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Jen Lu #1
The Last Exit
Perfect for fans of Tom Sweterlitsch's
The Gone World
. In this thrilling futuristic novel, the secret to eternal life is closely guarded by people who will do anything to protect it -- even if it means destroying everything in their path.
Set in Washington D.C. 20 years from now, climate change has hit hard, fires are burning, unemployment is high, and controversial longevity treatments are only available to the very rich. Enter resourceful young police detective, Jen B. Lu, and her 'partner', Chandler, a SIM implant in her brain and her instant link to the Internet and police records, and a constant voice inside her head. He's an inquisitive tough guy, with a helluva sense of humor and his own ideas about solving crimes.
As a detective in the Elder Abuse unit, Jen is supposed to be investigating kids pushing their aging parents to "exit" so they are eligible to get the longevity drug. But what really has her attention are the persistent rumors about Eden, a black market version of the longevity drug, and the bizarre outbreak of people aging almost overnight, then suddenly dying--is this all connected? Is Big Pharma involved?
When Jen's investigations of Eden take her too close to the truth, she is suspended, Chandler is deactivated, and her boyfriend is freaked out by "the thing inside her brain." This leaves Jen to pursue a very dangerous investigation all by herself.
Set in Washington D.C. 20 years from now, climate change has hit hard, fires are burning, unemployment is high, and controversial longevity treatments are only available to the very rich. Enter resourceful young police detective, Jen B. Lu, and her 'partner', Chandler, a SIM implant in her brain and her instant link to the Internet and police records, and a constant voice inside her head. He's an inquisitive tough guy, with a helluva sense of humor and his own ideas about solving crimes.
As a detective in the Elder Abuse unit, Jen is supposed to be investigating kids pushing their aging parents to "exit" so they are eligible to get the longevity drug. But what really has her attention are the persistent rumors about Eden, a black market version of the longevity drug, and the bizarre outbreak of people aging almost overnight, then suddenly dying--is this all connected? Is Big Pharma involved?
When Jen's investigations of Eden take her too close to the truth, she is suspended, Chandler is deactivated, and her boyfriend is freaked out by "the thing inside her brain." This leaves Jen to pursue a very dangerous investigation all by herself.
298 pages, Hardcover
First published January 12, 2021
50 people are currently reading
264 people want to read
About the author
Michael Kaufman
38 books17 followersMichael Kaufman is the author of three novels and six non-fiction books. His first mystery, "The Last Exit" hits the stores in January 2020. His previous book, "The Time Has Come: Why Men Must Join the Gender Equality Revolution" draws on decades of work in fifty countries as an advisor and speaker with the United Nations, governments, NGOs, companies, trade unions and universities. His articles have appeared in the New York Times, the Guardian, the Nation, the Globe and Mail and a slew of other places.
source: Amazon
source: Amazon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
April 18, 2022
3.5 stars
This review was first posted on Mystery and Suspense. Check it out for features, interviews, and reviews. https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/th...
It's 2033 and America has big problems. Unemployment has soared due to automation, climate change has devastated the environment, smoke from constant fires pollutes the atmosphere.....
.....and a fatal neurological disease called Rapid Onset Spongiform Encephalitis (ROSE) - similar to mad cow disease - is killing people who reach middle age.
Pharmaceutical companies respond to the ROSE epidemic by developing a preventative drug that not only wards off the spongiform encephalitis, it extends a person's life span into the hundreds. With ongoing plastic surgery, a 100+ person can look thirty-five for decades. The medicine is VERY costly, however, and available only to the privileged ultra-wealthy.
There IS an alternative however. A less costly version of the ROSE-prevention drug extends life for a few decades, but there's a catch. People can only get the medicine if their parents agree to be euthanized (exit) at the age of 65. Moreover, drug recipients must be childless, and are sterilized upon treatment. So recipients of the inferior drug avoid spongiform encephalitis and live into their nineties, but lose their parents and have no children.
Still, many people want to take advantage of the cheaper medicine, and convince or coerce their parents to exit, and sometimes kill them if they refuse.
There are discussions about the ethics of letting (or encouraging) parents to exit, but much of the population seems to be on board.
To reduce parental mistreatment, the Washington DC Metro Police have an Elder Abuse Unit that deals with people bullying/beating/murdering their mothers and fathers. Chinese-American Detective Jennifer Lu is part of the Elder Abuse Unit, and is called to the scene when parents are being harassed or threatened.
In addition - as part of an experimental program to improve police performance - Jen has an Artificial Intelligence (AI) unit implanted in her brain. The AI unit can access police files, scan the internet, and see and hear everything Jen sees and hears. Jen's AI, called Chandler, functions as a voice in her head, and the duo discuss evidence, lines of investigation, suspects, perpetrators, and so on.
Chandler can be turned off when Jen's not working, but he takes an interest in her personal life, and sometimes asks to be left on when Jen visits her ailing mother, sees her boyfriend Zach, goes to parties, etc. Chandler has a cheeky personality, which adds a touch of fun to story.
Jen also has a flesh and blood partner named Les who has an AI unit called P.D. Together, Jen, Les, and their respective AIs form an efficient foursome.
The book's plot revolves around Jen's suspicion that a black market version of the cheap ROSE-prevention drug - called Eden - is available. People with access to the illegal medicine could presumably have parents over 65 AND families of their own. However, when Jen mentions Eden to her boss, Captain Brooks, he insists there's no such thing and orders Jen not to investigate.
Soon afterwards, the U.S. has an epidemic of young people getting sick and dying within a week, appearing shriveled and 100 years old. Jen suspects this has something to do with Eden, and decides to look into the matter against Captain Brooks' orders. Jen's inquiries involve breaking and entering; interviewing witnesses; going to secret meetings; surveilling suspects; and more.
It turns out there's a cabal of sinister conspirators at work, and Jen endangers her life in an effort to expose them.
This is a compelling science fiction-detective story, just the thing for readers who want something different.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
dnf
July 1, 2021DNF @ 25% - not for me... "Soylent Green meets Logan's Run" - Pass
November 29, 2020
Review to come but it's neat.
August 1, 2022
The Last Exit is a dystopian sci-fi crime novel that follows Jen Lu, a detective in the Elder Abuse Unit, and Chandler, a SIM implant that is embedded in her brain. Her interaction with Chandler was kind of akin to having a conversation with a voice inside your head — although Chandler’s personality is that of a snarky, tough guy, which I found quite amusing. I immensely enjoyed the banter between Chandler and Jen and loved seeing Chandler’s personality develop throughout the pages.
In this world, people are encouraged to “Exit” when they reach the age of 65; that is to say, they are expected to agree to kill themselves. Once they do, their children will be given the Treatment that’ll protect them against a deadly disease called ROSE, an illness similar to Mad Cow except that it’s fatal for a high percentage of the population. If the parents refuse to exit, the children are subsequently denied the Treatment. Needless to say, this opens the door to all sorts of elder abuse, with children forcing their parents to exit should they refuse.
Of course, all these rules don’t pertain to the mega-wealthy who are not required to exit at all and who can partake of a different treatment guaranteed to provide everlasting life (people who have this are called “The Timeless.”)
So what we have here, then, is a society where the wealthy can prolong their lives indefinitely, whereas those who aren’t rich are expected to terminate their life so that their children don’t die before their time (of 65). I found the idea of this society extremely intriguing….and chilling.
The intrigue of this story, however, lies in a black market version of the longevity drug called Eden and the subsequent outbreak of people experiencing accelerated aging and then dying, all within a couple of days. As detective Lu investigates, she unearths a mystery that runs a lot deeper than anyone had initially thought. She ends up getting thrust into the center of a deadly conspiracy. There are also those — including her boss — demanding that she abandon her investigation.
I ended up thoroughly enjoying this book and loved how each piece of the tightly plotted puzzle falls slowly into place as we race to the finish line. The author redefines here the boundaries of crime fiction with a novel that is part dystopian/sci-fi, part thriller, and part mystery. I loved Jen’s character in this book; she’s intelligent, relentless, and determined, and the crisp banter between her and Chandler caused several laugh-out-loud moments.
But at the end of the day, I found this to be an engrossing and intelligent story — a complex, somewhat chaotic, dark, and entertaining read as we follow the sinister and menacing machinations of a foe whose identity is up to Jen to uncover. And in so doing, puts her own life in danger. Weird, wacky, and wonderful!
A huge thank you to Netgalley for providing a review copy of this book.
In this world, people are encouraged to “Exit” when they reach the age of 65; that is to say, they are expected to agree to kill themselves. Once they do, their children will be given the Treatment that’ll protect them against a deadly disease called ROSE, an illness similar to Mad Cow except that it’s fatal for a high percentage of the population. If the parents refuse to exit, the children are subsequently denied the Treatment. Needless to say, this opens the door to all sorts of elder abuse, with children forcing their parents to exit should they refuse.
Of course, all these rules don’t pertain to the mega-wealthy who are not required to exit at all and who can partake of a different treatment guaranteed to provide everlasting life (people who have this are called “The Timeless.”)
So what we have here, then, is a society where the wealthy can prolong their lives indefinitely, whereas those who aren’t rich are expected to terminate their life so that their children don’t die before their time (of 65). I found the idea of this society extremely intriguing….and chilling.
The intrigue of this story, however, lies in a black market version of the longevity drug called Eden and the subsequent outbreak of people experiencing accelerated aging and then dying, all within a couple of days. As detective Lu investigates, she unearths a mystery that runs a lot deeper than anyone had initially thought. She ends up getting thrust into the center of a deadly conspiracy. There are also those — including her boss — demanding that she abandon her investigation.
I ended up thoroughly enjoying this book and loved how each piece of the tightly plotted puzzle falls slowly into place as we race to the finish line. The author redefines here the boundaries of crime fiction with a novel that is part dystopian/sci-fi, part thriller, and part mystery. I loved Jen’s character in this book; she’s intelligent, relentless, and determined, and the crisp banter between her and Chandler caused several laugh-out-loud moments.
But at the end of the day, I found this to be an engrossing and intelligent story — a complex, somewhat chaotic, dark, and entertaining read as we follow the sinister and menacing machinations of a foe whose identity is up to Jen to uncover. And in so doing, puts her own life in danger. Weird, wacky, and wonderful!
A huge thank you to Netgalley for providing a review copy of this book.
November 6, 2020
The Last Exit features two main characters:on is Jen Lu, a cop in a near-future earth where climate change has ravaged the planet and the Russians appear to have taken over DC(?) but we still have a President and Vice resident. The other is Chandler, an AI implant in Lu's head, who only "lives" for five years.
The world of this future has those in their late 40s and early 50s having a good chance of contracting mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy, in this work, changed slightly to become the acronym ROSE). The top scientists have decided it's because there are too many old people, so the official policy becomes this: a child can receive the treatment for ROSE, but only if their parents decide to exit when they reach their mid 60s. The policy, of course, tends to result in a lot of elder abuse, with parents at time being abused by their children because the parents don't want to exit. The mega-rich, naturally, live by a different set of rules - they neither have to exit, nor do their children lack for the treatment, should they need it. The adults who seem to live forever are called Timeless, a strata unreachable for the usual day to day population.
Lu hears rumors of something called Eden - she isn't sure if it's a place or a treatment, but keeps running into mention of it, usually at murder scenes. She mentions it to her boss, but he tells her to stow it and focus on her job. But with Eden popping up again and again, she can't help but poke into it, despite the warnings from her boss, and despite the shadowy figures, including a rep from BigPharma, of course, who meet with her precinct to warn of a counterfeit treatment that causes people to age like progeria on steroids, leaving them dead within three days. Conspiracies galore!
The AI, Chandler, seems to be a route through which the author can get to the reader without it being infodumpy, and it does work to an extent. There were a couple of times when I wondered how it could have seen anything if Lu just scanned past something. These were minor issues, though.
Overall, it isn't a bad mystery, and while the social justice stuff is here, it is not completely in your face, so if you're of a more conservative bent, it likely won't be too preachy for you.
Three and a half stars out of five, rounded up to four.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the review copy.
The world of this future has those in their late 40s and early 50s having a good chance of contracting mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy, in this work, changed slightly to become the acronym ROSE). The top scientists have decided it's because there are too many old people, so the official policy becomes this: a child can receive the treatment for ROSE, but only if their parents decide to exit when they reach their mid 60s. The policy, of course, tends to result in a lot of elder abuse, with parents at time being abused by their children because the parents don't want to exit. The mega-rich, naturally, live by a different set of rules - they neither have to exit, nor do their children lack for the treatment, should they need it. The adults who seem to live forever are called Timeless, a strata unreachable for the usual day to day population.
Lu hears rumors of something called Eden - she isn't sure if it's a place or a treatment, but keeps running into mention of it, usually at murder scenes. She mentions it to her boss, but he tells her to stow it and focus on her job. But with Eden popping up again and again, she can't help but poke into it, despite the warnings from her boss, and despite the shadowy figures, including a rep from BigPharma, of course, who meet with her precinct to warn of a counterfeit treatment that causes people to age like progeria on steroids, leaving them dead within three days. Conspiracies galore!
The AI, Chandler, seems to be a route through which the author can get to the reader without it being infodumpy, and it does work to an extent. There were a couple of times when I wondered how it could have seen anything if Lu just scanned past something. These were minor issues, though.
Overall, it isn't a bad mystery, and while the social justice stuff is here, it is not completely in your face, so if you're of a more conservative bent, it likely won't be too preachy for you.
Three and a half stars out of five, rounded up to four.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the review copy.
February 1, 2021
2.5 stars. Supposedly set 20 years from now in Washington, DC, this speculative thriller just didn't ring true in any way. The technological and cultural advances were way too extreme for 20 years, for a start, making it difficult for me to suspend disbelief. But the characters were equally unbelievable. It wasn't that they were unlikable as much as they just had no authenticity. Also, for a novel with technothriller aspects, very little effort was made selling the science.
I wanted to like this novel, but it just didn't work for me by any measure.
I wanted to like this novel, but it just didn't work for me by any measure.
April 1, 2021
So, once you read one Sci Fi, you might as well read another ... THE LAST EXIT is a futuristic dystopian thriller set in Washington DC and had a Soylent Green kind of feel.. as the world seems to be about to end and food is an issue.... exiting is the what you do with your parents... so that was what made me think about Soylent Green. It is haves and haves not world in 2033, and the climate is killing everyone slowly.. only the haves are doing well and they seem to be living forever, while the have nots are being exited under the pressure for their children to survive.
Our heroine in police detective, Jen B. Lu, and Chandler, her "SIM" implant in her brain. Chandler is sort of the star of the book and his connection and relationship to Jen is a high point in the book. He is the constant voice inside her head.
The battle between right and wrong, good and evil heats up as Jen investigates kids pushing their aging parents to "exit" so they are eligible to get the longevity drug. Which is being black marketed (where there is a need there is always some crook to fill it)... This investigation becomes dangerous to Jen and Chandler and she walks a tight line to solve the case.. in a car that can change colors.. I loved that! It was my favorite thing about the future...
4 Stars
Happy Reading!
Our heroine in police detective, Jen B. Lu, and Chandler, her "SIM" implant in her brain. Chandler is sort of the star of the book and his connection and relationship to Jen is a high point in the book. He is the constant voice inside her head.
The battle between right and wrong, good and evil heats up as Jen investigates kids pushing their aging parents to "exit" so they are eligible to get the longevity drug. Which is being black marketed (where there is a need there is always some crook to fill it)... This investigation becomes dangerous to Jen and Chandler and she walks a tight line to solve the case.. in a car that can change colors.. I loved that! It was my favorite thing about the future...
4 Stars
Happy Reading!
December 12, 2022
This near-future dystopian mystery stars police detective Jen B. Lu and her partner Chandler who is a SIM implant in her brain. Unemployment is high, climate change is making Washington, DC, much hotter than it has ever been. And Jen's job with the Elder Abuse unit has her investigating a number of crimes where kids are pushing their parents to "exit" -- submit to euthanasia so that their children can take a longevity drug.
Jen has her own issues with her mother who is suffering from dementia and nearing the time when Jen can sign for her exit. Jen is still dealing with all the various kinds of abuse she suffered at her mother's hand as a child and thinks the decision to end her mother's life will be easy.
Then Jen starts hearing rumors of something called Eden which is supposed to be an underground longevity drug prepared outside of Big Pharm. But Big Pharm has heard the rumors too and has their own plan to discredit Eden.
Suspended from the police department and with Chandler deactivated, Jen has to gather allies who are willing to fight to find answers.
This was an engaging story about an undesirable future that still seems to be a possible extrapolation of current events if we don't make changes soon. Chandler tells the story which gives it a unique viewpoint. Fans of political thrillers in a dystopian setting will enjoy this story.
Jen has her own issues with her mother who is suffering from dementia and nearing the time when Jen can sign for her exit. Jen is still dealing with all the various kinds of abuse she suffered at her mother's hand as a child and thinks the decision to end her mother's life will be easy.
Then Jen starts hearing rumors of something called Eden which is supposed to be an underground longevity drug prepared outside of Big Pharm. But Big Pharm has heard the rumors too and has their own plan to discredit Eden.
Suspended from the police department and with Chandler deactivated, Jen has to gather allies who are willing to fight to find answers.
This was an engaging story about an undesirable future that still seems to be a possible extrapolation of current events if we don't make changes soon. Chandler tells the story which gives it a unique viewpoint. Fans of political thrillers in a dystopian setting will enjoy this story.
March 10, 2021
2,5 stars.
It took quite a while to get into the story for me. Once I started to care about the case it felt like a pretty standard mystery novel. I did also struggle with the time setting. On one hand it was futuristic and new-techy, but on the other hand it was not that diffrent from today. This made it hard for me to feel like I was getting a grasp on the story and the world building.
It took quite a while to get into the story for me. Once I started to care about the case it felt like a pretty standard mystery novel. I did also struggle with the time setting. On one hand it was futuristic and new-techy, but on the other hand it was not that diffrent from today. This made it hard for me to feel like I was getting a grasp on the story and the world building.
February 26, 2021
The synopsis describes it as a futuristic setting, but the scene set could absolutely be happening today, or any time in the last 30ish years for that matter. As a result, I did feel a little misled reading this book, initially.
Finally, several chapters in, it does mention some changes which implied it’s set in the future but the author still did a poor job of making it FEEL futuristic. This didn’t quite hit the spot for me, as I just couldn’t get into it. I don’t feel it was exactly badly written, just not super well-written either, and not for me.
2.5 stars.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Note:
I listened to the audiobook. The narrators were okay. Not the greatest voice on the male, not one I’d prefer to spend too much time listening to, but easy enough to understand. The female voice was better, but again, not one I’d prefer to listen to all the time. Sort of bland. 4-star performance, not factoring in the voices.
Finally, several chapters in, it does mention some changes which implied it’s set in the future but the author still did a poor job of making it FEEL futuristic. This didn’t quite hit the spot for me, as I just couldn’t get into it. I don’t feel it was exactly badly written, just not super well-written either, and not for me.
2.5 stars.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Note:
I listened to the audiobook. The narrators were okay. Not the greatest voice on the male, not one I’d prefer to spend too much time listening to, but easy enough to understand. The female voice was better, but again, not one I’d prefer to listen to all the time. Sort of bland. 4-star performance, not factoring in the voices.
March 24, 2021
THE LAST EXIT is an unusual futuristic sci-fi procedural. The book is told primarily from the perspective of the AI implant in the head of Jen Lu, a police detective in DC 20 years from now. The AI implant, Chandler, is interested in learning about life and people through her while also providing information through a sophisticated database/search.
In this future, to help with the aging population, the government is encouraging people to "exit" upon turning 65 years of age through euthanasia. If they do so, their children under the age of 50 will be given access to a special drug that will prevent illnesses and allow them to live until an old age. This is particularly important in the face of ROSE (Rapid Onset Spongiform Encephalitis) which rapidly causes death and is affecting a large amount of people in their 50s. The treatment prevents this death - but also requires them to be childless and sterilized to keep the population controlled. This could lead to elder abuse where people try to get their parents to exit - and Jen is part of the force dedicated to helping prevent this.
Now, on the black market, Jen is hearing about a new drug called Eden, which is supposed to have similar effects to the treatment - a potentially dangerous new entry to the stability of society. Although Jen is discouraged from looking into it, her evidence and cases seem to point in this direction.
This was an intriguing read, and I loved the premise. It was fascinating, and the turns in the case were really intriguing and keep the reader guessing. This would make such a cool futuristic detective movie, and I could definitely see it taking off. I was fully on-board with the case, and I loved Jen's character throughout.
What gave me pause, however, was Chandler. The AI perspective seemed a little too odd for me and its relationship with her a bit wrong, particularly with how it relates to Jen, her body, and her personal life (some particularly voyeuristic scenes, particularly the very last scene, and it also happened without her consent- she thought she had turned him off but he got around it). I would have liked the book better without Chandler, but I do understand that it adds to the futuristic vibe, and he does create some fun conversations with his snarky personality. There were some scenes that crossed the line for me though (especially the last one).
Overall, THE LAST EXIT was an intriguing sci-fi procedural with a clever plot - take out some of the AI boundary violating. Please note that I received a review copy. All opinions are my own.
In this future, to help with the aging population, the government is encouraging people to "exit" upon turning 65 years of age through euthanasia. If they do so, their children under the age of 50 will be given access to a special drug that will prevent illnesses and allow them to live until an old age. This is particularly important in the face of ROSE (Rapid Onset Spongiform Encephalitis) which rapidly causes death and is affecting a large amount of people in their 50s. The treatment prevents this death - but also requires them to be childless and sterilized to keep the population controlled. This could lead to elder abuse where people try to get their parents to exit - and Jen is part of the force dedicated to helping prevent this.
Now, on the black market, Jen is hearing about a new drug called Eden, which is supposed to have similar effects to the treatment - a potentially dangerous new entry to the stability of society. Although Jen is discouraged from looking into it, her evidence and cases seem to point in this direction.
This was an intriguing read, and I loved the premise. It was fascinating, and the turns in the case were really intriguing and keep the reader guessing. This would make such a cool futuristic detective movie, and I could definitely see it taking off. I was fully on-board with the case, and I loved Jen's character throughout.
What gave me pause, however, was Chandler. The AI perspective seemed a little too odd for me and its relationship with her a bit wrong, particularly with how it relates to Jen, her body, and her personal life (some particularly voyeuristic scenes, particularly the very last scene, and it also happened without her consent- she thought she had turned him off but he got around it). I would have liked the book better without Chandler, but I do understand that it adds to the futuristic vibe, and he does create some fun conversations with his snarky personality. There were some scenes that crossed the line for me though (especially the last one).
Overall, THE LAST EXIT was an intriguing sci-fi procedural with a clever plot - take out some of the AI boundary violating. Please note that I received a review copy. All opinions are my own.
January 11, 2021
The Last Exit by Michael Kaufman is an imaginative sci-fi mystery set in the future.
With an AI brain implant named Chandler, Jen Lu is a detective with the DC Metro's Elder Abuse Unit. Elder abuse has become a serious issue because parents must "exit" when they turn 65 in order to let their children receive the "Timeless" treatment that will save them from a rapid onset spongiform encephalitis. If they do not exit, their children will die a horrific death. Jen has heard mention of "Eden" which appears to be a black market version of the treatment. When she mentions her suspicions to her boss Captain Kyrie Brooks, he tells her there is nothing for her to investigate. But when people begin dying from an advanced form of the encephalitis, Jen ignores Brooks' order and soon stumbles into a possible conspiracy. Will Jen uncover the truth before more people die?
Jen is in her late thirties and loves her career. With her mother nearing the age of 65, Jen is struggling a bit with the upcoming exit. Her childhood was quite abusive but her mother's dementia has changed her into a completely different person. Jen has been in a yearlong casual relationship with Zach whose parents have no worries about their exit. Zach, on the other hand, is against their decision even if it might cost his life. Since Jen has not opened up to him about her childhood, he does not understand how she can be so at ease with what is about to happen to her mother. Jen and Zach are growing closer, but since she is unable to tell him about Chandler, she is uncertain about the future of their relationship.
Jen's partner Les is also her best friend but she is keeping her Eden investigation from him. So when she is forced to go a bit rogue, she is on her own except for assistance from an unexpected group of people. She is inventive as she gains access to details that will hopefully lead her to the answers she is searching for. Cool advances in technology are also quite beneficial when she discovers she only has a short period of time to catch the people responsible for distributing the drugs that are causing the multitude of deaths from the advanced encephalitis. When she finds herself in a very dangerous situation, is there any chance Jen will escape? And will her suspects escape before they can be brought to justice?
The Last Exit is a riveting mystery with a fantastic cast of characters and a creative storyline. The sci-fi elements are richly developed and easy to visualize. Jen's investigation is fascinating and moves at a brisk pace. With intriguing twists and turns, Michael Kaufman brings this clever futuristic movie to an edge of the seat conclusion. This exciting first installment of the Jen Lu Mystery series will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.
With an AI brain implant named Chandler, Jen Lu is a detective with the DC Metro's Elder Abuse Unit. Elder abuse has become a serious issue because parents must "exit" when they turn 65 in order to let their children receive the "Timeless" treatment that will save them from a rapid onset spongiform encephalitis. If they do not exit, their children will die a horrific death. Jen has heard mention of "Eden" which appears to be a black market version of the treatment. When she mentions her suspicions to her boss Captain Kyrie Brooks, he tells her there is nothing for her to investigate. But when people begin dying from an advanced form of the encephalitis, Jen ignores Brooks' order and soon stumbles into a possible conspiracy. Will Jen uncover the truth before more people die?
Jen is in her late thirties and loves her career. With her mother nearing the age of 65, Jen is struggling a bit with the upcoming exit. Her childhood was quite abusive but her mother's dementia has changed her into a completely different person. Jen has been in a yearlong casual relationship with Zach whose parents have no worries about their exit. Zach, on the other hand, is against their decision even if it might cost his life. Since Jen has not opened up to him about her childhood, he does not understand how she can be so at ease with what is about to happen to her mother. Jen and Zach are growing closer, but since she is unable to tell him about Chandler, she is uncertain about the future of their relationship.
Jen's partner Les is also her best friend but she is keeping her Eden investigation from him. So when she is forced to go a bit rogue, she is on her own except for assistance from an unexpected group of people. She is inventive as she gains access to details that will hopefully lead her to the answers she is searching for. Cool advances in technology are also quite beneficial when she discovers she only has a short period of time to catch the people responsible for distributing the drugs that are causing the multitude of deaths from the advanced encephalitis. When she finds herself in a very dangerous situation, is there any chance Jen will escape? And will her suspects escape before they can be brought to justice?
The Last Exit is a riveting mystery with a fantastic cast of characters and a creative storyline. The sci-fi elements are richly developed and easy to visualize. Jen's investigation is fascinating and moves at a brisk pace. With intriguing twists and turns, Michael Kaufman brings this clever futuristic movie to an edge of the seat conclusion. This exciting first installment of the Jen Lu Mystery series will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.
June 18, 2023
Set maybe 20 years in the futures, police detective Jen Lu and Chandler, her hyper-intelligent brain implant, investigate what turns out to be a new drug called Eden.
In the near future, harsh changes to the climate have led to new diseases and also to a radical plan to curb population growth by encouraging the assisted suicides of anybody reaching the age of 65. A small number of hyper-rich citizens receive a special drug which keeps them disease free and prevents aging.
Eden is the black market version of this powerful drug.
This book has a lot of positive things going for it, but the mystery story is not one of them. Jen has a complicated personal and professional life, with a new boyfriend, a difficult boss, mommy-issues, and brain implant which has lots of opinions. Author Michael Kaufman does a pretty good job keeping this episodes brief enough so that the bulk of the story deals with police work.
The science fiction part is also well done. Although technology is more or less familiar to that of 2023, there are subtle and not-so-subtle social changes that consistently pop up and give the book a nice micro-surge of tension. There is mild resentment against the Timeless, who have received the treatment that keeps them ageless. And there is the difficult issue of helping the elderly to their deaths, which is encouraged by the government financially and medically - survivors are given a modified treatment which keeps them disease free for a limited time.
Dialogue is good, but not especially clever or funny. I think Chandler is the star of the book; his evolution into a thinking implant (instead of just a fancy smart phone in the brain) and internal and external dialogue were all enjoyable. I didn't find Jen's character particularly compelling, although her life faces several interesting choices. The other characters have just a little depth. The story flags in places as the personal and professional issues Jen faces are reiterated without resolution.
I read the sequel to this book first - The Last Resort - and thought that book to be a better mystery and more successful story line than this, but this was a decent read.
In the near future, harsh changes to the climate have led to new diseases and also to a radical plan to curb population growth by encouraging the assisted suicides of anybody reaching the age of 65. A small number of hyper-rich citizens receive a special drug which keeps them disease free and prevents aging.
Eden is the black market version of this powerful drug.
This book has a lot of positive things going for it, but the mystery story is not one of them. Jen has a complicated personal and professional life, with a new boyfriend, a difficult boss, mommy-issues, and brain implant which has lots of opinions. Author Michael Kaufman does a pretty good job keeping this episodes brief enough so that the bulk of the story deals with police work.
The science fiction part is also well done. Although technology is more or less familiar to that of 2023, there are subtle and not-so-subtle social changes that consistently pop up and give the book a nice micro-surge of tension. There is mild resentment against the Timeless, who have received the treatment that keeps them ageless. And there is the difficult issue of helping the elderly to their deaths, which is encouraged by the government financially and medically - survivors are given a modified treatment which keeps them disease free for a limited time.
Dialogue is good, but not especially clever or funny. I think Chandler is the star of the book; his evolution into a thinking implant (instead of just a fancy smart phone in the brain) and internal and external dialogue were all enjoyable. I didn't find Jen's character particularly compelling, although her life faces several interesting choices. The other characters have just a little depth. The story flags in places as the personal and professional issues Jen faces are reiterated without resolution.
I read the sequel to this book first - The Last Resort - and thought that book to be a better mystery and more successful story line than this, but this was a decent read.
February 15, 2022
This is a bit outside my usual reading genre. I enjoyed this dip into the future of policing and medicine and life.
After climate change has made it impossible to support all of the people in the earth, there is now the option of having your parents EXIT early so that their child can receive a treatment for better if not eternal life. Not everyone is happy about this offer, as some parents are not yet ready to EXIT despite their children needing or just wanting the treatment. Detective Lu has to face the results of this parent child conflict as she goes about the city.
There is the official version of the treatment and now a street version. Rumors are it is called EDEN. Unfortunately, some of the people who have received the unofficial version are suddenly aging rapidly and dying.
The question for Detective Lu and her implant Chandler is whether EDEN is the real deal or the deadly knock off. She is repeatedly told to not investigate these deaths, but since she has seen them herself, she must follow the leads she finds.
I enjoyed the rental car that changes colors, and was fascinated with the option to pay a fine in order to make illegal moves on the freeway.
I enjoyed her relationship with her partner implant as well as with her boyfriend and his parents. She is also remarkably well adjusted to her cop partner Les, who also has an implant. I did not enjoy her remembrances of her own troubled mother. Her decision about whether her mother should make an early EXIT was touching. Hopefully we are never faced with these decisions in reality.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
After climate change has made it impossible to support all of the people in the earth, there is now the option of having your parents EXIT early so that their child can receive a treatment for better if not eternal life. Not everyone is happy about this offer, as some parents are not yet ready to EXIT despite their children needing or just wanting the treatment. Detective Lu has to face the results of this parent child conflict as she goes about the city.
There is the official version of the treatment and now a street version. Rumors are it is called EDEN. Unfortunately, some of the people who have received the unofficial version are suddenly aging rapidly and dying.
The question for Detective Lu and her implant Chandler is whether EDEN is the real deal or the deadly knock off. She is repeatedly told to not investigate these deaths, but since she has seen them herself, she must follow the leads she finds.
I enjoyed the rental car that changes colors, and was fascinated with the option to pay a fine in order to make illegal moves on the freeway.
I enjoyed her relationship with her partner implant as well as with her boyfriend and his parents. She is also remarkably well adjusted to her cop partner Les, who also has an implant. I did not enjoy her remembrances of her own troubled mother. Her decision about whether her mother should make an early EXIT was touching. Hopefully we are never faced with these decisions in reality.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
December 6, 2020
This is the second fantasy book I've read recently set in the not-terribly-distant future, with lots of adjustments for what that future might look like.
In this future, climate change is accepted and its effects are woven into everyday life, which is an interesting take: at some point we're all going to have to live with it, and this is a glimpse of what that future looks like - when it's simply accepted that there is no more green grass in public spaces, the temperature in Washington DC is in the 110's, etc. But in and of itself, all that is mentioned as side comments to the larger murder-mystery-style story, not as warning to our current way of life. It accepts that life will go on for a while, anyway, and we'll adapt. But for current-day us, that projected future looks hot and dry.
Also interesting that the main character has AI implanted in her brain with it's own self-awareness. This was a good plot line, I enjoyed it.
(mild spoiler) Sometimes I wonder about why authors think the heroine (or hero) needs to be put through such severe physical trials to be the hero; I think TV shows must have something to do with it, but this is not the first book recently I've read where I thought that aspect was a bit over the top. Still, our heroes are not supposed to be normal people, they are heroes, so my suspension of disbelief can accommodate the hero surviving a beating that many could not. Somehow, I knew she'd come through. :)
It's good; read it.
In this future, climate change is accepted and its effects are woven into everyday life, which is an interesting take: at some point we're all going to have to live with it, and this is a glimpse of what that future looks like - when it's simply accepted that there is no more green grass in public spaces, the temperature in Washington DC is in the 110's, etc. But in and of itself, all that is mentioned as side comments to the larger murder-mystery-style story, not as warning to our current way of life. It accepts that life will go on for a while, anyway, and we'll adapt. But for current-day us, that projected future looks hot and dry.
Also interesting that the main character has AI implanted in her brain with it's own self-awareness. This was a good plot line, I enjoyed it.
(mild spoiler) Sometimes I wonder about why authors think the heroine (or hero) needs to be put through such severe physical trials to be the hero; I think TV shows must have something to do with it, but this is not the first book recently I've read where I thought that aspect was a bit over the top. Still, our heroes are not supposed to be normal people, they are heroes, so my suspension of disbelief can accommodate the hero surviving a beating that many could not. Somehow, I knew she'd come through. :)
It's good; read it.
May 8, 2021
Interesting premise. In the near future, the climate has truly warmed to dangerous levels. A strange sort of neurological illness has appeared, similar to the CTE plaguing professional athletes in our current 21st century days. A sort of antidote has been developed, available to those who can persuade their parents to "exit" - in other words submit to euthanasia. This process is supposed to deal with overpopulation.
In this somewhat bizarre atmosphere, Jen - a District of Columbia cop is investigating some familiar cop story crimes. But Jen is anything but familiar cop. She has a sort of artificial intelligence implanted in her brain, the implant "Chandler" has instant access to almost every search engine ever devised and can provide Jen with instant information whenever she needs it.
As she works on her daily assignment of ongoing investigations, Jen realizes that a counterfeit antidote is on the streets, with deadly results. Who is behind the bogus treatment, what are their goals, how can they be stopped?
I found the book rather slow going, and the unique concept of the near future makes me wish I could rate it higher. Some chapters are narrated by "Chandler." Unfortunately, he speaks in the same generic third person narrative used for the non Chandler chapters and I was easily confused.
In this somewhat bizarre atmosphere, Jen - a District of Columbia cop is investigating some familiar cop story crimes. But Jen is anything but familiar cop. She has a sort of artificial intelligence implanted in her brain, the implant "Chandler" has instant access to almost every search engine ever devised and can provide Jen with instant information whenever she needs it.
As she works on her daily assignment of ongoing investigations, Jen realizes that a counterfeit antidote is on the streets, with deadly results. Who is behind the bogus treatment, what are their goals, how can they be stopped?
I found the book rather slow going, and the unique concept of the near future makes me wish I could rate it higher. Some chapters are narrated by "Chandler." Unfortunately, he speaks in the same generic third person narrative used for the non Chandler chapters and I was easily confused.
August 26, 2022
Detective stories aren’t my go-to source for entertainment, so I may not be the best judge, but I liked this one. It took me a bit to understand ‘the case’, probably more to my discredit than Kaufman’s, but that’s not exactly the star of the book. The star is Chandler, the synthetic implant in Detective Lu’s head, who, in alternating chapters, narrates the story from ‘his’ POV.
Chandler is like the comic relief in the classic detective-partner storyline, playing the quirky counterpart to Jen Lu’s more earnest demeanor. I enjoyed the world-building here, and while I see some reviewers saying that it’s a bit unbelievable due to it being too close in the future, I feel that’s irrelevant. Kaufman also mixes some social commentary into the text without ever making one feel they are being preached at.
My main quarrel is simply with some of the writing. There are some oddly worded passages that, even after multiple re-readings, felt out of place or like overlooked editing faux pas. Still, I will probably check out the next entry when it is released.
Chandler is like the comic relief in the classic detective-partner storyline, playing the quirky counterpart to Jen Lu’s more earnest demeanor. I enjoyed the world-building here, and while I see some reviewers saying that it’s a bit unbelievable due to it being too close in the future, I feel that’s irrelevant. Kaufman also mixes some social commentary into the text without ever making one feel they are being preached at.
My main quarrel is simply with some of the writing. There are some oddly worded passages that, even after multiple re-readings, felt out of place or like overlooked editing faux pas. Still, I will probably check out the next entry when it is released.
May 30, 2021
Set in the "near" future in DC, Jen is a cop assigned to the Elder Abuse Unit. Her AI implant, Chandler is her sidekick who narrates much of the story. The deal is that middle aged people are dying from a brain-destroying disease for which there is a cure, but the catch is this--in order to get it, the parents must agree to voluntary euthanasia at age 65. Sometimes, the children wish to "help the parents along" and hence, the need for the Elder Abuse Unit. A black-market knock off the cure is seemingly available and Jen and Chandler try to investigate.
Premise is intriguing, story line is clever but the overall story is creepy. Maybe it is even more creepy since the covid pandemic uncovered what lengths some folks might go to save themselves.......but killing your parents???
I had trouble reading this book......
Premise is intriguing, story line is clever but the overall story is creepy. Maybe it is even more creepy since the covid pandemic uncovered what lengths some folks might go to save themselves.......but killing your parents???
I had trouble reading this book......
February 3, 2021
Set in a futuristic Washington DC, Jen Lu is a police officer who has tech in her brain that helps her with detective work. In this world, there is a disease called ROSE that most people will develop. If they are rich, they can pay for treatment and even become younger. But the way most people can get adequate treatment to survive is if their parents to ‘exit’. Turns out there is counterfeit medication on the market that is killing people. Important people want Jen to find out who is putting this stuff out for people to take but she thinks there is more to it than that.
This was a really fun sci fi mystery thriller, that mixes together all my favorite genres. Jen is not the most likable. That was my only misgiving with the book.
This was a really fun sci fi mystery thriller, that mixes together all my favorite genres. Jen is not the most likable. That was my only misgiving with the book.
July 17, 2021
The Last Exit is a thriller based in the near future when climate change had so increased temperatures that coastal cities were engulfed and temps are always high, unemployment is rising because of artificial intelligence filling jobs, and social unrest is growing because longevity treatments that increase life span and protect you from the ROSE epidemic are unequally distributed. You can buy the full Timeless treatment if you are rich or get a partial treatment if your parents agree to “exit” life at age 60 and you have no children. There seems to be an illegal longevity drug on the black market and Detective Jen Lu, with her SIM implant partner, try to track down the rumors. The story had promise to me but didn’t hold together as well as I’d have liked.
August 7, 2021
The Last Exit is a dystopian police procedural that is both chilling and thrilling. In a near-future scenario where the world struggles with climate change, disease, and economic inequality immortality is attainable to those able to pay. For all but the ultra-rich, a “normal” life can be obtained by those help combat over-population by choosing not to reproduce and convincing their parents to “exit” or submit to euthanasia at age 65. A police detective and her neurologically implanted AI begin to investigate crimes released to the immortality treatment. The premise is totally repulsive to me, but it’s a dystopia so it’s supposed to me. I had a little bit of trouble buying into the logic of it, but perhaps it is not so far removed from the kind of thinking we engage in every day? This is a book that confronts the commodification of health care, the way we treat and think about our elders, artificial intelligence, and the age-old quest for immortality. It’s very relevant and has great characters and strong plot. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 19, 2022
Pros: competently written, pacing is good, ++readability.
Cons: Unfortunately, this book reads like it is trying to be four different books. Is it a buddy-cop mystery with the buddy being an AI slowly gaining free will? Is it a portrait of pandemic dystopia? Is it a thoughtful tone poem on the inevitability of aging and passing the torch to the next generation? Or is it a near-future prediction of the consequences of wealth inequality?
Unfortunately, as this book simultaneously tries to be all four things, it succeeds at none particularly well. Instead, it settles on "a not particularly twisty mystery followed to its conclusion by a woman with so much on her plate that she seems just as surprised as everybody else when the predictable climax comes to a predictable conclusion."
Cons: Unfortunately, this book reads like it is trying to be four different books. Is it a buddy-cop mystery with the buddy being an AI slowly gaining free will? Is it a portrait of pandemic dystopia? Is it a thoughtful tone poem on the inevitability of aging and passing the torch to the next generation? Or is it a near-future prediction of the consequences of wealth inequality?
Unfortunately, as this book simultaneously tries to be all four things, it succeeds at none particularly well. Instead, it settles on "a not particularly twisty mystery followed to its conclusion by a woman with so much on her plate that she seems just as surprised as everybody else when the predictable climax comes to a predictable conclusion."
December 24, 2020
This book is a fast read with interesting characters. However, it really reads like a movie script. Lots of action, descriptions of characters, tension. It wraps up a little too neatly, although the climate has already been destroyed so I'm not sure anyone will really live very long. I would have thought DC would be underwater by now.
There isn't enough depth to make it good for a book discussion, or for a reread. It would be a good audiobook with the two voices of Jen and Chandler.
Supposedly this is the 1st in the Jen Lu series but it doesn't really seem like a series book.
Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane books for the prepub edition.
There isn't enough depth to make it good for a book discussion, or for a reread. It would be a good audiobook with the two voices of Jen and Chandler.
Supposedly this is the 1st in the Jen Lu series but it doesn't really seem like a series book.
Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane books for the prepub edition.
February 7, 2021
The narrator of this novel set in the indeterminate (but worse) future is an artificial intelligence lodged in the neurological structure of a thirty-eight year beat cop (who controls the AI's on/off switch). The society in which both work is unraveling (forced euthanasia at 65, rampant pollution and environmental disasters, chronic unemployment in the face of technology's inroads into job availability, general hopelessness). And the AI is smarter than the cop, who is on the track of a semi-mythical place that promises a getaway from it all without the euthanasia. That intelligence gap is interesting, but it throws the novel off kilter. Continuing to read paid off about halfway through.
February 21, 2022
The characters in this book were quite good. Especially, Chandler, the AI. The solving of the mystery was interesting. However, I never really felt anything for the whole 'exiting' when you turned 65 storyline. Nor, did I feel that much angst when the musings of whether one should push parents to do it to help you to live longer with a treatment.
The whole premise sounded really original, but the execution was muddled. It was supposed to be futuristic but certainly didn't feel that way. The only way that was conveyed was to mention climate problems, unemployment and the rich were even richer. I don't think that part was particularly well thought out.
The whole premise sounded really original, but the execution was muddled. It was supposed to be futuristic but certainly didn't feel that way. The only way that was conveyed was to mention climate problems, unemployment and the rich were even richer. I don't think that part was particularly well thought out.
September 20, 2020
The plot and many aspects of this tale feel quite timely in the fall of 2020. I liked this scifi story because of the characters, the engaging plot, and the somewhat realistic future portrayed. I don't know if this could be considered a thriller, but it does contain a mystery. With good tech and good writing, many scifi fans will probably like this one.
Thanks very much for the ARC for review!!
Thanks very much for the ARC for review!!
January 25, 2021
I wanted to like this more than 2 stars, however, I was often confused as to who was narrating the story; was it Jen or was it her SIM? There were quite a few unbelievable stunts and a lot of disbelief, but I really was drawn to the premise of the story. I had hoped there was more explanation about Captain Brooks and how he escaped and how Jen's SIM was able to help her at the end after being deactivated.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2021
This book was on my local librarys website under new releases. I'd never heard of it nor knew the author. Nonetheless I was very impressed. If you like books that deal with the moral and ethical implications of medicine and technology then this book is for you. Also its a timely book considering the recent winter storm in Texas. These type of books really make you think about what you are willing to do to save yourself and your family.
April 22, 2021
This is an interesting dystopian that is clearly written based on current events. I thought it was an intriguing enough story to stick with, but the writing itself was like some bad tv script. There were plenty of unnecessary scenes between Jen and her boyfriend that just seemed like filler material (although I believe the intent was to develop the relationship). I would say the mystery is easy to figure out, and the end of the book is very lack luster.
April 24, 2021
Climate change, rich getting richer and poor getting poorer, A. I. which has started to live in symbiosis with humans, hate crimes, deadly illness killing off people - if you think I'm reciting headlines from a newspaper, you may be excused! Although I am talking about the plot of this novel written by Mr Kaufman. Slow beginning but the novel picks up pace. I really liked the way the plot develops.
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