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Mindbender
It all begins with a scream.
Pogo, a young lovable kid, wakes up to the scream and is scared that his mom has left him. Joshua a smart, meticulous boy, is disturbed by the scream and begins observing strange incidents in the world he just woke up in. Sarah, a simple senescent lady, wakes up to the scream and realizes her daughter and husband are missing.
Concurrently, a girl has been murdered at the only visible hotel in this world, and its hotel manager, Kobi, is not sure how the situation needs to be handled. There are no police around, and he teams up with Tonks, the owner of a diner, and Klaus, the owner of a supermarket, to figure out who killed the girl.
Six seemingly unrelated people embark on a journey through this vibrant, mostly deserted world, but nothing is what it seems, and this anomalous world will stop at nothing to assure the convergence of their paths.
Pogo, a young lovable kid, wakes up to the scream and is scared that his mom has left him. Joshua a smart, meticulous boy, is disturbed by the scream and begins observing strange incidents in the world he just woke up in. Sarah, a simple senescent lady, wakes up to the scream and realizes her daughter and husband are missing.
Concurrently, a girl has been murdered at the only visible hotel in this world, and its hotel manager, Kobi, is not sure how the situation needs to be handled. There are no police around, and he teams up with Tonks, the owner of a diner, and Klaus, the owner of a supermarket, to figure out who killed the girl.
Six seemingly unrelated people embark on a journey through this vibrant, mostly deserted world, but nothing is what it seems, and this anomalous world will stop at nothing to assure the convergence of their paths.
335 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 18, 2022
About the author
Avinash Naduvath
2 booksAvinash Naduvath is a Cybersecurity Architect at Cisco Systems, and Mindbender is his first novel. When not designing secure networks for his customers, he loves to write. He is fond of creating complex designs, so world-building is a
passion for him. He currently lives with his wife and son in Singapore.
His wife and brother-in-law are strong, lucid dreamers which is what triggered his interest in the subject, and Mindbender is the product of such interests.
passion for him. He currently lives with his wife and son in Singapore.
His wife and brother-in-law are strong, lucid dreamers which is what triggered his interest in the subject, and Mindbender is the product of such interests.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Did Not Finish
February 20, 2024I really struggled to read this and honestly ended up skipping through most of it after DNFing it at about 12%. The language was so stilted and formal, not only for the 12 year old but for all the characters and I just couldn't get on with it. It took about 50 words to say something that could have been condensed into five. Everyone wakes up with no memory but seems to cope rather well with it, for example the neighbour whose husband and child have disappeared "unfortunately" can't remember her husband's name - really? Never mind that they've disappeared without a trace, but it's just unfortunate she can't remember their names??
Just not for me sorry.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you to BooksGoSocial, Netgalley and the author.
Just not for me sorry.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you to BooksGoSocial, Netgalley and the author.
Read
May 14, 2022Very interesting story
This is an interesting story about six characters and how their lives cross. One of the things that I enjoyed most is how Avinash Naduvath gave us different perspectives of the experiences of each character. Starting with young Pogo, who is awakened one morning by a frightening scream. From there we are introduced to the other characters Sarah, Klaus, Tonks, Kobi, and Joshua. Each person adds a different dimension to the story. Very fascinating! Of course the truth is revealed towards the end of the book. But I don’t want to give anything away. Definitely worth the read.
This is an interesting story about six characters and how their lives cross. One of the things that I enjoyed most is how Avinash Naduvath gave us different perspectives of the experiences of each character. Starting with young Pogo, who is awakened one morning by a frightening scream. From there we are introduced to the other characters Sarah, Klaus, Tonks, Kobi, and Joshua. Each person adds a different dimension to the story. Very fascinating! Of course the truth is revealed towards the end of the book. But I don’t want to give anything away. Definitely worth the read.
June 12, 2022
This is an interesting book, with a good storyline, and Avinash writes it well, articulately and professionally. It does feel a bit too long, though, and is indeed a very wordy book, which is perhaps hindered a little by this fact. The reason for this is that at times it is quite easy to lose focus, as many of the same points are revisited time and again, but take long word counts to reach the bullet points. I do like the multi-person narrative viewpoints, but again, because you spend so long getting from one story arc to the next, it feels a little like labouring the fundamental storyline elements. Indeed, there were moments of confusion for me, but then ultimately pretty much all of these could be very quickly redeemed by reminding myself that most is taking place within dreams. Think of the movie “Inception”, and you’ll have some idea of the premise of this book, only instead of industrial espionage, and instead of embedding thoughts through dreams, Mindbender is about extracting information to solve crimes.
I did enjoy it to a point. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if it was a little shorter and more concise. Avinash is clearly a very good author, and a very intelligent one, but I definitely think a more ruthless approach to cutting content would improve the book, with an emphasis on reducing word count. As far as low sci-fi suspense goes, I think you could do a lot worse as a reader, but I do recommend locking yourself away for this one, and removing distractions, as it can get a little convoluted. Some of this convolution feels a little unnecessary, and there are a few bewildering moments – but again, all of these can be made much clearer in the mind of the reader by reminding themselves: “It’s a dream.” When the story arcs and strands do come together, it feels like a satisfying conclusion to a long journey, but one which ultimately really was a little testing to reach. That said, the book is a fine one, and the writer is a good one, and probably worth a read if you like a bit of dream-based fantasy with a darker, more brutal edge.
I did enjoy it to a point. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if it was a little shorter and more concise. Avinash is clearly a very good author, and a very intelligent one, but I definitely think a more ruthless approach to cutting content would improve the book, with an emphasis on reducing word count. As far as low sci-fi suspense goes, I think you could do a lot worse as a reader, but I do recommend locking yourself away for this one, and removing distractions, as it can get a little convoluted. Some of this convolution feels a little unnecessary, and there are a few bewildering moments – but again, all of these can be made much clearer in the mind of the reader by reminding themselves: “It’s a dream.” When the story arcs and strands do come together, it feels like a satisfying conclusion to a long journey, but one which ultimately really was a little testing to reach. That said, the book is a fine one, and the writer is a good one, and probably worth a read if you like a bit of dream-based fantasy with a darker, more brutal edge.
January 25, 2024
“first published at Feathered Quill Book Reviews.”
Avinash Naduvath’s Mindbender, a psychological mystery that 'literally' transcends the typicality of a conventional world, takes the reader on a mind boggling journey – through an anomalous world – along the meticulous path to a murder mystery – into the depths of the inner psyche of a traumatized person.
A scream serves as a source of awakening for a trio, waking them up in a condition of blackout to their current lives. The trio from different age groups quickly uncovers a world filled with abnormalities. Eight year old Pogo meets Joshua, who claims to be his cousin, yet Pogo has no recall of him. Joshua, an observant adult in his early twenties, awakens perplexed in a bed far from his current base, an asylum, with no recollection of anyone bringing him here (or where was this "here"?) Sarah, now wrinkly and fifty-four years old, couldn't remember the last two decades of her life. The anomalies continue to mount for the trio: a place where only five buildings exist (two of them where they wake up, a diner, a supermarket, and a hotel), a highway that goes nowhere (and with no traffic!), to just name a few.
To top it all off, touching specific objects evokes specific memories associated with the object. The trio soon comes across the equally strange and suspicious (and nosy) supermarket supervisor Klaus and diner owner Tonks. We learn the source and location of the scream - a dead body of a girl is found in the hotel ‘The Bender’. To add to the suspense and action, Joshua and Sarah accept the offer of a free hotel stay in The Benders as beta-testers, intending to explore the hotel in search of any clues to the scream and trying to find the mysteries underlying all the anomalies.
The story's climax begins with Tonks and Klaus revealing their identities as police officers. Could they, however? (Given that there is no police station in this place, in addition to all other basic necessities). There is an unexpected turn of events - the discovery of the dead girl's body and the retrieval of memories about her in Sarah and Joshua's lives – that help piece together the ultimate puzzle – of the murder mystery as well as a broader puzzle about this odd and suspecting 'construct' of the world...
The plot proceeds along with the help of the characters' perspectives. The author has made a big effort to keep readers in a constant state of anticipation. A guess on the next action doesn’t seem possible, and everything comes out (just) when it should. Choosing lucid dreaming as the starting point for the story, the narrative offers a novel and holistic approach to it, incorporating traumatic experiences and bullying at its core.
Each of the six perspectives that flow throughout the story is like a deep dive inside each narrator's head. The traumatic pasts of each, which influence their perspectives on and responses to current events, reveal a lot about human nature and personalities. The narration style shows the strangeness and enigma of an abnormal universe in an evocative style that effectively conveys a sense of one's entrance into a dreaming realm.
Avinash Naduvath’s Mindbender, a psychological mystery that 'literally' transcends the typicality of a conventional world, takes the reader on a mind boggling journey – through an anomalous world – along the meticulous path to a murder mystery – into the depths of the inner psyche of a traumatized person.
A scream serves as a source of awakening for a trio, waking them up in a condition of blackout to their current lives. The trio from different age groups quickly uncovers a world filled with abnormalities. Eight year old Pogo meets Joshua, who claims to be his cousin, yet Pogo has no recall of him. Joshua, an observant adult in his early twenties, awakens perplexed in a bed far from his current base, an asylum, with no recollection of anyone bringing him here (or where was this "here"?) Sarah, now wrinkly and fifty-four years old, couldn't remember the last two decades of her life. The anomalies continue to mount for the trio: a place where only five buildings exist (two of them where they wake up, a diner, a supermarket, and a hotel), a highway that goes nowhere (and with no traffic!), to just name a few.
To top it all off, touching specific objects evokes specific memories associated with the object. The trio soon comes across the equally strange and suspicious (and nosy) supermarket supervisor Klaus and diner owner Tonks. We learn the source and location of the scream - a dead body of a girl is found in the hotel ‘The Bender’. To add to the suspense and action, Joshua and Sarah accept the offer of a free hotel stay in The Benders as beta-testers, intending to explore the hotel in search of any clues to the scream and trying to find the mysteries underlying all the anomalies.
The story's climax begins with Tonks and Klaus revealing their identities as police officers. Could they, however? (Given that there is no police station in this place, in addition to all other basic necessities). There is an unexpected turn of events - the discovery of the dead girl's body and the retrieval of memories about her in Sarah and Joshua's lives – that help piece together the ultimate puzzle – of the murder mystery as well as a broader puzzle about this odd and suspecting 'construct' of the world...
The plot proceeds along with the help of the characters' perspectives. The author has made a big effort to keep readers in a constant state of anticipation. A guess on the next action doesn’t seem possible, and everything comes out (just) when it should. Choosing lucid dreaming as the starting point for the story, the narrative offers a novel and holistic approach to it, incorporating traumatic experiences and bullying at its core.
Each of the six perspectives that flow throughout the story is like a deep dive inside each narrator's head. The traumatic pasts of each, which influence their perspectives on and responses to current events, reveal a lot about human nature and personalities. The narration style shows the strangeness and enigma of an abnormal universe in an evocative style that effectively conveys a sense of one's entrance into a dreaming realm.
July 6, 2022
What is reality? That is the question that pervades the mind of young Pogo from the outset of this twisting story. The reader is introduced to the concept of lucid dreaming, a loving mother, and an abusive father within the first few pages – before everything seems to shatter without Pogo retaining a memory of virtually anything. Where is his mother? His father? Why can he not remember his school or his best friend?
Most importantly, who is the stranger standing in his kitchen making his favorite breakfast, and what does Joshua have to do with him when he doesn’t remember much, either? Even worse, who is their neighbor, Sarah, who also has no memory of anything, including her husband, Marko, and their daughter, Julia?
Something isn’t right in this little town, but the more the inconsistencies pile up, the crazier the mystery seems to get! On the other side are the three mysterious antagonists, Tonks, Klaus, and Kobi, who have their own reasons for being in this world but may wind up collateral damage while searching for the truth.
Written from the first-person points of view of each central character in the tale, Mindbender, by Avinash Naduvath, follows several characters in a strange, vaguely unsettling world the reader quickly realizes, long before the protagonists, is actually a mental construct.
Naduvath’s writing style is intriguing and thought-provoking, and the plot itself is interesting enough to keep the reader turning pages simply to find out what could possibly be happening next. Discovering the truth about the novel’s name only comes toward the end, almost in passing, but suits the storyline perfectly. Finding out the culprit and how the said culprit is found out is a surprising and pleasantly unexpected twist.
Mindbender is a complex metaphysical hard science fiction novel that captivates readers from the opening pages. Following along as the story leads all the characters to a convergence point will have readers on edge trying to decipher the mystery of what has happened to them and their world.
Most importantly, who is the stranger standing in his kitchen making his favorite breakfast, and what does Joshua have to do with him when he doesn’t remember much, either? Even worse, who is their neighbor, Sarah, who also has no memory of anything, including her husband, Marko, and their daughter, Julia?
Something isn’t right in this little town, but the more the inconsistencies pile up, the crazier the mystery seems to get! On the other side are the three mysterious antagonists, Tonks, Klaus, and Kobi, who have their own reasons for being in this world but may wind up collateral damage while searching for the truth.
Written from the first-person points of view of each central character in the tale, Mindbender, by Avinash Naduvath, follows several characters in a strange, vaguely unsettling world the reader quickly realizes, long before the protagonists, is actually a mental construct.
Naduvath’s writing style is intriguing and thought-provoking, and the plot itself is interesting enough to keep the reader turning pages simply to find out what could possibly be happening next. Discovering the truth about the novel’s name only comes toward the end, almost in passing, but suits the storyline perfectly. Finding out the culprit and how the said culprit is found out is a surprising and pleasantly unexpected twist.
Mindbender is a complex metaphysical hard science fiction novel that captivates readers from the opening pages. Following along as the story leads all the characters to a convergence point will have readers on edge trying to decipher the mystery of what has happened to them and their world.
December 5, 2022
“I tried to whisper to her how she couldn’t leave me alone, especially with this monster, but she was already past her earthly burdens”
Pogo, Joshua and Sarah are all woken up by a scream. Each of them know they have certain memories missing and they don’t quite understand why.
In a small town that has only five buildings and six people in it, these characters try to navigate this strange world that they have woken up in. Finding out that a murder has taken place, they feel suspicious of the three business owners they meet, wonder why there’s a lack of police presence and spot many anomalies along the way.
I could not put this book down. The talent that Avinash Naduvath displays in this novel is so impressive. The plot is complex but does not lose readers to confusion or frustration.
The story is told from six different perspectives. Each perspective fills in the gaps that are needed without being too repetitive when referring to what has already happened. This split in narratives helps readers to see all the characters from different angles, making it hard to know who you can trust and who is at fault.
This book has a dystopian theme to it in terms of technology and how it’s advancements can be quite damaging. There is also the murder mystery aspect that is told mostly through the suspicions of Pogo, Joshua and Sarah, with the lack of a real detective adding an eerie atmosphere to the storyline.
The way this story is brought together at the end is so artistic and the twist was impossible to guess.
I loved how different this book was. It was so engrossing and unique and I highly recommend this read.
Pogo, Joshua and Sarah are all woken up by a scream. Each of them know they have certain memories missing and they don’t quite understand why.
In a small town that has only five buildings and six people in it, these characters try to navigate this strange world that they have woken up in. Finding out that a murder has taken place, they feel suspicious of the three business owners they meet, wonder why there’s a lack of police presence and spot many anomalies along the way.
I could not put this book down. The talent that Avinash Naduvath displays in this novel is so impressive. The plot is complex but does not lose readers to confusion or frustration.
The story is told from six different perspectives. Each perspective fills in the gaps that are needed without being too repetitive when referring to what has already happened. This split in narratives helps readers to see all the characters from different angles, making it hard to know who you can trust and who is at fault.
This book has a dystopian theme to it in terms of technology and how it’s advancements can be quite damaging. There is also the murder mystery aspect that is told mostly through the suspicions of Pogo, Joshua and Sarah, with the lack of a real detective adding an eerie atmosphere to the storyline.
The way this story is brought together at the end is so artistic and the twist was impossible to guess.
I loved how different this book was. It was so engrossing and unique and I highly recommend this read.
December 15, 2022
After 12-year-old Pogo here’s a scream he wakes up to find his mother missing and a teenage boy cooking breakfast in the kitchen as soon after the meet another neighbor whose husband and daughter are also missing but what does all this have to do with the local hotel? This was one of the strangest best best books I have read. I put this off because I had a feeling it was going to be good but it was also good. After all what kind of hotel gives local residents free night stays as an opening there’s way more going on here than a grand opening of a hotel but what was that scream everyone heard? You really need to read this book the book carries it through when you put it down you cannot stop thinking about it and wondering what the heck is going on… I know that’s what happened to me. This will be a book you will want to read again and again I know I do. I can’t wait to read more about this author I truly and honestly loved the weirdness of this novel it is a rare treat with literary books today and I am also glad I got to read it. Although I didn’t give a big summary I didn’t want to give anything away that I didn’t already know when I started the book and trust me you’ll be glad you didn’t this was a great book and one I highly recommend. I received this book from NetGalley hey and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review but trust me when I say this book is so good! A true five star read!
June 19, 2022
This mystery story starts with a woman's scream.
Pogo, a young boy, wakes up convinced that his mother has left him. Joshua, an older boy, wakes up and notices that strange things are happening in this new world. They are in a village, or hamlet, with only five buildings. Among them is a supermarket with infinitely long shelves. There is a diner that is deserted one minute, and full of customers the next minute. Another new arrival is Sarah, an older woman who suddenly realizes that her husband and daughter are missing.
In the world's only hotel, a multi-story skyscraper, a woman's dead body has been found. Sarah is not sure if it is that of her missing daughter. Kobi, the hotel manager, does not know what to do. Along with Klaus, the supermarket owner, and Tonks, the owner of the diner, can this random group of people figure out just what is going on?
This is a really good novel. Having it told from the point of view of each of the characters certainly helps. It's not an action-packed page turner of a story (except for the dead body), so it may take some effort on the part of the reader. That effort will be well rewarded with this mystery story, mixed with a bit of the TV show "The Twilight Zone."
Pogo, a young boy, wakes up convinced that his mother has left him. Joshua, an older boy, wakes up and notices that strange things are happening in this new world. They are in a village, or hamlet, with only five buildings. Among them is a supermarket with infinitely long shelves. There is a diner that is deserted one minute, and full of customers the next minute. Another new arrival is Sarah, an older woman who suddenly realizes that her husband and daughter are missing.
In the world's only hotel, a multi-story skyscraper, a woman's dead body has been found. Sarah is not sure if it is that of her missing daughter. Kobi, the hotel manager, does not know what to do. Along with Klaus, the supermarket owner, and Tonks, the owner of the diner, can this random group of people figure out just what is going on?
This is a really good novel. Having it told from the point of view of each of the characters certainly helps. It's not an action-packed page turner of a story (except for the dead body), so it may take some effort on the part of the reader. That effort will be well rewarded with this mystery story, mixed with a bit of the TV show "The Twilight Zone."
August 21, 2022
Pogo, a young lovable kid, wakes up to the scream and is scared that his mom has left him. Joshua, a smart, meticulous boy, is disturbed by the scream and begins observing strange incidents in the world he just woke up in. Sarah, a simple senescent lady, wakes up to the scream and realizes her daughter and husband are missing.
Concurrently, a girl has been murdered at the only visible hotel in this world, and its hotel manager, Kobi, is not sure how the situation needs to be handled. There are no police around, and he teams up with Tonks, the owner of a diner, and Klaus, the owner of a supermarket, to figure out who killed the girl.
Six seemingly unrelated people embark on a journey through this vibrant, mostly deserted world, but nothing is what it seems, and this anomalous world will stop at nothing to assure the convergence of their paths.
Really enjoyed this book totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and BooksGoSocial
I just reviewed Mindbender by Avinash Naduvath. #Mindbender #NetGalley
Really enjoyed this book totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and BooksGoSocial
I just reviewed Mindbender by Avinash Naduvath. #Mindbender #NetGalley
August 21, 2022
Pogo, a young lovable kid, wakes up to the scream and is scared that his mom has left him. Joshua, a smart, meticulous boy, is disturbed by the scream and begins observing strange incidents in the world he just woke up in. Sarah, a simple senescent lady, wakes up to the scream and realizes her daughter and husband are missing.
Concurrently, a girl has been murdered at the only visible hotel in this world, and its hotel manager, Kobi, is not sure how the situation needs to be handled. There are no police around, and he teams up with Tonks, the owner of a diner, and Klaus, the owner of a supermarket, to figure out who killed the girl.
Six seemingly unrelated people embark on a journey through this vibrant, mostly deserted world, but nothing is what it seems, and this anomalous world will stop at nothing to assure the convergence of their paths.
Really enjoyed this book totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and BooksGoSocial
I just reviewed Mindbender by Avinash Naduvath. #Mindbender #NetGalley
Really enjoyed this book totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and BooksGoSocial
I just reviewed Mindbender by Avinash Naduvath. #Mindbender #NetGalley
September 16, 2022
What drew me to this book was the cover. I absolutely love it!
The book is centered around a shared lucid dream. It is written in the perspective of six people who are in this shared dream. Each of them waking up to a scream in the middle of the night, followed by an extensive loss of memory the following day. The then navigate through this new world, realizing that the world itself is trying to push them in a certain direction.
It was a very interesting read, kept me on the edge and kept me guessing. At first, I had no idea where it was going to lead. I enjoyed it thoroughly but I felt like the last two chapters and the epilogue were a little unnecessary to the story.
From a child, to an elderly lady who commits suicide, to a narcissist with a duty to fulfill, a diner owner who was too nice on the surface, a hotel owner and a teenage boy who turned out to be someone he didn't think he was, the story twisted and turned and captivated me.
I enjoyed this book even though it was a little long.
The book is centered around a shared lucid dream. It is written in the perspective of six people who are in this shared dream. Each of them waking up to a scream in the middle of the night, followed by an extensive loss of memory the following day. The then navigate through this new world, realizing that the world itself is trying to push them in a certain direction.
It was a very interesting read, kept me on the edge and kept me guessing. At first, I had no idea where it was going to lead. I enjoyed it thoroughly but I felt like the last two chapters and the epilogue were a little unnecessary to the story.
From a child, to an elderly lady who commits suicide, to a narcissist with a duty to fulfill, a diner owner who was too nice on the surface, a hotel owner and a teenage boy who turned out to be someone he didn't think he was, the story twisted and turned and captivated me.
I enjoyed this book even though it was a little long.
June 5, 2022
The book starts off strong. It begins in the mind of a precocious 12-year-old who's having some trouble at school. The mix of reality and lucid dreaming was a bit confusing to me at first, but you can get used to it quickly. If you enjoy books that make you feel a bit trippy, this would be a good choice.
I also enjoyed reading the perspectives of the other characters as well. The author does a great job at keeping you at the edge of your seat, waiting to find the next detail that will bring together the pieces of this mystery.
It's so interesting that the author is actually a cybersecurity specialist. I never would have guessed. His writing style is unique and well done. There were quite a few formatting/grammatical issues in the book, however, and those did distract me as I was reading it. However, the book in general is great and takes you on a wild, psychological journey. I recommend it to people who are into novels that make you think and reconsider your own reality.
I also enjoyed reading the perspectives of the other characters as well. The author does a great job at keeping you at the edge of your seat, waiting to find the next detail that will bring together the pieces of this mystery.
It's so interesting that the author is actually a cybersecurity specialist. I never would have guessed. His writing style is unique and well done. There were quite a few formatting/grammatical issues in the book, however, and those did distract me as I was reading it. However, the book in general is great and takes you on a wild, psychological journey. I recommend it to people who are into novels that make you think and reconsider your own reality.
May 15, 2022
This one immediately caught my attention. Opening with a school incident and visit to the psychiatrist, we get swept into one of the characters' psyche from the start. Add in an additional cast of main characters and their interactions turn this into a page-turner that I had a hard time putting down.
The writing style is very immersive. Some of it being from the perspective of a 12 year old, I get the same feeling and experiences I had at that age. I remember my thoughts being scattered, and every visual cue leading me down a different train of thought, and this book captures that mentality.
I will be re-reading this one again.
The writing style is very immersive. Some of it being from the perspective of a 12 year old, I get the same feeling and experiences I had at that age. I remember my thoughts being scattered, and every visual cue leading me down a different train of thought, and this book captures that mentality.
I will be re-reading this one again.
June 13, 2022
Worthy Thriller
Oh. My. God. I read the book in a whole sitting and I still can't process the ending. WHAT. Naduveth really does know how to write a thrilling mystery book. The book has 6 different points of view all revolving around the same incident but almost as though they are never meant to interconnect. The psychiatrist makes you question what is and isn't real, as when as what can or can't be believed. I could relate to the 12yo point of view and it really triggered me because the description was so like what I was like when I was that age or maybe a little younger. Naduveth better is writing another book because I will, mark my words, and inhale his content.
Oh. My. God. I read the book in a whole sitting and I still can't process the ending. WHAT. Naduveth really does know how to write a thrilling mystery book. The book has 6 different points of view all revolving around the same incident but almost as though they are never meant to interconnect. The psychiatrist makes you question what is and isn't real, as when as what can or can't be believed. I could relate to the 12yo point of view and it really triggered me because the description was so like what I was like when I was that age or maybe a little younger. Naduveth better is writing another book because I will, mark my words, and inhale his content.
June 20, 2022
Page turner
This is a really good story. I like the air it has about it. I enjoy the flashes of emotion described in the characters to give you a good read on the situations. I like the multiple points of views. It makes things seem more real. The way this is told is very well done. I wish that I could come up with ideas for stories like this. I believe I’ll probably be forever cursed to just be a reader but that’s ok. I really hope to read more by this author. It was a definite page turner.
This is a really good story. I like the air it has about it. I enjoy the flashes of emotion described in the characters to give you a good read on the situations. I like the multiple points of views. It makes things seem more real. The way this is told is very well done. I wish that I could come up with ideas for stories like this. I believe I’ll probably be forever cursed to just be a reader but that’s ok. I really hope to read more by this author. It was a definite page turner.
May 18, 2022
A fascinating read that very accurately captures the idea of lucid dreaming. Skipping between dreams and reality, it makes one feel as if one is living inside the character’s head. How every visual or sound leads from one thought to another, and how relatable that is to anyone who struggles with overthinking and living in one’s head. The story is told from 6 different perspectives of beloved characters and it eventually leads to a wonderful climax. Ingenious. A page turner.
December 26, 2025
A wordy book that occasionally reminded me of my early English days. While the inception, plot, and some buildup worked, the revelations and outcomes fell flat. It’s a fast-paced thriller weighed down by weak characterization and forced twists. The characters’ decisions often feel naive and inconsistent—they’re portrayed as pioneers, yet doubt their own designs at the first real test. Their failures seem unjustified and poorly constructed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2022
This was so beautifully written and I love the plot and twists. I was wondering the entire time what happened, what did they all have in common, etc. Is this something I would be re-reading soon? ABSOLUTELY. This is such a masterpiece for me. From the synopsis alone, I had high expectations and I was not disappointed.
October 8, 2022
Nicely done. This has interesting characters, and the way the story is laid out and presented works really well, including the ending. Recommended.
Thanks very much for the free review copy for review!!
Thanks very much for the free review copy for review!!
Want to Read
October 26, 2022 I've received an advanced digital copy of this book, courtesy of the author and publisher, via Netgalley, for review consideration.
RTC
RTC
August 30, 2022
When I first picked up this book, I felt that it was going to hook me into the story right away. And it sure did. The prolong immediately interested me and kept me wanting to read more. This book is very intriguing from the start. Mindbender is about six different people as they try to figure out the mystery of what happened on a fateful and eventful night. If you enjoy reading murder mysteries and also want a book that keeps you engaged from beginning to end, this book delivers that!
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