What do you think?
Rate this book
Torn Veil
Gifted MIT graduate Nick Thomas has invented an engine that can end human dependence on fossil fuels. His abduction by energy conglomerate Warren Enterprises leads to a series of revelations about power, religion, and the fate of the American soul. Told through rotating perspectives, the novel follows characters on both sides of the conflict. Nick is tested by a sinister presence that seems to have an intimate knowledge of his hopes and fears. While investigating his disappearance, his girlfriend Veronica discovers dark secrets lurking beyond the comfortable façade of Westchester, New York—secrets that shake the core of her identity.
584 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 15, 2020
2 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 9, 2022
Torn Veil by Gregory R. Marshall is a labyrinthine, conspiratorial, densely plot driven fictional house of mirrors, Torn Veil, a compulsively readable, imaginatively inspired, masterfully paced, tachycardic dervish of a book, a wildly imaginative dark extravaganza, undulates cryptically within the reader’s imagination, operating with an inescapable literary splendor, nurtured by a multi-modal, multi-headed serpentine nexus of ideas which plunges through the very core frequency of human perception with a deviously articulated sense of critical attention interested in understanding, not only the function that dominant hegemonic power structures, such as the shadow of The Invisible Hand play in the governance of the human mind, a Fibonacci driven “Super Sadistic Cube” of sorts, operating with an infinite creative grandeur, but the book also strives to explore the complex and colossal toll that these oppressive power systems take upon our effective will to preserve the very ideas that we collectively use to remain most human.
Gregory R. Marshall has written an endlessly fascinating, brilliantly imagined world of a novel, exploring both misinformation and power, that pulls back the curtain on two-hundred years of religion, technology, black magic, secret history, and global power, in which, not unlike Casaubon and Jacopo Belbo in Umberto Eco’s masterpiece Foucault’s Pendulum, we follow in Torn Veil, characters such as Nick, Charles, Veronica, and Buck into a world that reaches far deeper than any “conspiracy theory,” that a reader could ever imagine, but in the technically skilled story telling hands of Marshall, we are submerged delightfully deep into a world that few novels dare to imagine.
Albert Camus has stated that “fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth,” and in Torn Veil we find an urgent and important book that weaves a haunting allegory exploring the quixotic mechanics that vividly details the many hidden forms upon which our world takes its shape which strives, as each page moves through your hands, to unravel some sense of fundamental truth, as Camus imagines it in fiction, that not only defines who we are as people, but also that uncovers the real purposes of the systems that structure the world around us.
Marshall has authored a book about protagonist Nick Thomas who has invented a zero-point energy engine which has been stolen by a nefarious energy company known as Warren Enterprises which when the story unfolds, readers, ambitious to presumably use literature as a gateway to new understanding, discovery, and meaning, will face not only a quest for global control, but we also encounter an odyssey, one of which follows the hero’s quest plot arc, which executed here, would have readers imagining the mastery of an author such as Stephen King, as the central charters attempt to prevent the end of the world as we know it, but by the time you find your way to the final page of Marshall’s book, readers may begin to ask themselves if maybe the zero-point energy extracted from the quantum field that may one day save the world is literature itself, is language, the word, the Unified Field, freedom, then even the experience of pure consciousness itself.
Torn Veil is many things, for curious readers looking to read this book who are interested in referential themes, the book is a frenzied deluge of Tribulation 99, David Icke, Jordan Maxwell, full caliber Pynchonian paranoia, Twin Peaks, alchemical homunculi, environmental activism, The Twilight Zone, Steven M. Greer, a staged Biblical Apocalypse, the occult, a hallucinatory double-sided coin Provisian State, Luciferian Witches, demons, Island of Lost Souls, black magic, neural implants, new quantum energy, cerebral puzzles, experiments, UFO’s, mind control, particle accelerators, virtual reality gaming, animatronic pets, houses that come alive and shape-shift, cultural rebellion, resistance, artificial intelligence, social engineering, and possibly even the roots of a revolution.
Torn Veil is just the type of book that reminds us that the novel is far from dead and reading will forever eclipse the towering entertainment monolith of the moving image because Marshall has created a work of fiction that would any day stand up in terms of its entertainment value as an equal with any of the film and television being made today. Read this book!
Long live the Fraternity of Merlin.
Phillip Freedenberg
Author of America and the Cult of the Cactus Boots: A Diagnostic
Buffalo, NY
June 2022
Gregory R. Marshall has written an endlessly fascinating, brilliantly imagined world of a novel, exploring both misinformation and power, that pulls back the curtain on two-hundred years of religion, technology, black magic, secret history, and global power, in which, not unlike Casaubon and Jacopo Belbo in Umberto Eco’s masterpiece Foucault’s Pendulum, we follow in Torn Veil, characters such as Nick, Charles, Veronica, and Buck into a world that reaches far deeper than any “conspiracy theory,” that a reader could ever imagine, but in the technically skilled story telling hands of Marshall, we are submerged delightfully deep into a world that few novels dare to imagine.
Albert Camus has stated that “fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth,” and in Torn Veil we find an urgent and important book that weaves a haunting allegory exploring the quixotic mechanics that vividly details the many hidden forms upon which our world takes its shape which strives, as each page moves through your hands, to unravel some sense of fundamental truth, as Camus imagines it in fiction, that not only defines who we are as people, but also that uncovers the real purposes of the systems that structure the world around us.
Marshall has authored a book about protagonist Nick Thomas who has invented a zero-point energy engine which has been stolen by a nefarious energy company known as Warren Enterprises which when the story unfolds, readers, ambitious to presumably use literature as a gateway to new understanding, discovery, and meaning, will face not only a quest for global control, but we also encounter an odyssey, one of which follows the hero’s quest plot arc, which executed here, would have readers imagining the mastery of an author such as Stephen King, as the central charters attempt to prevent the end of the world as we know it, but by the time you find your way to the final page of Marshall’s book, readers may begin to ask themselves if maybe the zero-point energy extracted from the quantum field that may one day save the world is literature itself, is language, the word, the Unified Field, freedom, then even the experience of pure consciousness itself.
Torn Veil is many things, for curious readers looking to read this book who are interested in referential themes, the book is a frenzied deluge of Tribulation 99, David Icke, Jordan Maxwell, full caliber Pynchonian paranoia, Twin Peaks, alchemical homunculi, environmental activism, The Twilight Zone, Steven M. Greer, a staged Biblical Apocalypse, the occult, a hallucinatory double-sided coin Provisian State, Luciferian Witches, demons, Island of Lost Souls, black magic, neural implants, new quantum energy, cerebral puzzles, experiments, UFO’s, mind control, particle accelerators, virtual reality gaming, animatronic pets, houses that come alive and shape-shift, cultural rebellion, resistance, artificial intelligence, social engineering, and possibly even the roots of a revolution.
Torn Veil is just the type of book that reminds us that the novel is far from dead and reading will forever eclipse the towering entertainment monolith of the moving image because Marshall has created a work of fiction that would any day stand up in terms of its entertainment value as an equal with any of the film and television being made today. Read this book!
Long live the Fraternity of Merlin.
Phillip Freedenberg
Author of America and the Cult of the Cactus Boots: A Diagnostic
Buffalo, NY
June 2022
February 16, 2022
A political fiction, seeping into the horror genre.
The narrative progresses meticulously from the eyes of various characters in the third person. This unique narration presents this gripping and thrilling ride from angles that precariously expand the characters’ viewpoints.
The book holds your attention, unfolding the plot that compels you into evaluating realism. Nick Thomas, by far, was my favorite.
I particularly enjoyed this book because it is an exceptional mix of horror and sci-fi. Although I am not a fan of horror, the science fiction part was rooted superbly to keep my interest alive.
If you are into conspiracies and can handle a dash of horror, pick up this book and get consumed! Gregory R. Marshall has done a fantastic job writing this story!
The narrative progresses meticulously from the eyes of various characters in the third person. This unique narration presents this gripping and thrilling ride from angles that precariously expand the characters’ viewpoints.
The book holds your attention, unfolding the plot that compels you into evaluating realism. Nick Thomas, by far, was my favorite.
I particularly enjoyed this book because it is an exceptional mix of horror and sci-fi. Although I am not a fan of horror, the science fiction part was rooted superbly to keep my interest alive.
If you are into conspiracies and can handle a dash of horror, pick up this book and get consumed! Gregory R. Marshall has done a fantastic job writing this story!
November 4, 2020
Whatever you do do not piss of Mr. Miser! This book is like a psychedelic X-Files. I got it free on Kindle over Halloween and simply can't put it down. It's just one more insane act after another. Do yourself a favor and read this book!
November 19, 2021
Marshall's Torn Veil is a potent combination of compelling narrative and deep insight that makes readers never want to put their Kindle,/e reader down. Genre-wise, the story is a brilliant and fluid fusion of magical realism, science fiction and political thriller. Written in a style that is both contemporary and timeless, Torn Veil's rich characters and varied perspectives keep even the most astute reader guessing, and allows them to reflect on our own sobering realities, both personal and societal. If you enjoy exploring what drives our fears and what conspiracies are real, this book definitely for you.
August 17, 2021
I came across this author via a book review site. I haven’t read any of Gregory R Marshall’s books until now and had no idea what to expect. The cover, book description, and story premise all pulled me in.
As the description promises, this story takes the reader on a wild and dark ride beyond the veil. With back-and-forth timelines and multiple character points of view, the reader finds themselves with a foot both in this world and a much more sinister one behind the veil that once separated each realm.
Unfortunately, errors and spelling mistakes and clumsily written sentences abound and let this read down a lot. The text needs a thorough overhaul by a trained eye. Otherwise, with the well written characters, plot, pacing, and world building, it would earn an easy five stars. Which redeemed this book for me and made it a compelling read in spite of the unpolished presentation.
Here are a couple of lines I liked …
‘Useless streetlights hung their heads in shame to the right, like failed sentries.’
And …
‘She was numb, a doll made with real black magic. Batteries not included.’
I enjoyed this read enough to ignore (mostly) the many issues, which says a lot for the story and the writer’s imagination and knowledge. I give this read 3.5 stars and round up to a soft 4 for rating purposes. If you enjoy a supernatural, futuristic, and sci-fi read, you’ll enjoy this book.
***
NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.
5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.
As the description promises, this story takes the reader on a wild and dark ride beyond the veil. With back-and-forth timelines and multiple character points of view, the reader finds themselves with a foot both in this world and a much more sinister one behind the veil that once separated each realm.
Unfortunately, errors and spelling mistakes and clumsily written sentences abound and let this read down a lot. The text needs a thorough overhaul by a trained eye. Otherwise, with the well written characters, plot, pacing, and world building, it would earn an easy five stars. Which redeemed this book for me and made it a compelling read in spite of the unpolished presentation.
Here are a couple of lines I liked …
‘Useless streetlights hung their heads in shame to the right, like failed sentries.’
And …
‘She was numb, a doll made with real black magic. Batteries not included.’
I enjoyed this read enough to ignore (mostly) the many issues, which says a lot for the story and the writer’s imagination and knowledge. I give this read 3.5 stars and round up to a soft 4 for rating purposes. If you enjoy a supernatural, futuristic, and sci-fi read, you’ll enjoy this book.
***
NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.
5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.
December 10, 2021
Now this one is a bit different!
On the surface It’s a book about a character who finds a way to rid the world of fossil fuels.
So far so normal.
However, it quickly turns into a story about power (in both senses of the word), who we are, how we relate to one another as well as religion and ultimately our mortal souls. Throw in shifting perspectives, dark secrets and fluid timelines and you know this isn’t going to be an easy read.
But that’s the point.
Every now and then, it’s good to read a book that challenges you. A book that not only makes you think but forces you to work just that little bit harder to engage and is therefore ultimately more rewarding in the long run.
For a book that deals with chaos, it’s written perfectly. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found myself getting quite invested in the characters and plot. It was quite surreal in places and quite honestly, like nothing else I’ve ever read.
Within the text are elements of various genres as well as philosophical questions and riddles and once you’re invested in this type of storytelling, it’s hard to get out.
One of the greatest achievements of this book is that, despite the many elements and possible distractions, it remains an engaging and well-written story.
Hat’s off to the author for writing something so very different and, ultimately, so very rewarding.
On the surface It’s a book about a character who finds a way to rid the world of fossil fuels.
So far so normal.
However, it quickly turns into a story about power (in both senses of the word), who we are, how we relate to one another as well as religion and ultimately our mortal souls. Throw in shifting perspectives, dark secrets and fluid timelines and you know this isn’t going to be an easy read.
But that’s the point.
Every now and then, it’s good to read a book that challenges you. A book that not only makes you think but forces you to work just that little bit harder to engage and is therefore ultimately more rewarding in the long run.
For a book that deals with chaos, it’s written perfectly. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found myself getting quite invested in the characters and plot. It was quite surreal in places and quite honestly, like nothing else I’ve ever read.
Within the text are elements of various genres as well as philosophical questions and riddles and once you’re invested in this type of storytelling, it’s hard to get out.
One of the greatest achievements of this book is that, despite the many elements and possible distractions, it remains an engaging and well-written story.
Hat’s off to the author for writing something so very different and, ultimately, so very rewarding.
October 6, 2021
Torn Veil by Gregory R. Marshall is the rare sort of book that is chaotic in its writing whilst keeping the story perfect in its delivery. I initially purchased this book after reading an extract from the Look Inside feature and loved the way that the chaos of Nick slowly detaching from reality brought forward a mystery that I just had to unravel.
I enjoyed the multiple perspectives, with Buck, Charles and Veronica, all offering fresh and exciting narratives which the author used to great effect, switching amongst them at the perfect time. I also loved the more surreal elements of the book and the introduction of the Miser, who really kept the story flowing and the tension high every time he appeared. The story is bloody and crazy, and exactly what it promised to be.
The author includes a number of riddles and puzzles in his book, some of which can be framed as philosophical questions. I enjoyed the discussion surrounding them and the eventual solution that was revealed to Nick. These kept me thinking and the explanation of the answers were very cleverly crafted.
Torn Veil won’t suit everyone but no book ever will. I thought it was a well-constructed and reasoned book that never loses its focus despite the drama going on around it.
I enjoyed the multiple perspectives, with Buck, Charles and Veronica, all offering fresh and exciting narratives which the author used to great effect, switching amongst them at the perfect time. I also loved the more surreal elements of the book and the introduction of the Miser, who really kept the story flowing and the tension high every time he appeared. The story is bloody and crazy, and exactly what it promised to be.
The author includes a number of riddles and puzzles in his book, some of which can be framed as philosophical questions. I enjoyed the discussion surrounding them and the eventual solution that was revealed to Nick. These kept me thinking and the explanation of the answers were very cleverly crafted.
Torn Veil won’t suit everyone but no book ever will. I thought it was a well-constructed and reasoned book that never loses its focus despite the drama going on around it.
October 27, 2021
This book was great! Marshall is a mad scientist with his narrative. The use of different perspectives in the story added to the conspiracy nature of his work. Often with multiple viewpoints, the characters begin to all sound the same. However, each one kept their own voice through the story and helped drive the plot. Even though this book does have conspiracy theories in it, it does not require a deep dive into them to fully understand them in the story. Which is nice for a horror fan looking to try something new.
4 stars for some awkward sentences, and some formatting inconsistencies.
4 stars for some awkward sentences, and some formatting inconsistencies.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews