. Bringing in the assistance of New Hampshire State Police Detective Emmet Webster, Brigit tries to pass along what she knows. Detective Webster is not entirely clear on what’s going on, but soon realises that there’s more to the story than even he can handle. Matt’s post-doctoral student goes missing and the ‘kidnappers’ are soon proven to have been sleek in their plan to remove Matt from the premises.
It would seem the tobacco mosaic virus has a form of entanglement theory woven into it, a term from quantum physics that refers to the interconnectivity of two particles, no matter how far apart they are, reacting and sensing one another. As Brigit and her group inch closer, it seems as though Matt knows they are coming and pushes away a little more.
When a ransom demand is made to a local billionaire who had been courting Matt Bronik for some other work, a set of events is set in motion that could blast things wide open. It would seem Matt Bronik is at the centre of a suspicious game of cat and mouse, where numerous people would benefit from his disappearance. While Brigit is not entirely sure who she can trust or where to turn, she can only hope to ‘interfere’ with the master plan enough to bring Matt home safely.
I have read a few pieces by Brad Parks before and they never fail to pull me in. While the subject matter is sometimes far outside my comfort zone, I always learn a great deal and find that the thrilling plot and quick pace keep me needing to know more in short order.
Brigit Bronik is well placed at the centre of the story, though I would argue that she shares the spotlight with Emmet Webster throughout. Both have had significant things happen in their lives (Webster most recently) that shape their outlook and how they approach the current Matt Bronik disappearance. The story permits them both to grow and develop, though their outlook when it comes to the case at hand could not be more different. Working together and in tandem, Brigit and Detective Webster uncover truths throughout this story and will surely keep the reader intrigued.
Parks has so many moving parts in this piece that there is a need for a strong set of secondary characters to keep the subplots alive. Parks develops them well and keeps the reader intrigued with how they complement one another or serve a small, independent purpose. From Chinese nationals to a seemingly innocuous physics professor who enjoys chasing skirts whenever he feels the need, each character that appears plays an integral role in understanding the larger picture here. Parks supports them to the point that the reader cannot help but be a little curious, which makes for a wonderful story.
While some of the plot lines seem to be tied to scientific phenomena, Brad Parks does not write in such a way so as to lose the reader along the journey. The narrative gathers momentum, but explains things as they progress, turning highly technical terms into digestible educational moments. The reader is kept attuned to all the developing storylines and can follow along with ease. Character interactions are key to this story, which is told from both the Brigit and Emmett Webster perspectives. The split narrative is a key aspect of the book, opening the reader’s eyes to more than they might ave expected. With short chapters that keep the cliffhangers coming, there is little time to digest things before the next plot twist comes along. This is the kind of story that will have readers up late into the night, begging for ‘a little more’. I cannot wait to see if this is the start to something bigger, a short series perhaps. I’d surely be game!
Kudos, Mr. Parks, for another winner. You have such a way with words that I hope to go back and check out some more of your work, when time permits.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/re...
Brad Parks is never one to lead the reader down a straightforward path in his thrillers, and Interference does not buck this trend. A seemingly mysterious medical ailment turns into something a lot more impactful as the story progresses, straddling the line between thriller and quasi-sci fi at times. With a race to discover the truth and a time limit imposed by a hostage taker, this is one book that does not have time to rest on its laurels. Perfect for the reader who needs a little science in their thriller reader experience.
Brigid Bronik has been enjoying her life, even with some of the hurdles its tossed in her direction. When she receives word that her husband, Matt, has collapsed at work, she is frantic. His apparent seizure is nothing that Brigid can understand, but she’s not alone. Doctors have no clue as to what might have befallen Dr. Matt Bronik. He’s a quantum physicist, so it’s not as though he’s come across anything that could knowingly have caused this inexplicable medical issue.
When it happens again a few days later, Brigid is beside herself. It’s only then that Matt admits that he has been working on something top secret for the Department of Defence. It would seem that America is dabbling in quantum viruses, particularly of the tobacco mosaic variety. This means little to everyone who is listening, but Matt assures them that there’s something going on.
After Matt goes missing when he’s seen being carted off by some EMTs, Brigid is as panicked as ever. Bringing in the assistance of New Hampshire State Police Detective Emmet Webster, Brigit tries to pass along what she knows. Detective Webster is not entirely clear on what’s going on, but soon realises that there’s more to the story than even he can handle. Matt’s post-doctoral student goes missing and the ‘kidnappers’ are soon proven to have been sleek in their plan to remove Matt from the premises.
It would seem the tobacco mosaic virus has a form of entanglement theory woven into it, a term from quantum physics that refers to the interconnectivity of two particles, no matter how far apart they are, reacting and sensing one another. As Brigit and her group inch closer, it seems as though Matt knows they are coming and pushes away a little more.
When a ransom demand is made to a local billionaire who had been courting Matt Bronik for some other work, a set of events is set in motion that could blast things wide open. It would seem Matt Bronik is at the centre of a suspicious game of cat and mouse, where numerous people would benefit from his disappearance. While Brigit is not entirely sure who she can trust or where to turn, she can only hope to ‘interfere’ with the master plan enough to bring Matt home safely.
I have read a few pieces by Brad Parks before and they never fail to pull me in. While the subject matter is sometimes far outside my comfort zone, I always learn a great deal and find that the thrilling plot and quick pace keep me needing to know more in short order.
Brigit Bronik is well placed at the centre of the story, though I would argue that she shares the spotlight with Emmet Webster throughout. Both have had significant things happen in their lives (Webster most recently) that shape their outlook and how they approach the current Matt Bronik disappearance. The story permits them both to grow and develop, though their outlook when it comes to the case at hand could not be more different. Working together and in tandem, Brigit and Detective Webster uncover truths throughout this story and will surely keep the reader intrigued.
Parks has so many moving parts in this piece that there is a need for a strong set of secondary characters to keep the subplots alive. Parks develops them well and keeps the reader intrigued with how they complement one another or serve a small, independent purpose. From Chinese nationals to a seemingly innocuous physics professor who enjoys chasing skirts whenever he feels the need, each character that appears plays an integral role in understanding the larger picture here. Parks supports them to the point that the reader cannot help but be a little curious, which makes for a wonderful story.
While some of the plot lines seem to be tied to scientific phenomena, Brad Parks does not write in such a way so as to lose the reader along the journey. The narrative gathers momentum, but explains things as they progress, turning highly technical terms into digestible educational moments. The reader is kept attuned to all the developing storylines and can follow along with ease. Character interactions are key to this story, which is told from both the Brigit and Emmett Webster perspectives. The split narrative is a key aspect of the book, opening the reader’s eyes to more than they might ave expected. With short chapters that keep the cliffhangers coming, there is little time to digest things before the next plot twist comes along. This is the kind of story that will have readers up late into the night, begging for ‘a little more’. I cannot wait to see if this is the start to something bigger, a short series perhaps. I’d surely be game!
Kudos, Mr. Parks, for another winner. You have such a way with words that I hope to go back and check out some more of your work, when time permits.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
August 16, 2020
3-4 stars
Amazon Prime First Read - August 2020
Matt Bronik works at Dartmouth as a Professor of Quantum Physics. He is married to Brigid and they have a son, Morgan. Multi billionaire Sean Plottner wants Matt to come and work for him and makes him a very lucrative offer. However, Matt suffers a series of baffling seizures for which medics can find little explanation just theories. Then Matt disappears. Emmett Webster is the detective sent to investigate. What unfolds is intriguing in places and at times very out there hence the between the stars rating. There are plenty of blind alleys before there is a solution to why Matt vanishes. Although I enjoyed a lot of it, it’s a bit ploddy in places and don’t be too shocked when I say the quantum physics went completely over the top of my head. I know. Also if you’ve had enough of viruses that’s what Matt is working on.
Overall, a decent thriller that keeps you guessing.
Amazon Prime First Read - August 2020
Matt Bronik works at Dartmouth as a Professor of Quantum Physics. He is married to Brigid and they have a son, Morgan. Multi billionaire Sean Plottner wants Matt to come and work for him and makes him a very lucrative offer. However, Matt suffers a series of baffling seizures for which medics can find little explanation just theories. Then Matt disappears. Emmett Webster is the detective sent to investigate. What unfolds is intriguing in places and at times very out there hence the between the stars rating. There are plenty of blind alleys before there is a solution to why Matt vanishes. Although I enjoyed a lot of it, it’s a bit ploddy in places and don’t be too shocked when I say the quantum physics went completely over the top of my head. I know. Also if you’ve had enough of viruses that’s what Matt is working on.
Overall, a decent thriller that keeps you guessing.
July 13, 2022
Quantum Virus
A great book. I loved everything about this book the characters are awesome, great story, and a superb mystery. Lot of twist and turns, false leads double negatives. It had me guessing right to the end.
Great researched novel especially on the Quantum Physics theory, as well as the other parts of the book. The great thing about Quantum Physics is the are so complicated and advanced, yet still theoretical, so it is a small step to Science Fiction till it become science fact.
One touch I really liked is the characters own prejudice or thinking made some people higher on the suspect list. Why I liked this is because it make the characters more relatable and realistic.
This is a top book for anyone who is a fan of mystery, criminal investigations or even scifi book. The start is a bit slow, but that is all parts of setting the scene. The pace definitely picks up gradually till I got half way through the book, from there I could not put it down. I am also a fan of the writing style. Short chapters a a checkin with the other characters, then a slightly longer chapter but nothing super long could be chipped away on quick breaks, but be warned it could become addictive.
A great book. I loved everything about this book the characters are awesome, great story, and a superb mystery. Lot of twist and turns, false leads double negatives. It had me guessing right to the end.
Great researched novel especially on the Quantum Physics theory, as well as the other parts of the book. The great thing about Quantum Physics is the are so complicated and advanced, yet still theoretical, so it is a small step to Science Fiction till it become science fact.
One touch I really liked is the characters own prejudice or thinking made some people higher on the suspect list. Why I liked this is because it make the characters more relatable and realistic.
This is a top book for anyone who is a fan of mystery, criminal investigations or even scifi book. The start is a bit slow, but that is all parts of setting the scene. The pace definitely picks up gradually till I got half way through the book, from there I could not put it down. I am also a fan of the writing style. Short chapters a a checkin with the other characters, then a slightly longer chapter but nothing super long could be chipped away on quick breaks, but be warned it could become addictive.
October 19, 2020
Let me be clear: When I give myself a five-star review, I don't ***really*** think I'm all that.
But there's something awfully depressing about giving yourself four stars.
But there's something awfully depressing about giving yourself four stars.
January 11, 2023
Matt Brodik is a brilliant quantum physicist tenured at Dartmouth College and he loves his work almost as much as he loves his wife and young son. He bounces out of bed early with the joy of knowing he is heading off to continue working in his lab. And then he suffers an unexplained seizure that puts him in hospital for a couple of days.
Certainly, there’s cause for concern but as quickly as they take hold they mysteriously disappear without a trace. Then a 3rd seizure takes him while he’s at work and he’s apparently picked up by EMT’s only for his wife to discover he hasn’t been taken to any of the local hospitals. In fact, she can find no trace of him at all after he was wheeled out of the college.
Interference is essentially an abduction thriller with a few curveballs thrown in to give it some added oomph.
The first, and most significant is the apparent magical mysteries of quantum transference. Ooh, what’s that? Well, my layman’s understanding and shoddy explanation is that it’s the phenomenon of objects separated by distance being linked at a molecular level such that if the first object is moved, the second will mirror the movement. Is this the next big scientific breakthrough?
Throw in a detective with the state police who has recently lost his wife and has been contemplating suicide. He’s been given the case, largely because the powers that be consider it’s a dead-end case and seeing as how he’s basically on the scrapheap he can look after it while he’s down there. The cop’s looking for some redemption and wants to prove himself worthy of some respect.
And then there’s the billionaire businessman looking for something to brighten up the boredom caused by making more millions. (I mean, we’ve all been there, right?) He’ll stop at nothing to hire his own personal quantum physicist and Matt Bronik is the man he wants. He provides us with the perfect profile of the nefarious megalomaniac who’s surely the mastermind behind the dastardly plan.
To cast further doubt over who might be behind the abduction there are a number of colleagues who each have a possible motive for disappearing the genius professor.
To round things out, there’s also the possibility that the Chinese are behind it because, well, because they so often could be, couldn’t they? The work that Bronik has been perfecting could have major ramifications militarily and politically and some people would stop at nothing to get their hands on it.
This is a hectic thriller that moves along at a solid pace, making sure to throw up possible suspects at regular intervals to keep us off balance. Although initially steeped in scientific theorem which proves crucial for establishing the motive for the kidnapping as well as the value of the man who was taken, things settle down into a more mundane manhunt towards the end. I will say, however, there are a few nice twists along the way to provide more than one aha moment to appreciate.
I have enjoyed all of Brad Parks’ novels to date and found myself fully invested in this one too.
Certainly, there’s cause for concern but as quickly as they take hold they mysteriously disappear without a trace. Then a 3rd seizure takes him while he’s at work and he’s apparently picked up by EMT’s only for his wife to discover he hasn’t been taken to any of the local hospitals. In fact, she can find no trace of him at all after he was wheeled out of the college.
Interference is essentially an abduction thriller with a few curveballs thrown in to give it some added oomph.
The first, and most significant is the apparent magical mysteries of quantum transference. Ooh, what’s that? Well, my layman’s understanding and shoddy explanation is that it’s the phenomenon of objects separated by distance being linked at a molecular level such that if the first object is moved, the second will mirror the movement. Is this the next big scientific breakthrough?
Throw in a detective with the state police who has recently lost his wife and has been contemplating suicide. He’s been given the case, largely because the powers that be consider it’s a dead-end case and seeing as how he’s basically on the scrapheap he can look after it while he’s down there. The cop’s looking for some redemption and wants to prove himself worthy of some respect.
And then there’s the billionaire businessman looking for something to brighten up the boredom caused by making more millions. (I mean, we’ve all been there, right?) He’ll stop at nothing to hire his own personal quantum physicist and Matt Bronik is the man he wants. He provides us with the perfect profile of the nefarious megalomaniac who’s surely the mastermind behind the dastardly plan.
To cast further doubt over who might be behind the abduction there are a number of colleagues who each have a possible motive for disappearing the genius professor.
To round things out, there’s also the possibility that the Chinese are behind it because, well, because they so often could be, couldn’t they? The work that Bronik has been perfecting could have major ramifications militarily and politically and some people would stop at nothing to get their hands on it.
This is a hectic thriller that moves along at a solid pace, making sure to throw up possible suspects at regular intervals to keep us off balance. Although initially steeped in scientific theorem which proves crucial for establishing the motive for the kidnapping as well as the value of the man who was taken, things settle down into a more mundane manhunt towards the end. I will say, however, there are a few nice twists along the way to provide more than one aha moment to appreciate.
I have enjoyed all of Brad Parks’ novels to date and found myself fully invested in this one too.
August 23, 2020
This book is a fast paced crime thriller. I wouldn't classify this as science fiction. The book had some quantum physics concepts mentioned occasionally but nothing profound.
I would have given this a higher rating if not for the ending. The kidnapper turns out to be his assistant Sheena who is an Indian woman arranged to marry a guy selected by her parents when she was 6 and she's in love with an American. In addition to that, her post doc research is not going anywhere. To overcome these obstacles, she devises an elaborate plan to drug and kidnap her advisor and falsely allege an another professor of sexual harassment. I think this plot is illogical and sexist. I find it hard to believe that this woman, who is extremely smart and has everyone fooled with her elaborate scheme, cannot find it in her to disobey/trick her parents or runaway from her familial situation and marry the "love of her life".
Sexual harassment is a serious issue especially in academia and I think this book has trivialized it. Portraying Sheena to have falsely accused her professor of sexual harassment due to her lack of success is irresponsible on the part of the author because in our current society (moreso in Asian countries) women are not believed when they come forward and complain about sexual harassment/assault.
I would have given this a higher rating if not for the ending. The kidnapper turns out to be his assistant Sheena who is an Indian woman arranged to marry a guy selected by her parents when she was 6 and she's in love with an American. In addition to that, her post doc research is not going anywhere. To overcome these obstacles, she devises an elaborate plan to drug and kidnap her advisor and falsely allege an another professor of sexual harassment. I think this plot is illogical and sexist. I find it hard to believe that this woman, who is extremely smart and has everyone fooled with her elaborate scheme, cannot find it in her to disobey/trick her parents or runaway from her familial situation and marry the "love of her life".
Sexual harassment is a serious issue especially in academia and I think this book has trivialized it. Portraying Sheena to have falsely accused her professor of sexual harassment due to her lack of success is irresponsible on the part of the author because in our current society (moreso in Asian countries) women are not believed when they come forward and complain about sexual harassment/assault.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2026
“The physicists want me to believe that during the experiment, the cat is both alive and dead. But I don’t buy that. Just because a camera is out of focus doesn’t mean the world is blurry.”
“What do you mean?”
“That cat isn’t truly alive and dead. The whole time, it’s either one or the other. Maybe the scientist outside the box doesn’t know. But inside the box, the cat knows.”
The Goodreads description of this book tells you enough to get you started in this story, so I’ll jump directly to my thoughts.
Interference was a letdown for me. It started strong, as Matt’s research into quantum mechanics and entanglement opened the door to many possible angles for the why of his disappearance and the how of his possible rescue. But after a while, the story became less about science and more of a police procedural. And in the end, the science was completely swept aside as the villain was revealed to be the least interesting of all available options. It’s not bad exactly, but it was disappointing.
August 15, 2020
A SIMPLE MAN'S REVIEW:
If you're picking this book up because you're interested in quantum physics, put it down. This isn't that book. If you're into mediocre mysteries and flat character - you're in luck!
First, let's address the quantum physics. Yes, there are physicists in the book, and yes, the mystery seems to deal with quantum physics. But in reality, the author forced quantum physics' biggest hits into awkward conversations throughout the book. Obviously we need Schrodinger's cat and "spooky action" at a distance. But let's also do the particle/wave duality and quantum tunneling. Will you learn about these things? Not really, at least not more than the first few sentences of a Wikipedia article. These items are thrust into conversations just to keep the "quantum physics" theme, which is the sand on which this whole house is built.
As for the characters? They were caricatures of everyone who has played those roles before. Between the cop, military officer, and tech mogul, I couldn't take anyone seriously. And why is the wife trying to convince us how awesome and handsome her husband is? Uhh, get a room?
If I haven't persuaded you from skipping it yet, then I have one more reason: it's so predictable! The author tries to set up several red herrings but none of them make any sense. And when you get to the end, you'll just roll your eyes and feel like you wasted your time.
Skip it!
If you're picking this book up because you're interested in quantum physics, put it down. This isn't that book. If you're into mediocre mysteries and flat character - you're in luck!
First, let's address the quantum physics. Yes, there are physicists in the book, and yes, the mystery seems to deal with quantum physics. But in reality, the author forced quantum physics' biggest hits into awkward conversations throughout the book. Obviously we need Schrodinger's cat and "spooky action" at a distance. But let's also do the particle/wave duality and quantum tunneling. Will you learn about these things? Not really, at least not more than the first few sentences of a Wikipedia article. These items are thrust into conversations just to keep the "quantum physics" theme, which is the sand on which this whole house is built.
As for the characters? They were caricatures of everyone who has played those roles before. Between the cop, military officer, and tech mogul, I couldn't take anyone seriously. And why is the wife trying to convince us how awesome and handsome her husband is? Uhh, get a room?
If I haven't persuaded you from skipping it yet, then I have one more reason: it's so predictable! The author tries to set up several red herrings but none of them make any sense. And when you get to the end, you'll just roll your eyes and feel like you wasted your time.
Skip it!
October 1, 2020
Matt Bronik is a tenured professor and Quantum physicist at Dartmouth University. He loves teaching but his research is what drives him most. Brigid Bronik, his wife, gets a call one day telling her Matt has had a seizure. At the hospital, the doctors can not figure out what is wrong with Matt and when he recovers only a few hours later, they still can not say what caused the seizure. He claims it has nothing to do with his research but when Brigid learns that his work is not as benign as Matt makes it sound, she worries. When Matt goes missing after having another seizure, Brigid's fears are confirmed. With a list of people with interest in Matt's work, its a race against time to bring Matt home safely.
The premise of this novel is what drew me in. Matt Bronik is a successful professor and Quantum physicist, married to Brigid and father to Morgan. Brigid, his wife, undertands liitle of his work but knows that he loves it. When he suffers a seizure at work but recovers fully a few hours later in the hospital, no one can say what caused it and hope its an isolated incident. Its not. Pushed to give details of his work, Matt reveals he is working with Quantum interference that can have significant consequences but still insists this is not the problem. When he goes missing after another seizure, its clear that its his research that is at the heart of this situation. With the Department of Defence, intense Chinese competition and a multi-billionaire, many have interest in Matt's work and its anyone's guess who took him. The reason is not so obscure as Matt's work can be good or terrible if it falls in the wrong hands.
The pace started off slow but gradually built up. Narrated by Brigid, Emmett (the detective) and Sean Plottner (the multi-billionaire who wants Matt to work for him), we follow as the case of Matt's dissaperance unfolds. This is light sci-fi book, an adventure and an intriguing mystery with plenty of suspects with motives. There is quite a bit of elements to this book and, at least to me, they all work well together. Initially I thought this book was going to be in the same vein as Blake Crouch's Dark Matter. It is not the case as Crouch's book is more of an active application whereas this is a theoretical Quantum idea. Still, this book shines on its own right. As far the science aspect, the Quantum interference, well its certainly intriguing (the thought experiment of Schrodinger's Cat also plays a role in the narrative). I could not explain it if I tried but I get the overall idea. The reveal at the end was satisfying and the narrative flowed nicely. The concept might be complicated but reading this book is easy. Would recommend this book.
The premise of this novel is what drew me in. Matt Bronik is a successful professor and Quantum physicist, married to Brigid and father to Morgan. Brigid, his wife, undertands liitle of his work but knows that he loves it. When he suffers a seizure at work but recovers fully a few hours later in the hospital, no one can say what caused it and hope its an isolated incident. Its not. Pushed to give details of his work, Matt reveals he is working with Quantum interference that can have significant consequences but still insists this is not the problem. When he goes missing after another seizure, its clear that its his research that is at the heart of this situation. With the Department of Defence, intense Chinese competition and a multi-billionaire, many have interest in Matt's work and its anyone's guess who took him. The reason is not so obscure as Matt's work can be good or terrible if it falls in the wrong hands.
The pace started off slow but gradually built up. Narrated by Brigid, Emmett (the detective) and Sean Plottner (the multi-billionaire who wants Matt to work for him), we follow as the case of Matt's dissaperance unfolds. This is light sci-fi book, an adventure and an intriguing mystery with plenty of suspects with motives. There is quite a bit of elements to this book and, at least to me, they all work well together. Initially I thought this book was going to be in the same vein as Blake Crouch's Dark Matter. It is not the case as Crouch's book is more of an active application whereas this is a theoretical Quantum idea. Still, this book shines on its own right. As far the science aspect, the Quantum interference, well its certainly intriguing (the thought experiment of Schrodinger's Cat also plays a role in the narrative). I could not explain it if I tried but I get the overall idea. The reveal at the end was satisfying and the narrative flowed nicely. The concept might be complicated but reading this book is easy. Would recommend this book.
August 9, 2020
The sexism is just... Ugh...
The author acknowledges #metoo but then has the antagonist making up a sexual harrasment claim. Also, the only BIPOC characters are "the bad guys". Plus the physics.... Eugh.
The author acknowledges #metoo but then has the antagonist making up a sexual harrasment claim. Also, the only BIPOC characters are "the bad guys". Plus the physics.... Eugh.
May 25, 2022
Some people have implied that this was Sci-Fi, but really it was a police procedural mystery with a physics angle thrown in. I don't know the specifics of the theories well enough to say how accurate or feasible it is, but it was enough to explain what quantum entanglement is, and get my interest.
But these theories were only involved indirectly in the story; the real story involved people doing things that people always do, good, bad, or indifferent. And there were some interesting people. I'd love to see a follow-up story with more of them. One of the people that seem interesting is a rich guys security head, who rarely speaks. The only sentence I remember him saying was "I like it", which surprised everyone around, especially his boss. It seems like a lot of good lines, mostly short, were at the end of the book.
This was a fairly slow-moving book, but it was never boring. I'll certainly be reading more by this author.
I listened to the audible version of this, narrated by Lara Jennings and Christopher Lane. They did a good job, and having the male + female voices helped a lot.
But these theories were only involved indirectly in the story; the real story involved people doing things that people always do, good, bad, or indifferent. And there were some interesting people. I'd love to see a follow-up story with more of them. One of the people that seem interesting is a rich guys security head, who rarely speaks. The only sentence I remember him saying was "I like it", which surprised everyone around, especially his boss. It seems like a lot of good lines, mostly short, were at the end of the book.
This was a fairly slow-moving book, but it was never boring. I'll certainly be reading more by this author.
I listened to the audible version of this, narrated by Lara Jennings and Christopher Lane. They did a good job, and having the male + female voices helped a lot.
September 6, 2020
I was hoping for something along the lines of Dark Matter or Recursion but instead I got a lukewarm mystery.
July 2, 2020
Matt Bronik, physicist and professor at Dartmouth College, is on the cusp of a scientific breakthrough. It's one that could potentially earn him the coveted Nobel prize. All of that changes, when he begins to have fits that can't be explained by medical doctors and then he is subsequently kidnapped by Chinese men pretending to be EMT's who are supposed to be there to take him to the hospital after suffering another fit. Detective Emmett Webster is assigned Bronik's missing persons case and it's like nothing he's ever dealt with. Bronik's postdoc student claims she's entangled with him on a cellular level due to being infected by the virus he was working on, multi-millionaire Sean Plottner, has his hands all over the case as a potential new boss for Bronik, and there are a host of other co-workers and possible suspects that Emmett has to deal with in order to get to the bottom of the case. Will he be able to find Matt Bronik before it's too late or will Matt's life's work fall into the wrong hands?
Earlier this year I read Blake Crouch's Recursion and it was my first foray into Science Fiction. Interference by Brad Parks has similar themes and was equally as interesting as Recursion. I enjoyed the police procedural aspects to this novel and thought the two genres were expertly combined. Each of the characters were well thought and fleshed out. I appreciated the fact that while some chapters were heavily scientific, others focused more on human interest and the detective work. It was very well balanced.
Earlier this year I read Blake Crouch's Recursion and it was my first foray into Science Fiction. Interference by Brad Parks has similar themes and was equally as interesting as Recursion. I enjoyed the police procedural aspects to this novel and thought the two genres were expertly combined. Each of the characters were well thought and fleshed out. I appreciated the fact that while some chapters were heavily scientific, others focused more on human interest and the detective work. It was very well balanced.
September 8, 2020
Interference by Brad Parks is fantastic. This book is half Michael Crichton, half Michael Connelly and one hundred percent pure fun. Brad flawlessly jumps from character to character, amping up the tension as the story unfolds while drawing the narrative ever tighter until your caught in his lyrical hangman’s noose. Trust me when I say this--you're going to love this book!
September 2, 2020
A good 'who done it'
If you like a mystery to the end you'll enjoy reading this book! Recommended for those who like not knowing until the ending.
If you like a mystery to the end you'll enjoy reading this book! Recommended for those who like not knowing until the ending.
August 6, 2020
Prime Reading
Excerpt : p, 242 We all have our illusions in this world, and we cling to them. We think we're standing on a broad, sturdy cruise ship of an existence when really we're floating in a life raft. We construct webs of safety for our families and ignore the hungry spider in the corner. We convince ourselves that the terrible things we read about will always happen to someone else."
Fifty years ago I somehow landed at UC Berkeley as a freshman. It's a long story, but I had successfully completed my first term at Humboldt State and, through a series of circumstances ended up living in Berkeley. After the first few, heady months, I decided school would be good. I applied and was accepted, embarking on several years of taking classes as an undeclared major. I didn't just fiddle around, either; I worked toward fulfilling my general ed requirements as I tried to figure out what to major in. One of those requirements was science. Thank God there were science classes in the '10' category, the one that was for liberal arts majors. Probably because it fit into my work/study/party schedule, I chose Physics 10 for my science requirement. Fortunately, it was graded on a pass/fail basis, and if I tried really hard and did all the work, I was assured I would pass. It was VERY basic, including things like sound and light. I still didn't totally get everything, but I tried, and I completed all the assignments. I passed. Still, one of the things I'm still really proud of is my grade on the book review assignment given to us by the TA. It was to be graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory, but I didn't just get an S (indicating satisfactory), I got an S+. That may seem like a small thing, but to me, who struggled with math and science, it was enormous.
What does this have to do with Interference? Well, the plot centers around physics, quantum physics to be exact. And Brad Parks was good enough to present the science in a way that was both entertaining and pretty much understandable. Although I did zone out once or twice. In fact, I started picturing him as my Physics 10 TA, a young man uncomfortable enough with his stature to wear high heeled boots, and smart enough to be in graduate school at Berkeley studying physics.
Anyway, this is a grand read, keeping me on the elliptical past my allotted time, and taking me down several trails of possible villains. I totally enjoyed it and will have to read more of his books.
Excerpt : p, 242 We all have our illusions in this world, and we cling to them. We think we're standing on a broad, sturdy cruise ship of an existence when really we're floating in a life raft. We construct webs of safety for our families and ignore the hungry spider in the corner. We convince ourselves that the terrible things we read about will always happen to someone else."
Fifty years ago I somehow landed at UC Berkeley as a freshman. It's a long story, but I had successfully completed my first term at Humboldt State and, through a series of circumstances ended up living in Berkeley. After the first few, heady months, I decided school would be good. I applied and was accepted, embarking on several years of taking classes as an undeclared major. I didn't just fiddle around, either; I worked toward fulfilling my general ed requirements as I tried to figure out what to major in. One of those requirements was science. Thank God there were science classes in the '10' category, the one that was for liberal arts majors. Probably because it fit into my work/study/party schedule, I chose Physics 10 for my science requirement. Fortunately, it was graded on a pass/fail basis, and if I tried really hard and did all the work, I was assured I would pass. It was VERY basic, including things like sound and light. I still didn't totally get everything, but I tried, and I completed all the assignments. I passed. Still, one of the things I'm still really proud of is my grade on the book review assignment given to us by the TA. It was to be graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory, but I didn't just get an S (indicating satisfactory), I got an S+. That may seem like a small thing, but to me, who struggled with math and science, it was enormous.
What does this have to do with Interference? Well, the plot centers around physics, quantum physics to be exact. And Brad Parks was good enough to present the science in a way that was both entertaining and pretty much understandable. Although I did zone out once or twice. In fact, I started picturing him as my Physics 10 TA, a young man uncomfortable enough with his stature to wear high heeled boots, and smart enough to be in graduate school at Berkeley studying physics.
Anyway, this is a grand read, keeping me on the elliptical past my allotted time, and taking me down several trails of possible villains. I totally enjoyed it and will have to read more of his books.
August 1, 2020
While it isn’t my typical go-to genre, I love a good thriller. I'll admit that my preference is more for the relatively bloodless kind, like psychological, medical, scientific, or legal. So, this thriller served me several of my favorite types. Unusually for a thriller, this one made me laugh at some observations of the scientist’s wife (like her thoughts on getting out of bed or having more children), who is one of the viewpoint characters. I was also emotionally touched by the first chapter from the retired police officer’s viewpoint. While the first chapter told from the perspective of the would-be investor billionaire didn't have the emotional spectrum provided by the other characters just mentioned, it did give us crucial insight into why he cared about this scientist's work. The author was able to make these key characters come alive with vivid detail, giving them unique traits and making them feel like realistic, nuanced, and truly believable individuals.
With such a great setup for some key players, things get really interesting as the plot heats up. First things veer into the medical thriller realm as the scientist at the core of the story is suffering strange fits that cannot be explained by doctors except by, perhaps, a somewhat ill-fitting theory of conversion disorder. He’s a physicist involved in quantum entanglement. While he feels like he is close to a breakthrough, he is not there, but his work has caused interest in very different people (or groups of them), like the billionaire investor hoping to fund a legacy, the Chinese, and others.
And then the physicist goes missing.
I found this to be a gripping, unputdownable, which is something I rarely say in reviews. I loved the science, the medical issues (as an RN), and of course, the suspense that needs to be at the core of a good thriller. Highly recommended.
My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
With such a great setup for some key players, things get really interesting as the plot heats up. First things veer into the medical thriller realm as the scientist at the core of the story is suffering strange fits that cannot be explained by doctors except by, perhaps, a somewhat ill-fitting theory of conversion disorder. He’s a physicist involved in quantum entanglement. While he feels like he is close to a breakthrough, he is not there, but his work has caused interest in very different people (or groups of them), like the billionaire investor hoping to fund a legacy, the Chinese, and others.
And then the physicist goes missing.
I found this to be a gripping, unputdownable, which is something I rarely say in reviews. I loved the science, the medical issues (as an RN), and of course, the suspense that needs to be at the core of a good thriller. Highly recommended.
My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
September 21, 2020
This book was not what I was expecting, it was more of a detective novel than a true science fiction book. Not to say there wasn't some science fiction in it but it was a smattering found within a general mystery/thriller type book.
What science there was I found the premise of it really quite interesting and original and you don’t need a degree in science to understand it, or at least the gist of it, but if you are after a sciencey book, then this really isn’t it.
We follow the points of view of 3 people alternating between them with each chapter, they are: The Wife, The Detective and The Millionaire (to generalise slightly). All were slightly cliched but I did warm to the detective, he was a pretty good character, the wife I found grating - a little too perfect in their happy family for my liking.
There were also some issues with the detective and that side of the story - he discusses the details of the ongoing case and his suspects with other potential suspects. It seemed quite often that the wife and the detective were partners investigating the mystery together, that’s just wrong.
However I did enjoy the many red herrings and misdirection throughout with several possible suspects which kept it interesting, and no I did not guess who was the mastermind behind it all.
Although a little cheesy at times with some cliched characters it was not a bad read, it kept my attention throughout and I read it quite quickly wanting to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Unfortunately I was not a massive fan of the ending either, a little too neat.
I feel like this is not a positive review now I am writing it, but I did enjoy reading it, it just had some faults so I am actually giving this a 3.5*/5 but rounding down to to 3*/5, not a bad read but I wouldn’t rave about it.
What science there was I found the premise of it really quite interesting and original and you don’t need a degree in science to understand it, or at least the gist of it, but if you are after a sciencey book, then this really isn’t it.
We follow the points of view of 3 people alternating between them with each chapter, they are: The Wife, The Detective and The Millionaire (to generalise slightly). All were slightly cliched but I did warm to the detective, he was a pretty good character, the wife I found grating - a little too perfect in their happy family for my liking.
There were also some issues with the detective and that side of the story - he discusses the details of the ongoing case and his suspects with other potential suspects. It seemed quite often that the wife and the detective were partners investigating the mystery together, that’s just wrong.
However I did enjoy the many red herrings and misdirection throughout with several possible suspects which kept it interesting, and no I did not guess who was the mastermind behind it all.
Although a little cheesy at times with some cliched characters it was not a bad read, it kept my attention throughout and I read it quite quickly wanting to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Unfortunately I was not a massive fan of the ending either, a little too neat.
I feel like this is not a positive review now I am writing it, but I did enjoy reading it, it just had some faults so I am actually giving this a 3.5*/5 but rounding down to to 3*/5, not a bad read but I wouldn’t rave about it.
October 12, 2020
“Interference” by Brad Parks poses many questions. Is it a kidnapping or a cosmic quantum disappearance? Is this science or science fiction? Is it a tale of deception, science, and international terrorism, or just idle speculation?
Professor Matt Bronik was an expert in quantum mechanics at Dartmouth College New Hampshire and a researcher on the cusp of making a great discovery -- until he wasn’t. He was a father and husband in perfect health – until he wasn’t. Readers go down a path with viruses that are not dangerous – until they are.
Readers are pulled into a roller coaster ride of educational intrigue, commercial exploitation of science, and quantum entanglement. The pace is fast and furious readers are confronted with a new trauma on every page. National security is at risk, but there is also a Nobel Prize in the mix. The characters are believable and nevertheless in an unbelievable situation. The action unfolds from various points of view so readers know what others do not. The plot is dialogue driven and filled with conversations, what people say to each other and say to themselves. People make promises they cannot keep and yet have planes named after them. Of course there is Schrödinger’s cat, a singer in the cast, and perhaps a perpetrator hiding in plain sight.
Readers should plan their time wisely, once one starts down this path, like a snowball rolling downhill, or a plant virus mutating exponentially, it is impossible to stop reading.
Professor Matt Bronik was an expert in quantum mechanics at Dartmouth College New Hampshire and a researcher on the cusp of making a great discovery -- until he wasn’t. He was a father and husband in perfect health – until he wasn’t. Readers go down a path with viruses that are not dangerous – until they are.
Readers are pulled into a roller coaster ride of educational intrigue, commercial exploitation of science, and quantum entanglement. The pace is fast and furious readers are confronted with a new trauma on every page. National security is at risk, but there is also a Nobel Prize in the mix. The characters are believable and nevertheless in an unbelievable situation. The action unfolds from various points of view so readers know what others do not. The plot is dialogue driven and filled with conversations, what people say to each other and say to themselves. People make promises they cannot keep and yet have planes named after them. Of course there is Schrödinger’s cat, a singer in the cast, and perhaps a perpetrator hiding in plain sight.
Readers should plan their time wisely, once one starts down this path, like a snowball rolling downhill, or a plant virus mutating exponentially, it is impossible to stop reading.
August 16, 2020
Always frustrated by thrillers / mysteries stories where characters run amok...the physicist is kidnapped and police/government/national security are involved but the wife, sister and a billionaire are freely able to be independently involved in every crime scene, witness, multi-million dollar hostage negotiation and criminal capture?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2020
Disappointing - I was excited about reading this book but as I got deeper and deeper into the book I just became bored which is about the worst thing you can say about a book. The characters in the book were unreal, the various situations not believable and the ending was just dull. I was hoping for more but it just did not happen.
December 6, 2020
Brad Parks is a new author to me, and I definitely plan to check out more of his books.
Interference is a fun combination of near science fiction (or maybe by now what he describes is a reality--I really don't understand quantum physics that well) mixed with a clever who-done-it.
Which makes for a super intriguing plot.
This reminded me of the books of Blake Crouch (Wayward Pines and Dark Matter). If you enjoy his books, you're bound to enjoy this one.
Note: This is a mainstream book so there is some language, but it's kept to a minimum.
Interference is a fun combination of near science fiction (or maybe by now what he describes is a reality--I really don't understand quantum physics that well) mixed with a clever who-done-it.
Which makes for a super intriguing plot.
This reminded me of the books of Blake Crouch (Wayward Pines and Dark Matter). If you enjoy his books, you're bound to enjoy this one.
Note: This is a mainstream book so there is some language, but it's kept to a minimum.
September 18, 2020
4.5 Stars, rounded up.
I was fully engaged with both the characters and the plot from the very first page! I have to admit I was grateful Interference didn't dive tooo deeply into the technicalities of quantum physics, as it would have gone right over my head.😂 I enjoyed the police procedural aspects of this book and loved Detective Emmett Webster! It was also interesting to read of what day-to-day life is like for someone who is hearing impaired. Quantum entanglement is widely derided as mystical woo-woo, but I was fascinated to read about the possibility of it!
I deducted half a star because I felt the end of the book was a wee bit more complicated than it needed to be.
I was fully engaged with both the characters and the plot from the very first page! I have to admit I was grateful Interference didn't dive tooo deeply into the technicalities of quantum physics, as it would have gone right over my head.😂 I enjoyed the police procedural aspects of this book and loved Detective Emmett Webster! It was also interesting to read of what day-to-day life is like for someone who is hearing impaired. Quantum entanglement is widely derided as mystical woo-woo, but I was fascinated to read about the possibility of it!
I deducted half a star because I felt the end of the book was a wee bit more complicated than it needed to be.
August 24, 2020
Excellent read, different from anything else I had read recently. Matt Bronik, a physics professor working on a project that may earn him a Nobel Prize, begins having unexplained fits at about the same time he is offered a one million dollar a year job that he turns down. When he has another bout with the virus (oh great, just what we need right now, a story about a virus possibly escaping from a lab), the EMTs who pick him up at the university never make it to the hospital. As the detective, who has basically been put out to pasture, works the case, he has a plethora of suspects and motives. Which of course makes for a really good storyline. Highly recommend!
August 10, 2020
Another disappointment from another of my favorite author.
November 2, 2020
The initial premise, that of quantum entanglement, immediately fascinated me and drew me into the novel whole-heartedly. There was a rich promise of exciting and mind- boggling activity and I had high expectations. I really expected far more scientific content than was provided.
The novel quickly kicks into action/thriller mode, and a fine thriller it was. However, the end of the book fell dramatically flat and diminished my enjoyment of the story because It was spectacularly unsurprising and clichéd.
Overall, this is an exciting story with interesting characters. I really enjoyed most of this novel but felt that the characters (and readers)deserved a few twisty surprises to spark up the muted ending.
The novel quickly kicks into action/thriller mode, and a fine thriller it was. However, the end of the book fell dramatically flat and diminished my enjoyment of the story because It was spectacularly unsurprising and clichéd.
Overall, this is an exciting story with interesting characters. I really enjoyed most of this novel but felt that the characters (and readers)deserved a few twisty surprises to spark up the muted ending.
October 27, 2020
It looks like science fiction, but it's not
You’d think that a novel centered on cutting-edge research on the frontiers of particle physics would fit easily into the genre of science fiction, and hard science fiction at that. After all, it’s about the work in a lab at Dartmouth College by a man who appears to be on the path to a Nobel Prize. Well, it’s not science fiction. Interference by the bestselling thriller writer Brad Parks is, instead, a thriller, pure and simple. And if you enjoy the roller-coaster thrills of a tale that abounds with twists and turns, you may love the book. It will disappoint you only if you’re a died-in-the-wool sci-fi fan.
No, it’s not science fiction
About that research. Albert Einstein called it “spooky action at a distance.” It’s called quantum entanglement—a mysterious phenomenon physicists observed a century ago in which some subatomic particles pair with identical particles located at a distance that may be a millimeter, a mile, or a light-year away. When you nudge one of those particles—with a laser, say—both move exactly the same distance and direction. Spooky, right? And a novel premised on the (admittedly absurd) claim that two people could be similarly paired through quantum entanglement might be, at least, interesting. Interference looks at first as though it’s that novel. But it’s not.
A brilliant physics professor, weird research, and a bored billionaire
Professor Matt Bronik is on the verge of a breakthrough in his research when he suddenly collapses in his lab and is rushed to the hospital. Although he recovers at length, the problem recurs . . . but this time an ambulance nobody ordered shows up, and he is rushed off to an unknown location. Matt has been kidnapped. Suspicion falls on a bored billionaire Wall Street investor named Plottner who is looking to inject excitement back into his life. He had offered Matt a million-dollar salary to leave Dartmouth and work for him. Uh-oh! We know that Plottner vowed not to take no for an answer. At this point, the action so far looks like the set-up for a tale about weird science—and what nefarious world-bending scheme Plottner might have concocted. But it’s not science fiction.
Something akin to a whodunit
In the fraught days that follow the kidnapping, Matt’s wife and a veteran detective with the New Hampshire State Police follow every lead with dogged determination. Soon, it becomes clear that Plottner is not the only suspect. Matt’s lab assistant, the chair of the department, and a friend on the physics faculty all seem to have reasons. The story devolves into something akin to a whodunit, in which a long list of characters is each suspected in turn of engineering Matt Bronik’s kidnapping. And, yes, there are murders, too. In the end, of course, it’s all resolved. But it’s unlikely you’ll figure out in advance what’s really happened. Brad Parks knows his stuff. Interference works well as a thriller. It’s just not science fiction.
You’d think that a novel centered on cutting-edge research on the frontiers of particle physics would fit easily into the genre of science fiction, and hard science fiction at that. After all, it’s about the work in a lab at Dartmouth College by a man who appears to be on the path to a Nobel Prize. Well, it’s not science fiction. Interference by the bestselling thriller writer Brad Parks is, instead, a thriller, pure and simple. And if you enjoy the roller-coaster thrills of a tale that abounds with twists and turns, you may love the book. It will disappoint you only if you’re a died-in-the-wool sci-fi fan.
No, it’s not science fiction
About that research. Albert Einstein called it “spooky action at a distance.” It’s called quantum entanglement—a mysterious phenomenon physicists observed a century ago in which some subatomic particles pair with identical particles located at a distance that may be a millimeter, a mile, or a light-year away. When you nudge one of those particles—with a laser, say—both move exactly the same distance and direction. Spooky, right? And a novel premised on the (admittedly absurd) claim that two people could be similarly paired through quantum entanglement might be, at least, interesting. Interference looks at first as though it’s that novel. But it’s not.
A brilliant physics professor, weird research, and a bored billionaire
Professor Matt Bronik is on the verge of a breakthrough in his research when he suddenly collapses in his lab and is rushed to the hospital. Although he recovers at length, the problem recurs . . . but this time an ambulance nobody ordered shows up, and he is rushed off to an unknown location. Matt has been kidnapped. Suspicion falls on a bored billionaire Wall Street investor named Plottner who is looking to inject excitement back into his life. He had offered Matt a million-dollar salary to leave Dartmouth and work for him. Uh-oh! We know that Plottner vowed not to take no for an answer. At this point, the action so far looks like the set-up for a tale about weird science—and what nefarious world-bending scheme Plottner might have concocted. But it’s not science fiction.
Something akin to a whodunit
In the fraught days that follow the kidnapping, Matt’s wife and a veteran detective with the New Hampshire State Police follow every lead with dogged determination. Soon, it becomes clear that Plottner is not the only suspect. Matt’s lab assistant, the chair of the department, and a friend on the physics faculty all seem to have reasons. The story devolves into something akin to a whodunit, in which a long list of characters is each suspected in turn of engineering Matt Bronik’s kidnapping. And, yes, there are murders, too. In the end, of course, it’s all resolved. But it’s unlikely you’ll figure out in advance what’s really happened. Brad Parks knows his stuff. Interference works well as a thriller. It’s just not science fiction.
August 18, 2020
I have so much trouble rating books, because how do you put stars on "did not cater to physicists or align with my feminist agenda"?
The narrative voice fell flat for me. One character was first person, and the rest were in third, but none of them were particularly strong.
The story claimed to be about a quantum physicist, but the narrator was his wife, and she found everything about physics incomprehensible. Every now and then, there was a science story (quantum entanglement, black holes, Schrodinger's cat) and the basic explanation is what I would give to a kid, but the science was only applied metaphorically. The portrayal of academics was dishearteningly stereotypical - really smart, socially oblivious... but that one woman post-doc actually likes kids.
The three women in the book, included the wife, the sister, and the post-doc. The wife had a hearing impairment and hated herself for it. She was also the only first-person narrator in the book. I kept hoping for her to grow, change, learn, or come to some level of acceptance, but she really just seemed to be along for the ride. The sister was a minor player, and as a childless divorcee was naturally able to drop everything in her life to become a full-time caretaker while the plot moved on. Toward the end, she started showing off some skill that wasn't "aunt," and naturally took the road of stupidity into unnecessary danger. Then there was the postdoc whose single greatest failure seemed to be that she didn't have a job lined up.
There were some really intriguing ideas at the start of the story, but rather than a twist at the end, the rug was pulled out from under me, the cords on which I was suspending my disbelief were snapped,
The narrative voice fell flat for me. One character was first person, and the rest were in third, but none of them were particularly strong.
The story claimed to be about a quantum physicist, but the narrator was his wife, and she found everything about physics incomprehensible. Every now and then, there was a science story (quantum entanglement, black holes, Schrodinger's cat) and the basic explanation is what I would give to a kid, but the science was only applied metaphorically. The portrayal of academics was dishearteningly stereotypical - really smart, socially oblivious... but that one woman post-doc actually likes kids.
The three women in the book, included the wife, the sister, and the post-doc. The wife had a hearing impairment and hated herself for it. She was also the only first-person narrator in the book. I kept hoping for her to grow, change, learn, or come to some level of acceptance, but she really just seemed to be along for the ride. The sister was a minor player, and as a childless divorcee was naturally able to drop everything in her life to become a full-time caretaker while the plot moved on. Toward the end, she started showing off some skill that wasn't "aunt," and naturally took the road of stupidity into unnecessary danger. Then there was the postdoc whose single greatest failure seemed to be that she didn't have a job lined up.
There were some really intriguing ideas at the start of the story, but rather than a twist at the end, the rug was pulled out from under me, the cords on which I was suspending my disbelief were snapped,
September 7, 2020
Well written and a quick read, but otherwise generic thriller that has many convenient plot shifts that don't serve as engaging twists and make the story implausible on multiple levels. If it were a Netflix movie, it'd be the one that has a C-grade star from the 90s you kinda liked and that you are tempted to watch, but you instead end up killing time on old episodes of the Office or re-watching Stranger Things. Move along.
BTW, the quantum physics hook pulled me in hope of a real science fiction tie-in, but it's a weak thread that's exploited to (again) give a convenient plot vehicle, but has no real bearing on outcome. And, come on, what's with the author still attempting to develop Matt's character in the last 10 pages with the basic geometry calculation he does in his head for the gun shot angles? There's no chance he would have had all the data needed to calculate that to multiple decimal places, but we're told to believe "that's just Matt".
BTW, the quantum physics hook pulled me in hope of a real science fiction tie-in, but it's a weak thread that's exploited to (again) give a convenient plot vehicle, but has no real bearing on outcome. And, come on, what's with the author still attempting to develop Matt's character in the last 10 pages with the basic geometry calculation he does in his head for the gun shot angles? There's no chance he would have had all the data needed to calculate that to multiple decimal places, but we're told to believe "that's just Matt".
September 11, 2020
The description of this book set my expectations. It was supposed to be an "emotional heart-pounding thriller". That it was not. It wasn't a bad story - I read the whole book. But the twists and turns were a bit implausible.
I don't really think you need to understand. quantum physics to read this book. It's explained on a really simple level and you just have to accept (suspend your disbelief, if you will) that per quantum physics something can be in 2 places at once. That premise is their gimmick: you can just pretend they're saying 'magic' every time you read 'quantum physics' to make it easier.
The ending came out of field for me, and felt unsatisfactory. The ending was rather too pat.
Has the book not been hyped as a rhriller, i would likely have given it one more star.
If this is a good example of the author's writing i don't know how he won so many awards.
I don't really think you need to understand. quantum physics to read this book. It's explained on a really simple level and you just have to accept (suspend your disbelief, if you will) that per quantum physics something can be in 2 places at once. That premise is their gimmick: you can just pretend they're saying 'magic' every time you read 'quantum physics' to make it easier.
The ending came out of field for me, and felt unsatisfactory. The ending was rather too pat.
Has the book not been hyped as a rhriller, i would likely have given it one more star.
If this is a good example of the author's writing i don't know how he won so many awards.
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