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Five Minds
ONE BODY. FIVE MINDS. ONE KILLER.
The Earth's growing population has finally been controlled. Lifespans are limited to eighty years, except for those who make an extreme choice: to become a commune. Five minds sharing one body, living for four hours at a time. But with a combined lifespan of nearly 150 years.
Alex, Kate, Sierra, Ben and Mike are a commune. They have already spent twenty-five years together, arguing, reconciling, alliances shifting and re-forming. They travel to a Death Park where games are played in which extra lifespan can be gambled like money. The plan is to win time to upgrade their next host body. But then Kate accepts a dangerous offer, and one of them disappears.
Someone is trying to kill off members of the commune. Is one of them responsible? Or is someone else playing a deadly game? It's hard enough to catch a murderer. It's almost impossible when you might be sharing a body with them...
This brilliant murder mystery blends classic crime with speculative fiction in a stunning debut.
The Earth's growing population has finally been controlled. Lifespans are limited to eighty years, except for those who make an extreme choice: to become a commune. Five minds sharing one body, living for four hours at a time. But with a combined lifespan of nearly 150 years.
Alex, Kate, Sierra, Ben and Mike are a commune. They have already spent twenty-five years together, arguing, reconciling, alliances shifting and re-forming. They travel to a Death Park where games are played in which extra lifespan can be gambled like money. The plan is to win time to upgrade their next host body. But then Kate accepts a dangerous offer, and one of them disappears.
Someone is trying to kill off members of the commune. Is one of them responsible? Or is someone else playing a deadly game? It's hard enough to catch a murderer. It's almost impossible when you might be sharing a body with them...
This brilliant murder mystery blends classic crime with speculative fiction in a stunning debut.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 2, 2021
91 people are currently reading
2230 people want to read
About the author
Guy Morpuss
5 books99 followersGuy is a London-based barrister whose cases have featured drug-taking cyclists, dead Formula 1 champions and aspiring cemetery owners.
His favourite books involve taking a twist on reality, and playing with the consequences. Which led to his debut novel, FIVE MINDS, about five people sharing one body - possibly with a murderer.
His second novel, BLACK LAKE, will be published in 2022.
He is currently working on his third novel, HIGHLIGHTS.
Guy lives near Farnham, England, with his wife and two sons. When not writing he can usually be found walking or running in the Surrey Hills.
His favourite books involve taking a twist on reality, and playing with the consequences. Which led to his debut novel, FIVE MINDS, about five people sharing one body - possibly with a murderer.
His second novel, BLACK LAKE, will be published in 2022.
He is currently working on his third novel, HIGHLIGHTS.
Guy lives near Farnham, England, with his wife and two sons. When not writing he can usually be found walking or running in the Surrey Hills.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 408 reviews
August 15, 2021
Well this is a tricky review to write! This book was about as different as a book can be from my usual reading material, which is kind of why I picked it. So let’s see - it is definitely sci-fi although futuristic rather than of an alien or galaxy exploring variety. It seems to be set on a near future earth which has finally woken up and implemented drastic measures to preserve the environment. Accordingly the population is tightly controlled and people have set lifespans depending on what option they chose at age 17.
You could choose to be a worker, a hedonist (short but very luxurious life), an andi (Android) almost human body with your mind installed, or a commune. The commune is where five minds inhabit one body as in the title. They each get four hours of each day and their bodies get renewed/replaced every 25 years. Together they have the longest lifespan but can only live for 4 hours each day. It was a very novel concept!
This particular commune, currently inhabiting Mike’s body and comprising Mike (fitness fanatic), Sierra (sociopathic hedonist), Kate (sensible and clever problem solver), Ben (gamer extraordinaire) and Alex (pleasant enough former fat boy) decides to go to a death park to try and win some extra time. The story reminded me a bit of Justin Timberlake’s 2011 movie In Time where time was the currency of the day. So it is in the world created by Morpuss. The death parks give players the opportunity to win more time or die trying. The challenges are like virtual reality games. The risk to the commune is minor as they are very close to going into stasis and getting a new body so if they died it would only bring forward the inevitable. Yet they stood to gain quite a lot if they won. Little did they just how dangerous it could really be!
Most of the story is set within the death park with just a few flashbacks to provide context. It’s also told from the point of view of the five minds inhabiting this commune. As is often the case things do not go according to plan and it becomes clear that one of the five is plotting against the others. But of course you don’t know which one it is. They can’t communicate directly with each other, only leave messages for the others to read when their turn in the daily cycle arrives.
I have to say it was a very unique story, I’ve never read anything like it. I thought it was really well done and the author did a great job with differentiating the characters. They were all very well developed with their own personalities and they were all very different to each other. I can’t imagine how this sort of thing would work for real, I think it would drive me mad but it was an interesting thing to ponder. So with unreliable narrators and plenty of red herrings I had no chance of working out how this was going to end. It took me a little while to get into this one but when I did I started to really enjoy it. Thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for the complimentary copy of the book which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
You could choose to be a worker, a hedonist (short but very luxurious life), an andi (Android) almost human body with your mind installed, or a commune. The commune is where five minds inhabit one body as in the title. They each get four hours of each day and their bodies get renewed/replaced every 25 years. Together they have the longest lifespan but can only live for 4 hours each day. It was a very novel concept!
This particular commune, currently inhabiting Mike’s body and comprising Mike (fitness fanatic), Sierra (sociopathic hedonist), Kate (sensible and clever problem solver), Ben (gamer extraordinaire) and Alex (pleasant enough former fat boy) decides to go to a death park to try and win some extra time. The story reminded me a bit of Justin Timberlake’s 2011 movie In Time where time was the currency of the day. So it is in the world created by Morpuss. The death parks give players the opportunity to win more time or die trying. The challenges are like virtual reality games. The risk to the commune is minor as they are very close to going into stasis and getting a new body so if they died it would only bring forward the inevitable. Yet they stood to gain quite a lot if they won. Little did they just how dangerous it could really be!
Most of the story is set within the death park with just a few flashbacks to provide context. It’s also told from the point of view of the five minds inhabiting this commune. As is often the case things do not go according to plan and it becomes clear that one of the five is plotting against the others. But of course you don’t know which one it is. They can’t communicate directly with each other, only leave messages for the others to read when their turn in the daily cycle arrives.
I have to say it was a very unique story, I’ve never read anything like it. I thought it was really well done and the author did a great job with differentiating the characters. They were all very well developed with their own personalities and they were all very different to each other. I can’t imagine how this sort of thing would work for real, I think it would drive me mad but it was an interesting thing to ponder. So with unreliable narrators and plenty of red herrings I had no chance of working out how this was going to end. It took me a little while to get into this one but when I did I started to really enjoy it. Thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for the complimentary copy of the book which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
May 31, 2025
Чудова ідея, однак це виконання для компʼютерної гри чи сценарій для фільму. Як книга це було нудно і не вистачило опису світу.
December 19, 2023
Клас, я не розчарована 🔥
Мала б вийти шикарна екранізація за цим сюжетом) було захопливо, читалось легко і розгадка не видалась притягнутою за вуха (боюсь цього в подібних книгах)
Тому можу сміливо радити, якщо анотація зацікавила 👌🏻
Мала б вийти шикарна екранізація за цим сюжетом) було захопливо, читалось легко і розгадка не видалась притягнутою за вуха (боюсь цього в подібних книгах)
Тому можу сміливо радити, якщо анотація зацікавила 👌🏻
September 2, 2021
Five Minds is an ingenious blend of sci-fi, speculative fiction and murder mystery, set in a disturbing future where global resource shortages have forced the population into accepting a drastic form of rationing, where the key currency is time. I came across it through recommendations in a couple of book groups, and was intrigued by the premise, but found the extended game sequences detracted from my general enjoyment of the main plot.
Alex, Kate, Mike, Ben and Sierra are a commune - five personalities, forced to take turns sharing one body in four hour shifts every day since the age of seventeen. They can only communicate through internal messages, and only one can be “awake” at a time. All of them except Alex have agreed to enter a Death Park, where contestants participate in simulated role-player games to compete for additional time alive. Communes - known as “schizos”, have an advantage over other contestants - if they lose their current life, they have four more bodies to inhabit for their extended lifespan, but when one of them disappears after losing a game, they come to realise that someone is changing the rules, and they are now playing for keeps.
I’m not much of a sci-fi fan, but my husband is, so I have seen a lot of the more popular movies & TV shoes in the genre, and this combined elements of Altered Carbon (I gave up after one episode - too dark, too confusing), In Time, Westworld, Blade Runner and Ready Player One. The world-building was well done if not entirely logical, and the characters convincing if mostly unsympathetic. Each one describes their own experience as they cycle through their day, in past tense until they enter a game, when they shift to present tense narration - I get why, it doesn’t mean I have to like it. I’ve never been into any kind of role-player game, so found these sections a bit boring, apart from Sierra the Sociopath’s submarine simulation - probably because to me psychology is far more interesting than puzzles. I didn’t guess what was going on until the final reveal and enjoyed being wrong-footed by the clever ending.
I’m at a stage just now where I’m craving novelty in my reading choices - and this certainly delivered on that front, it was especially impressive for a debut author - I’ll be on the lookout for whatever he comes up with next.
Thanks to NetGalley and Viper books for the ARC. I am posting this honest review voluntarily.
Five Minds is available now.
Alex, Kate, Mike, Ben and Sierra are a commune - five personalities, forced to take turns sharing one body in four hour shifts every day since the age of seventeen. They can only communicate through internal messages, and only one can be “awake” at a time. All of them except Alex have agreed to enter a Death Park, where contestants participate in simulated role-player games to compete for additional time alive. Communes - known as “schizos”, have an advantage over other contestants - if they lose their current life, they have four more bodies to inhabit for their extended lifespan, but when one of them disappears after losing a game, they come to realise that someone is changing the rules, and they are now playing for keeps.
I’m not much of a sci-fi fan, but my husband is, so I have seen a lot of the more popular movies & TV shoes in the genre, and this combined elements of Altered Carbon (I gave up after one episode - too dark, too confusing), In Time, Westworld, Blade Runner and Ready Player One. The world-building was well done if not entirely logical, and the characters convincing if mostly unsympathetic. Each one describes their own experience as they cycle through their day, in past tense until they enter a game, when they shift to present tense narration - I get why, it doesn’t mean I have to like it. I’ve never been into any kind of role-player game, so found these sections a bit boring, apart from Sierra the Sociopath’s submarine simulation - probably because to me psychology is far more interesting than puzzles. I didn’t guess what was going on until the final reveal and enjoyed being wrong-footed by the clever ending.
I’m at a stage just now where I’m craving novelty in my reading choices - and this certainly delivered on that front, it was especially impressive for a debut author - I’ll be on the lookout for whatever he comes up with next.
Thanks to NetGalley and Viper books for the ARC. I am posting this honest review voluntarily.
Five Minds is available now.
August 17, 2021
This is one of my most anticipated reads of the year and I was so excited for the mind blowing premise!
Five Minds is an intriguing thriller, and one that demands full concentration! It is not an easy read, and I found I had to have no distractions when reading it. It is a complex and high concept story, and one I would be fascinated to learn about it's creation from the author. How on earth does someone create a story like this?!
The characters are clearly well defined, athough I feel I would have benefitted from some kind of key or cast list at the start to help me. Without these, it took a while to get used to the language and concept.
With all that being said, it is an EXTREMELY clever and well thought out novel, and I cannot wait to see what Morpuss comes up with next!
Five Minds is an intriguing thriller, and one that demands full concentration! It is not an easy read, and I found I had to have no distractions when reading it. It is a complex and high concept story, and one I would be fascinated to learn about it's creation from the author. How on earth does someone create a story like this?!
The characters are clearly well defined, athough I feel I would have benefitted from some kind of key or cast list at the start to help me. Without these, it took a while to get used to the language and concept.
With all that being said, it is an EXTREMELY clever and well thought out novel, and I cannot wait to see what Morpuss comes up with next!
December 24, 2024
Не зважаючи на те, що я зрозуміла якою буде розв'язка, ще сторінок за 100 до кінця, ставлю 5 зірок, бо це було неймовірно захопливо. Задум, сеттінг, виконання - відмінно. Не відірватись! І це дебютна робота?! Дайте ще
March 22, 2021
LOVED LOVED this. Really clever, wildly entertaining with an intelligent speculative narrative that is utterly addictive.
Five Minds. One Body. One Killer.
It's like a few books in one with some challenging puzzles, perfectly pitched character drama and a strong intriguing mystery element. Doesn't drop the ball either with a satisfying finale that will make you want to revisit this world.
A possible entry into my top ten for 2021. Coming September don't miss it.
Highly recommended.
Five Minds. One Body. One Killer.
It's like a few books in one with some challenging puzzles, perfectly pitched character drama and a strong intriguing mystery element. Doesn't drop the ball either with a satisfying finale that will make you want to revisit this world.
A possible entry into my top ten for 2021. Coming September don't miss it.
Highly recommended.
October 19, 2023
Чи погодились би ви ділити своє тіло із чотирма іншими душами? Жити чітко по розкладу, не бачити світанку 25 років або взагалі денного світла, бо ваш час - з 00:00 до 04:00? Але при цьому точно знати, що наступні 4 рази по 24 років можливо ви не побачите ночі, бо так вирішить ваша комуна.
💠Чи вам цікавіше було б прожити повне насолод безтурботне життя, але піти на переробку чітко в 42 годіка? Ну, як то кажуть, живи швидко, помри молодим.
💠Чи вам більше довподоби синтетичне життя в тілі андроїда без зносу та хвороб, але й без емоцій також?
💠💠💠
Саме таке питання постає перед мешканцями Землі десь у віддаленому майбутньому, де знайли вирішення проблеми перенаселення планети і просто пакують свідомості у комуни по 5 в одне тіло. Ну або розділяють на гедоністів, які доживуть до 42, чи андроїдів. Жодних примусів, кожна людина самостійно вирішує свою долю в 17 років, ретельно зваживши всі плюси та мінуси. До речі, віддавши перевагу комуні, можна загнати своє тіло по спекулятівній ціні, особливо якщо ти регулярно чистив зуби та мив руки і маєш гарний стан шкіри! В роздріб органи беруть дорожче 👀, подумайте про це, це гарна пропозиція, в іншому місці вам більше не заплатять, блакитні очі в цьому сезоні вже не в моді.
💠💠💠
В центрі сюжету саме така комуна, що складається з 3-х чоловіків та 2-х жінок, які подалися у такий собі парк смерті аби у найрізноманітніших іграх підзаробити собі трішки... ні, не грошенят, а часу життя, який можна з конським податком обміняти на бонуси наступного тіла. Саме так. Їхнє перше вмістилище, тіло одного з членів комуни, вже дожило свій перший цикл - 25 років і скоро весь їх вулик свідомостей переселять у якесь інше. На яке стане капіталу.
Але стається щось геть незрозуміле: попри правила, що смерть комуни у грі лише викидає їх з гри, а не вбиває насправді, один за одним двоє чоловіків вмирають. Насправді вмирають - їх свідомості виявляються стертими. Що і як це сталося? І що це за дивні ігри такі, на які підписують вони один одного?
🔻🔻🔻
Скажу чесно, детектива виду "тіло одне, а людей п'ятеро і хтось з них вбивця" я ще не читала. І це стало ще одним плюсом у й так відмінній книзі. Вона напружена, вона тримає увагу, усі харатектери достатньо різні і не зливаються у щось одне малозрозуміле. Врешті решт, навіть ті ігри, в які грає комуна, не викликали закочування очей чи роздратування, бо змушували й мене втягнутися, шукати відповіді та гадати, а як би я повела себе у цих ситуаціях? А чи пройшла би я цей квест?
Не скажу, що кінцівка стала для мене неочікуваною, у певний момент пазлики склалися і головний злодій оприявнився достатньо опукло. Але це не псує враження від книги, а навпаки додає самооцінці балів, от, мовляв, яка я уважна читачка!
❤️Я�� ви розумієте, книгу я насправді раджу.
💠Чи вам цікавіше було б прожити повне насолод безтурботне життя, але піти на переробку чітко в 42 годіка? Ну, як то кажуть, живи швидко, помри молодим.
💠Чи вам більше довподоби синтетичне життя в тілі андроїда без зносу та хвороб, але й без емоцій також?
💠💠💠
Саме таке питання постає перед мешканцями Землі десь у віддаленому майбутньому, де знайли вирішення проблеми перенаселення планети і просто пакують свідомості у комуни по 5 в одне тіло. Ну або розділяють на гедоністів, які доживуть до 42, чи андроїдів. Жодних примусів, кожна людина самостійно вирішує свою долю в 17 років, ретельно зваживши всі плюси та мінуси. До речі, віддавши перевагу комуні, можна загнати своє тіло по спекулятівній ціні, особливо якщо ти регулярно чистив зуби та мив руки і маєш гарний стан шкіри! В роздріб органи беруть дорожче 👀, подумайте про це, це гарна пропозиція, в іншому місці вам більше не заплатять, блакитні очі в цьому сезоні вже не в моді.
💠💠💠
В центрі сюжету саме така комуна, що складається з 3-х чоловіків та 2-х жінок, які подалися у такий собі парк смерті аби у найрізноманітніших іграх підзаробити собі трішки... ні, не грошенят, а часу життя, який можна з конським податком обміняти на бонуси наступного тіла. Саме так. Їхнє перше вмістилище, тіло одного з членів комуни, вже дожило свій перший цикл - 25 років і скоро весь їх вулик свідомостей переселять у якесь інше. На яке стане капіталу.
Але стається щось геть незрозуміле: попри правила, що смерть комуни у грі лише викидає їх з гри, а не вбиває насправді, один за одним двоє чоловіків вмирають. Насправді вмирають - їх свідомості виявляються стертими. Що і як це сталося? І що це за дивні ігри такі, на які підписують вони один одного?
🔻🔻🔻
Скажу чесно, детектива виду "тіло одне, а людей п'ятеро і хтось з них вбивця" я ще не читала. І це стало ще одним плюсом у й так відмінній книзі. Вона напружена, вона тримає увагу, усі харатектери достатньо різні і не зливаються у щось одне малозрозуміле. Врешті решт, навіть ті ігри, в які грає комуна, не викликали закочування очей чи роздратування, бо змушували й мене втягнутися, шукати відповіді та гадати, а як би я повела себе у цих ситуаціях? А чи пройшла би я цей квест?
Не скажу, що кінцівка стала для мене неочікуваною, у певний момент пазлики склалися і головний злодій оприявнився достатньо опукло. Але це не псує враження від книги, а навпаки додає самооцінці балів, от, мовляв, яка я уважна читачка!
❤️Я�� ви розумієте, книгу я насправді раджу.
January 31, 2022
This is SF mystery novel set in a dystopian future. The setting reminded me of the chess game and while this comparison is initially unclear, I’ll dwell on it later. I read it as a part of monthly reading for January 2022 at SFF Hot from Printers: New Releases group.
The story is told by several people inhabiting a single body. In order to prevent overuse of Earth resources, people are limited in their lifespan and one of the ways to live long (over 100 years) is to be a host for several minds, in our case five, as the title suggests. Such people are called the schizos, even if the term is considered rude and formally a commune. Each mind within a commune is allocated 4 hours each day (plus 4 for sleep that restores the body)
The commune that is a protagonist of the novel consists of Alex, Kate, Sierra, Ben and Mike. The book starts with Alex waking with a buzz in his head because the previous ‘user’ Sierra likes to party and doesn’t care about others. He is in a Death Park, a special place where anyone in his last years of life can come to bet their remaining time in a series of games and maybe get a few more years or lose them. Alex finds out that Sierra also set a game for him and he has to play… the minds in the commune are like a dysfunctional family, each with own preferences.
Now back to the initial analogy with chess. Chess have rules and on a very abstract level one may say that it is a version of a wargame, a simulation of battle. However, in reality commanders care about landscape, they aren’t on a flat plain, forces are almost always unequal an composed of different troops. Pawns or infantry in reality can retreat and so on. Summing up, chess isn’t real but within its rules it is consistent. The same with this story – even if we assume that any gov’t manages to set maximum ages or tech allows several minds in one body – it is extremely unlikely, just like limits on king’s movements in chess, it works within this set of rules. However, as the story progresses we readers become aware of more rules and they make the overall story less fulfilling. Even characters are defined as figures in chess – Mike is an athlete only caring about fitness and sports or Ben an autistic hacker, that can easily get access to cameras’ records. This formalistic approach makes them one-dimensional.
Overall, an interesting debut novel, a mix of noir mystery and SF even if one can clearly see that the society described is not from this world.
The story is told by several people inhabiting a single body. In order to prevent overuse of Earth resources, people are limited in their lifespan and one of the ways to live long (over 100 years) is to be a host for several minds, in our case five, as the title suggests. Such people are called the schizos, even if the term is considered rude and formally a commune. Each mind within a commune is allocated 4 hours each day (plus 4 for sleep that restores the body)
The commune that is a protagonist of the novel consists of Alex, Kate, Sierra, Ben and Mike. The book starts with Alex waking with a buzz in his head because the previous ‘user’ Sierra likes to party and doesn’t care about others. He is in a Death Park, a special place where anyone in his last years of life can come to bet their remaining time in a series of games and maybe get a few more years or lose them. Alex finds out that Sierra also set a game for him and he has to play… the minds in the commune are like a dysfunctional family, each with own preferences.
Now back to the initial analogy with chess. Chess have rules and on a very abstract level one may say that it is a version of a wargame, a simulation of battle. However, in reality commanders care about landscape, they aren’t on a flat plain, forces are almost always unequal an composed of different troops. Pawns or infantry in reality can retreat and so on. Summing up, chess isn’t real but within its rules it is consistent. The same with this story – even if we assume that any gov’t manages to set maximum ages or tech allows several minds in one body – it is extremely unlikely, just like limits on king’s movements in chess, it works within this set of rules. However, as the story progresses we readers become aware of more rules and they make the overall story less fulfilling. Even characters are defined as figures in chess – Mike is an athlete only caring about fitness and sports or Ben an autistic hacker, that can easily get access to cameras’ records. This formalistic approach makes them one-dimensional.
Overall, an interesting debut novel, a mix of noir mystery and SF even if one can clearly see that the society described is not from this world.
September 16, 2021
(No spoilers.)
An absolutely brilliant idea that sadly turned into a convoluted pile of teenagery rubbish at the three quarters mark. I loved everything about it at the start, this was a fresh and exciting kind of storyline and it started off in such a promising way. The more you read, however, the more confused you become, and by mid way you are already speed reading or flicking through the pages. What promised to be a great mystery turned out to be a pile of silliness, and this is yet another book consigned to the "why did I bother" shelf. Ugh.
An absolutely brilliant idea that sadly turned into a convoluted pile of teenagery rubbish at the three quarters mark. I loved everything about it at the start, this was a fresh and exciting kind of storyline and it started off in such a promising way. The more you read, however, the more confused you become, and by mid way you are already speed reading or flicking through the pages. What promised to be a great mystery turned out to be a pile of silliness, and this is yet another book consigned to the "why did I bother" shelf. Ugh.
December 7, 2024
Колись пан Кулеба рекомендував цю книгу у себе в соцмережах і я зацікавився. По факту маємо цікаву антиутопію\кіберпанк\сайфай, але оригінальна ідея на жаль в кінці перетворилась на трохи підліткову історію про образи. До того ж автор сам доволі вільно поводиться зі своїм всесвітом в якому раптом стає можливим майже будь-що. Втім, розгадати цей детектив доволі легко вже десь на середині книги.
Деякі аспекти книги, повторюсь, дуже цікаві, але дійти до вау-ефекта, який в мене викликає, наприклад "Убік" Діка, не вийшло. Думаю з "пʼятьох" вийшов би прикольний серіал десь на нетфліксі.
Деякі аспекти книги, повторюсь, дуже цікаві, але дійти до вау-ефекта, який в мене викликає, наприклад "Убік" Діка, не вийшло. Думаю з "пʼятьох" вийшов би прикольний серіал десь на нетфліксі.
December 30, 2021
This book was trying it's damnest to be clever, and I suppose the actual plot was clever enough.
The high-concept ("in the future, there will be five persons inside the same body") wasn't unfortunately explored very fully. And there were lots of other gripes I had with the book.
I couldn't understand the economics of the world, and pretty much suspect that it wasn't due to me being thick, but the book making little sense in this regard.
The concept of "death parks" was rather juvenile, and that's not even taking into account how childish most of the games depicted were. And in a book with five persons in the same body, each of them getting their own POV, you really should make their voices very distinct - and that's something Morpuss fails to do.
I think I would've liked this more in my late teens/early 20's, but now I couldn't sit back and enjoy the mystery without my mind returning to different flaws I found.
The high-concept ("in the future, there will be five persons inside the same body") wasn't unfortunately explored very fully. And there were lots of other gripes I had with the book.
I couldn't understand the economics of the world, and pretty much suspect that it wasn't due to me being thick, but the book making little sense in this regard.
The concept of "death parks" was rather juvenile, and that's not even taking into account how childish most of the games depicted were. And in a book with five persons in the same body, each of them getting their own POV, you really should make their voices very distinct - and that's something Morpuss fails to do.
I think I would've liked this more in my late teens/early 20's, but now I couldn't sit back and enjoy the mystery without my mind returning to different flaws I found.
October 11, 2023
Мені сподобалось! Було класно!
Пройшла тест на сайті, цікаво, що видало той тип особистості, що я й собі в думках обрала ще на етапі читання.
Пройшла тест на сайті, цікаво, що видало той тип особистості, що я й собі в думках обрала ще на етапі читання.
August 24, 2025
захопливо
July 24, 2021
Five minds by Guy Morpuss is a dystopian novel set in the future. The earth is overpopulated so the government has given the choice to the people. At 17, you must decide how you want to live the rest of their life. So, the main characters in the story decide to be a ‘schizo ‘. Five minds in one body.
But when an offer is made by a woman called Amy Bird to do play some games in a death park and in return, she will give them an extra 20 years to live. Things don’t go as they thought it would.
Thank you for the publisher for a copy of 5 minds. If there was one book, I find hard to describe to review is this one. Don’t get me wrong this is not a bad book. It has very unique storyline and its very imaginative. How would you cope living with 4 other consciouses in one body for the rest of your life and only have your own time as a person in a certain time slot? It gave me mixed emotions. In one hand it was an intriguing story and had a great storyline and the other hand made me quite claustrophobic.
If you want to read something completely different to anything you ever read. Read this you will not be disappointed.
But when an offer is made by a woman called Amy Bird to do play some games in a death park and in return, she will give them an extra 20 years to live. Things don’t go as they thought it would.
Thank you for the publisher for a copy of 5 minds. If there was one book, I find hard to describe to review is this one. Don’t get me wrong this is not a bad book. It has very unique storyline and its very imaginative. How would you cope living with 4 other consciouses in one body for the rest of your life and only have your own time as a person in a certain time slot? It gave me mixed emotions. In one hand it was an intriguing story and had a great storyline and the other hand made me quite claustrophobic.
If you want to read something completely different to anything you ever read. Read this you will not be disappointed.
February 20, 2022
The first two thirds is loads of fun. Not deep, but fun. It is a future where overpopulation has driven people to share bodies. So five minds all live in one body and take turns being awake. (I hate the overpopulation explanation. Would have preferred oppressive aliens to ecofascism. But alas.) The setting for the story is a death park where people gamble for more time to live. So there is a lot of cool, unique things that kept me engaged in the reading. I enjoyed having the five different perspectives of the commune and learning about the world.
Then about two thirds through something really awful happens and then awful stuff keeps happening right up to the end. I hated the ending. It felt bad. The emotional pay off is so unfulfilling and yucky. This went from a four or five stars for just how fun and engrossing it was to two stars because the ending left me so upset.
Sexual violence? Yes. Other content warnings? Yes
Then about two thirds through something really awful happens and then awful stuff keeps happening right up to the end. I hated the ending. It felt bad. The emotional pay off is so unfulfilling and yucky. This went from a four or five stars for just how fun and engrossing it was to two stars because the ending left me so upset.
Sexual violence? Yes. Other content warnings? Yes
August 6, 2021
Five Minds By Guy Morpuss
In the not so distance future Earth's growing population has become a problem and Lifespans are limited to eighty years and here our story begins.
I loved the start of the book getting to know all the minds that inhabit the body and how things worked this was really good writing, the world building was really strong and had a unique atmosphere that I enjoyed and the whodunit element of the book was also really well thought out and enjoyable that I didn't guess so this was also a bonus.
So why the slight negativity in this review?
I found the book relied to heavily on the games in the death park and it started to feel like a bit of a poor mans Ready Player One which I'm a huge fan of so after a couple of the games I started to get a little bored and the book started to become a little repetitive for me.
Overall this is a good read just not a great one I did enjoy spending time with this book and I shall look out for more works from the Author.
Just about worth your time and hard-earned cash.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC I also like to thank Guy for allowing me to spend time in his creation in return for an honest review.
In the not so distance future Earth's growing population has become a problem and Lifespans are limited to eighty years and here our story begins.
I loved the start of the book getting to know all the minds that inhabit the body and how things worked this was really good writing, the world building was really strong and had a unique atmosphere that I enjoyed and the whodunit element of the book was also really well thought out and enjoyable that I didn't guess so this was also a bonus.
So why the slight negativity in this review?
I found the book relied to heavily on the games in the death park and it started to feel like a bit of a poor mans Ready Player One which I'm a huge fan of so after a couple of the games I started to get a little bored and the book started to become a little repetitive for me.
Overall this is a good read just not a great one I did enjoy spending time with this book and I shall look out for more works from the Author.
Just about worth your time and hard-earned cash.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC I also like to thank Guy for allowing me to spend time in his creation in return for an honest review.
September 2, 2021
Five Minds is a brilliant and wholly original speculative crime thriller and Morpuss’ debut murder mystery set in the near future where, to solve the planet’s population problem and lack of earthly resources, human bodies play host to multiple minds. But it then begs the question: what if you might be sharing a body with a murderer? One body. Five minds. And one of them is a murderer. Alex wakes up. Alex brushes his teeth. Alex has breakfast. Three hours are left until Sierra takes over the body. He hopes she doesn’t damage it. And where has Mike gone? The Earth’s population explosion has finally been controlled. At the age of seventeen, every child must choose how to live the rest of their life – as a Worker (where you remain the same as you are - Human), an Android or Andi (upload your mind into an artificial body), a Hedonist (live a life of luxury but die aged 42) or to live in a Commune (live to 142 but share your body).
The choice is not only between the way in which you live but your lifespan, too. Alex, Kate, Sierra, Ben and Mike are a commune: five minds sharing one body, living for four hours each per day; they have been together for the past 25 years. Time has become a commodity to be traded and spent. In the death parks, disturbing simulated virtual reality games are played in which time can be gambled like money and won to increase lifespans, but it can also work inversely and you can have your life cut short should you lose. Every quarter of a century a commune can also play to attempt to win time to upgrade and find their next host body. During a game, one of them disappears. Have they been killed? And if so, by someone outside their body or by another member of the Commune? They are all in danger, and as they search for the answer old animosities resurface and they must find out from whom – and why – they are all under threat.
This compulsive, immersive and refreshing read is a superb classic murder mystery set in a richly imagined speculative near future world. It takes a traditional premise and doubles down – how do you catch a murderer when you might be sharing a body with them? There is plenty of action, drama, intrigue, excitement and twists throughout, and the author makes great use of misdirection to throw you off the scent; it's cleverly woven and poignant, too. This is a tale that twists reality and plays with the consequences and features multiple minds, changing allegiances and revenge. But Five Minds is not just a high concept thrill ride, it also makes you think and raises some interesting dilemmas: would you be willing to die at 42 if you never worked and lived a life of leisurely luxury? Would you trade living to 142 for being forced to share your body with four other people? Pacy, thought-provoking, character-driven noir told from the perspectives of each occupant of the body, this is a fascinating, exhilarating and entertaining read. Highly recommended.
The choice is not only between the way in which you live but your lifespan, too. Alex, Kate, Sierra, Ben and Mike are a commune: five minds sharing one body, living for four hours each per day; they have been together for the past 25 years. Time has become a commodity to be traded and spent. In the death parks, disturbing simulated virtual reality games are played in which time can be gambled like money and won to increase lifespans, but it can also work inversely and you can have your life cut short should you lose. Every quarter of a century a commune can also play to attempt to win time to upgrade and find their next host body. During a game, one of them disappears. Have they been killed? And if so, by someone outside their body or by another member of the Commune? They are all in danger, and as they search for the answer old animosities resurface and they must find out from whom – and why – they are all under threat.
This compulsive, immersive and refreshing read is a superb classic murder mystery set in a richly imagined speculative near future world. It takes a traditional premise and doubles down – how do you catch a murderer when you might be sharing a body with them? There is plenty of action, drama, intrigue, excitement and twists throughout, and the author makes great use of misdirection to throw you off the scent; it's cleverly woven and poignant, too. This is a tale that twists reality and plays with the consequences and features multiple minds, changing allegiances and revenge. But Five Minds is not just a high concept thrill ride, it also makes you think and raises some interesting dilemmas: would you be willing to die at 42 if you never worked and lived a life of leisurely luxury? Would you trade living to 142 for being forced to share your body with four other people? Pacy, thought-provoking, character-driven noir told from the perspectives of each occupant of the body, this is a fascinating, exhilarating and entertaining read. Highly recommended.
October 15, 2024
Дуже нестандартний сюжет, цікава й динамічна оповідь. І ці міні-квести в великому детективному сюжеті були агінь.
Але фінальна розгадка зчитувалась уже на середині книжки, якісь товсті підказки нам дали, тому й не вау.
Ще книжки автора читала б 100%.
Але фінальна розгадка зчитувалась уже на середині книжки, якісь товсті підказки нам дали, тому й не вау.
Ще книжки автора читала б 100%.
May 15, 2024
3,5⭐️
Як на мене цікава антиутопічна історія: більше половини книги було дуже норм, а далі закрутилась якась дурня, яка у фіналі стала ще гіршою. Після схожих історій ця не найкраща і не вартує знайомитись з цим жанром із цієї історії. Це точно не Шустерман із Кізом.
По великому рахунку можна і не читати :)
Як на мене цікава антиутопічна історія: більше половини книги було дуже норм, а далі закрутилась якась дурня, яка у фіналі стала ще гіршою. Після схожих історій ця не найкраща і не вартує знайомитись з цим жанром із цієї історії. Це точно не Шустерман із Кізом.
По великому рахунку можна і не читати :)
October 25, 2024
Поки дійшов середини, випав з читання на тиждень.
Не дивлячись на те, що задум і правда цікавий, події розгортаються вкрай довго і нудно. Після прочитання 60% стало хоч трохи цікаво і далі пішло набагато швидше.
Детективна складова слабка. Фантастична теж. Таке відчуття наче автор передивився з десяток фантастичних фільмів і вирішив злити все в одну купу.
Персонажі розкриті на трієчку, тому переживання за жодного з них не було.
Не дивлячись на те, що задум і правда цікавий, події розгортаються вкрай довго і нудно. Після прочитання 60% стало хоч трохи цікаво і далі пішло набагато швидше.
Детективна складова слабка. Фантастична теж. Таке відчуття наче автор передивився з десяток фантастичних фільмів і вирішив злити все в одну купу.
Персонажі розкриті на трієчку, тому переживання за жодного з них не було.
November 12, 2023
досить цікава задумка, яка захоплює до кінця книги.
подобається, що логічних провисів у книзі немає – автор ретельно подбав про відповіді в кінці)
сильно сподобалися й загадки, які мені часом нагадували квест-кімнати, хоча й «валютою» був час життя героїв.
п.с. звісно ж, знову, блін, згадки росіян, скільки можнаааа. сподіваюся, після 2022 року автори перестануть пхати їх у свої твори.
подобається, що логічних провисів у книзі немає – автор ретельно подбав про відповіді в кінці)
сильно сподобалися й загадки, які мені часом нагадували квест-кімнати, хоча й «валютою» був час життя героїв.
п.с. звісно ж, знову, блін, згадки росіян, скільки можнаааа. сподіваюся, після 2022 року автори перестануть пхати їх у свої твори.
September 12, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. We’re thrown in at the deep-end from the first pages - into a futuristic world with no pre-amble or build up as to how we got there, but within a few chapters I felt like Morpuss had settled us firmly in a world I could clearly envision and, for the most part, understand.
This is a real psychological page turner that I could have easily read in one sitting. Although Morpuss built a truly dynamic and unique, futuristic playground, I didn’t find it overly complex and was easy to get lost in this well developed world.
His characters were all well developed, each bringing their own diversity to the story. It was easy to connect and relate to each, as they took their turns in control of the communal body, trying to figure out what was happening to them!
Although, around a third of the way in, I had an inkling as to what was going on, I didn’t get it quite right and thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns and the quick pace of this one. I did feel the ending was a little rushed, and not sure how happy I was with the outcome - but only because I wanted there to be more!
If you love a sci-fi mystery, who-done-it, then I’d definitely recommend you giving this one a go!
This is a real psychological page turner that I could have easily read in one sitting. Although Morpuss built a truly dynamic and unique, futuristic playground, I didn’t find it overly complex and was easy to get lost in this well developed world.
His characters were all well developed, each bringing their own diversity to the story. It was easy to connect and relate to each, as they took their turns in control of the communal body, trying to figure out what was happening to them!
Although, around a third of the way in, I had an inkling as to what was going on, I didn’t get it quite right and thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns and the quick pace of this one. I did feel the ending was a little rushed, and not sure how happy I was with the outcome - but only because I wanted there to be more!
If you love a sci-fi mystery, who-done-it, then I’d definitely recommend you giving this one a go!
March 21, 2024
Bár a fülszöveg és előzetes ismereteim erről a könyvről nyilvánvalóvá tették, hogy ez egy sci-fi kelléktárral dolgozó krimi lesz (és még véletlenül sem fordítva), az alapötlet az egyazon testen osztozó elmékkel eléggé felkeltette az érdeklődésemet, hogy belevágjak. És be kell valljam, az elején működött is a történet. Nem vártam nagy mélységeket, vagy magasságokat, de kaptam egy fordulatos kalandregényt - vonaton üldögélve, boltban sorban álláshoz pont jó.
A második felére azonban valahogy kifáradt az egész. Vagy én fáradtam bele?
Akárhogyan is, a science fiction oldal végig megmaradt egy olyan elnagyolt szimulációs játék szintjén, ami a cselekményben is nagy szerepet kapott. Tulajdonképpen a jövőbe képzelt való világból alig-alig láttunk valamit, a játékok kiterjesztett valóságából annál többet. A krimi szál pedig... azt hiszem, az nem jó jel, ha egy "ki a gyilkos?"-féle, rejtélymegoldós thrillerben már a könyv felénél simán kitaláljuk a megoldást. És ez a műfaj így működik: ha kiveszed a rejtélyt, a találóskérdést a képletből, vagyis kifilézed a történetet, akkor nagyon ügyes írónak kell lenni, hogy enélkül is működjön a regény, továbbra is érdekeljenek a karakterek, illetve sorsuk össze- és szétfonódása.
Maradjunk abban, hogy Guy Morpuss nem egy Agatha Christie.
A második felére azonban valahogy kifáradt az egész. Vagy én fáradtam bele?
Akárhogyan is, a science fiction oldal végig megmaradt egy olyan elnagyolt szimulációs játék szintjén, ami a cselekményben is nagy szerepet kapott. Tulajdonképpen a jövőbe képzelt való világból alig-alig láttunk valamit, a játékok kiterjesztett valóságából annál többet. A krimi szál pedig... azt hiszem, az nem jó jel, ha egy "ki a gyilkos?"-féle, rejtélymegoldós thrillerben már a könyv felénél simán kitaláljuk a megoldást. És ez a műfaj így működik: ha kiveszed a rejtélyt, a találóskérdést a képletből, vagyis kifilézed a történetet, akkor nagyon ügyes írónak kell lenni, hogy enélkül is működjön a regény, továbbra is érdekeljenek a karakterek, illetve sorsuk össze- és szétfonódása.
Maradjunk abban, hogy Guy Morpuss nem egy Agatha Christie.
October 4, 2024
“𝙸 𝚍𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚎𝚗𝚟𝚢 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎. 𝙸 𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚞𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚍𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘 𝚒𝚝.”
February 9, 2025
4,5 actually
мені дуже сподобався світ, ідея з різними тілами, з парками смерті, з торгівлею часом. Те, як все влаштовано – просто топ топ. А щеее в нас тут мій любименький троп ненадійного оповідача))
різні pov, і ти не знаєш чия ж думка правдива, бо всі персонажі дуже дуже живі
мені трошки сумно, що я зарано зрозуміла хто ж поганець і через це деякі події щиро бісили. Але від того історія не стала гіршою. Буду радити всім-всім)
мені дуже сподобався світ, ідея з різними тілами, з парками смерті, з торгівлею часом. Те, як все влаштовано – просто топ топ. А щеее в нас тут мій любименький троп ненадійного оповідача))
різні pov, і ти не знаєш чия ж думка правдива, бо всі персонажі дуже дуже живі
мені трошки сумно, що я зарано зрозуміла хто ж поганець і через це деякі події щиро бісили. Але від того історія не стала гіршою. Буду радити всім-всім)
February 26, 2022
Despite a promising start and interesting (if illogical*) premise, from some point on I found this book unpleasant to read, unsettling and confusing. I am still unconvinced by the explanation at the end and concerned about laying the blame on the fat unpopular kid. Some weird Frankenstein making himself a girlfriend shit. One of those books that makes you feel a bit ill. Not recommended.
* why five minds? Why not 3 or 2 or 4 or 6?
* why do schizos only need 4 hours of sleep? Why can’t humans take advantage of the same technology?
* why isn’t their software smart enough to deal with time zones?
* for that matter where the hell do they start out? Russia? Seems like they already changed time zones??!
* why allow heds at all in this utilitarian society?
* how can andis have children? What? Where’s the dna?
* similarly they don’t have to eat but they can? And they bleed? Are they vampires or robots?
* why did the schedule only shift by one hour when Mike died?
* why was Kate so stupid in the first place? Why would she give anyone the access codes? Why were they only in one person’s control? Could she not change them after Mike died?
* how did Sierra respond to Alex in his time slot in chapter 1? That never happened again
* how are these death parks so lawless that unauthorised people or andis are walking around on camera with no repercussions?
* was Amy Bird Marine 3? Why? What was the point?
* while we’re on the topic, once you have a spare andi and an evil dr why not just transfer Kate and kill the others? Why the tedious games?
* how were they not using time stamps in the first place to figure out who did what? All this technology and no system logs?
* why is 42 the cutoff for schizos?
* what was Emily? A worker? She was also studying. Why was that not presented as an option? It seemed like everyone in Montreal and Mont Tremblant was on holiday from the rules of this dystopia.
* everyone seems to be wired up to email and internet in their brains but searches take minutes to return. What?
* how does printing work?
* why don’t schizos group together so you have a chance of meeting someone in your slot?
I’m sure I have more but they aren’t coming to mind now. I would have preferred to skip the stupid games and explore more interesting things about the commune. How did they adjust to the new body at the beginning? Sex as a man for the women and vice versa? Effects of hormones on the brain? Family relationships? I think there could have been an interesting book here.
* why five minds? Why not 3 or 2 or 4 or 6?
* why do schizos only need 4 hours of sleep? Why can’t humans take advantage of the same technology?
* why isn’t their software smart enough to deal with time zones?
* for that matter where the hell do they start out? Russia? Seems like they already changed time zones??!
* why allow heds at all in this utilitarian society?
* how can andis have children? What? Where’s the dna?
* similarly they don’t have to eat but they can? And they bleed? Are they vampires or robots?
* why did the schedule only shift by one hour when Mike died?
* why was Kate so stupid in the first place? Why would she give anyone the access codes? Why were they only in one person’s control? Could she not change them after Mike died?
* how did Sierra respond to Alex in his time slot in chapter 1? That never happened again
* how are these death parks so lawless that unauthorised people or andis are walking around on camera with no repercussions?
* was Amy Bird Marine 3? Why? What was the point?
* while we’re on the topic, once you have a spare andi and an evil dr why not just transfer Kate and kill the others? Why the tedious games?
* how were they not using time stamps in the first place to figure out who did what? All this technology and no system logs?
* why is 42 the cutoff for schizos?
* what was Emily? A worker? She was also studying. Why was that not presented as an option? It seemed like everyone in Montreal and Mont Tremblant was on holiday from the rules of this dystopia.
* everyone seems to be wired up to email and internet in their brains but searches take minutes to return. What?
* how does printing work?
* why don’t schizos group together so you have a chance of meeting someone in your slot?
I’m sure I have more but they aren’t coming to mind now. I would have preferred to skip the stupid games and explore more interesting things about the commune. How did they adjust to the new body at the beginning? Sex as a man for the women and vice versa? Effects of hormones on the brain? Family relationships? I think there could have been an interesting book here.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2021
One of the most brilliant and original mix of speculative fiction and thriller i've read in a long time.
Gay Morpuss is an excellent writer and delivers a story that keeps you on the edge and entertain at the same time.
The world building is detailed and you can think that could be our future. The characters are well developed, the five minds that inhabit the same body are distinct and well developed. You get to know them during the books, their stories and their present.
It's a thought provoking and fascinating read, strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Gay Morpuss is an excellent writer and delivers a story that keeps you on the edge and entertain at the same time.
The world building is detailed and you can think that could be our future. The characters are well developed, the five minds that inhabit the same body are distinct and well developed. You get to know them during the books, their stories and their present.
It's a thought provoking and fascinating read, strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
June 9, 2023
нуу.. тут є до чого доколупатись, але не буду. книжка моментально затягнула в себе, порядно розважила та відволікла. саме те, чого наразі дуже хотілось.
за вайбом це був якийсь мікс клішованого детективу, притомного скайфай, «першому гравцю приготуватись», «голодних ігор» та бозна чого ще.
за вайбом це був якийсь мікс клішованого детективу, притомного скайфай, «першому гравцю приготуватись», «голодних ігор» та бозна чого ще.
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