Soul Identity

Soul Identity #1

by Dennis Batchelder

You can't take it with you...but what if you could?

Most people believe their souls outlive their bodies. Most people would find an organization that tracks their souls into the future and passes on their banked money and memories compelling.

Scott Waverly isn't like most people. He spends his days finding and fixing computer security holes. And Scott is skeptical of his new client's claim that they have been calculating and tracking soul identities for almost twenty-six hundred years.

Are they running a freaky cult? Or a sophisticated con job?

Scott needs to save Soul Identity from an insider attack. Along the way, he discovers the importance of the bridges connecting people's lives.

Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction, Mystery, Fantasy, Ebooks, Thriller, Mystery Thriller

296 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2007

About the author

One of the world's experts at fighting cybercriminals and the co-founder of a growing internet safety company, Dennis Batchelder started writing novels with a 2006 New Year's resolution, vowing he wouldn't return from his 2-year overseas posting to India without a first draft in hand. Oversight is his fourth novel-following his best-selling Soul Identity series-and his debut for young adults. Dennis lives in West Seattle with his wife, his mother-in-law, and his three youngest sons. He writes both on-scene and back home at his desk overlooking the Puget Sound.

Reviews

[Dennis Batchelder · Rating 5 out of 5]

of course i loved it... i wrote it :-)

[Myth · Rating 1 out of 5]

What makes a good esoteric, soft sci-fi read? Maybe a mysterious organization that claims to be able to track souls? Sounds interesting.

The story begins with Scott, probably our teenage protagonist guessing from the writing and how he acts. He's a smart kid and one-ups an airport security team. Scott has a business in security that he runs with his parents.

But wait, Scott lives on his own. So maybe he wasn't the clever fifteen year old he seemed to be. As a matter of fact, he's not a smart kid at all. He's a dumb, immature thirty-some year old.

Downward Spiral: Commence!
-Factual Errors
-Caricature Characters
-More of Scott ("Wow." "Boobies.")
-All the mystery revealed
-Great, now we're taking a trip.
-You're joke, right? Romeo and Juliet were not real people.
-And insult my intelligence. (There's a last straw when it comes to talking down to readers...)

So when someone goes about self-publishing an ebook, they assume their audience is too stupid to know what a blog is? 2007 wasn't that long ago. I put up with Scott's immaturity, the clash between tone and caricature and the errors that probably riddled the book beyond programming and Shakespeare.

I'm done with this book. It goes on the humiliating "honorable mention" unfinished shelf. Population: three.

It's not that I care about disliking books, but I pride myself in giving them every chance and finishing. Yet this book, with it's simplistic writing and fairly interesting plot idea, struck me down using stupidity as its weapon. It's like being smacked with a puny, frozen swordfish. . . by the first mate, the two of you stranded on a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean because the crew thought you two had "issues" to work out. So much is wrong with it, you're not sure where to start and you're honestly a little disoriented.

This makes me want to steer clear of indie books.
Read on Nook Touch, was free.

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a freebie from Amazon recently, and I just can’t help myself, I download evvverrything that’s free! Anyway, I had absolutely no idea what to expect, but from the blurb I was guessing it would be some sort of anti - organized religion type story. I was kind of apprehensive about reading it, but decided to give it a go anyway. As it turns out, I really enjoyed the premise -

You can't take it with you...but what if you could? Most people believe their souls outlive their bodies. Most people would find an organization that tracks their souls into the future and passes on their banked money and memories compelling. Scott Waverly isn't like most people. He spends his days finding and fixing computer security holes. And Scott is skeptical of his new client's claim that they have been calculating and tracking soul identities for almost twenty-six hundred years. Are they running a freaky cult? Or a sophisticated con job? Scott needs to save Soul Identity from an insider attack. Along the way, he discovers the importance of the bridges connecting people's lives.

The story was interesting and definitely unique, however I felt that the writing itself was somewhat lacking in feeling. Admittedly, 1st person is not my favorite narrative, but even less so in this story. In my opinion, it often read more like a text book with a lot of technical explanations that I had to skip over, but would have found interesting had I been able to understand them. And the action scenes reminded me of a sports recap – I was reading what was happening, but it felt more like a play-by-play summary than I would have liked. People being blown up, others getting eyes gouged out… none of this was graphic, but neither was it emotionally compelling.

So I’m giving this 2.75/5 stars because, as I said, it was a unique storyline with great potential and in fact, the excerpt for the next installment, Soul Intent, actually reads quite a bit better than this book did and sounds pretty interesting, too. I might even pick it up and give it a go someday.

And for those who might be wondering, there was no steam in this story at all. The hero started sleeping with someone early on, but it was all “behind closed doors” or “fade to black.”

[Susan Jane McLeod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me say straight away that this book does not deserve 5 stars.I had to give them because 6 was not possible!Soul Identity contains everything a reader could want:drama,action,adventure,humor,and romance.It appeals across a wide range of genres.The plot revolves around a mysterious organization called "Soul Identity", whose members bank on taking it with them when they go,literally. They believe they can have it back in their next life. Are they crazy? Are they dangerous? Scott Waverly,a man with a keen intelligence and a dry wit,wonders when he takes on a security project for the company.A wonderful cast of characters begins to parade across the pages: Scott's lonely neighbor, Bob the delivery boy, James the elevator operator, and the gorgeous computer geek Val. There are many more, each with his or her own unique identity. Mr. Batchelder's ability to bring such varied characters to life is positively Dickensian.They all fit together into a seamless narrative, intriguing us and complementing each other.There's not a false note in any of the dialogue, and the pace never falters. The premise of the story is highly original and wonderfully executed. I was in suspense from beginning to end. This is a novel that truly impressed me with its polished and exciting style. My sister read it and said that it was better than Tom Clancy.I can't speak to that, never having read the gentleman, but I know an excellent book when I see one. I'm so glad that there's more to come! Thank you, Mr. Batchelder, for giving us Soul Identity!

[Ronald · Rating 1 out of 5]

A lame book that only manages to limp along on the crutches of one interesting concept. There is some potential here, and it would have been interesting to see it explored in the hands of a better writer. Though as it is, I just can't recommend this one at all. The writing is poor and the characters and plot are groan-inducing. The only saving grace is the soul identity idea itself, which was wasted here. I forced myself to finish the book hoping it would improve but it only gets more ridiculous as it goes, and the climax is just pathetic. Do yourself a favor and leave this one alone.

[Sandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This will not be one of those "why buy the book reviews", which I deplore. I am always turned off by reviews that divulge the entire plot line and outcome of a book in the review. Hopefully, I will give you just enough to whet your reading appetite.

The author of Soul Identity presents a fascinating fantasy for his readers to contemplate and savour. He immerses us in the adventures of a computer security geek and his "hot" Russian female counterpart and allows us to theorize as to our own feelings concerning the possibility of reincarnation. Would any of us be interested in engaging the services of a company that would act as a depository for our money, life experiences, and other valuables, and return them to us in our next life because, through the use of modern technology, they have developed a system of tracking and identifying souls through time? If there were such an organization, how long would it be before someone would hatch a scheme to infiltrate and usurp control??

Want the answers to these and a myriad of other questions, then buy a copy of Soul Identity and get ready for an entertaining, thought provoking and engaging read with plenty of action for the thrill seekers among you. I guarantee that even the most jaded reader will be hooked by page twenty.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I downloaded this book onto my Kindle from the free listings. Sometimes I'm wary of the books on that list, but I really, really liked the concept of this one. It was fascinating. BUT... I felt like there was way too much detail about some things, pointless detail on other things, the romance between Val and Scott seemed like it was contrived at first and just tossed in as a gimme to reach the female readership. On other things that should have had more detail, there was none. There were gaps in the story in some places, where we got every minute happening (relevant or not) in others. Also, Scott's parents... kind of a weird, out-of-place addition to the cast of characters. Overall, I'd call it "jumpy."

All that said, it was fascinating concept, and I was willing to overlook it all and downloaded the second book (which I paid for), Soul Intent.

[tomlinton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I deleted this accidentally
off my Kindle
which is actually back
to Amazon's library
where there are two versions
god knows why
one costing 99 cents
and the other a mere penny
but it's a worthwhile read
and having forgotten the title
and not having recorded it here
I couldn't find it
within my vast Amazon library

A passing glance
in someone's free or cheap
Kindle book review
and I had the info
I needed to re-down load it

Only to discover either
one of my partners
had finished it and left
it at the end
or I had gotten curious
and went to look
at the author information
What a pain
to rediscover
where I had left off!

This is the author's first
and he says he spends
all his free time
working on the next
in this fantasy/mystery/suspense

That's part of the fun
isn't it
Seeing what develops?

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story made me wonder what goes on in the mind of a writer. A society, formed ages ago, is based on your soul imprint -- that of your eyes. They believe that if you want to "take it with you" when you die, you can leave your worldly goods and words to your future "self' in a depository so that Soul Identify workers can find your soul sometime in the future. I loved the beginning of the book and can only imagine how much fun the author had with that scenerio.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scott Waverly, a cynic must help the secret society of Soul Identity from being destroyed by a clever thief. The owners are too naive and were almost conned out of their business and its impressive assets. The internal love interest was fun. Best of all it cost one penny on kindle.

[Cristelle Snyman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Free Kindle book. Interesting idea but badly executed. Came very close to abandoning it a few times.

[Stacy-Deanne Stacy-Deanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a long review because I had a lot to say about this book. I also am reviewing this before I finish. I've read over half of the novel and I feel that's enough for a solid review. I started out in love with this book. I loved the author's style and the voice. I loved the humor and I loved the character's quirkiness. But that wasn't enough to keep my attention as the book moves on. I flew through the first 50 pages and was really excited reading it then my excitement fizzled little by little. Now I am halfway done and I HOPE I can finish. I'm going to try.

Scott's personality is what kept me reading this far. But there are major flaws. The book is in need of character development and content editing throughout. I am not one who likes a lot of description, but the author doesn't describe anything at all which in some scenes, leaves you clueless. The scene switches are also confusing and the author does not clarify on certain things that need to be dealt with. Such as when people are riding in a car one minute, but then they are "climbing out" the next. Yet the author hasn't mentioned the car's even been stopped or where they are. I think his writing was way too fast and he skipped over much needed details.

I find the characters very unbelievable but entertaining. Scott has the common sense of a child or teenager, not a grown man. I think this character would fit a YA thriller but not this book. He is also too trusting to be a security expert. This man's work relies on him to be suspicious by nature yet he meets folks and takes what they say at face value. He does this with everyone including Val who he falls in love with in five minutes. The development was skipped over at the most crucial of times. I also couldn't believe a lot of the things that happend. The biggest thing was how calm these people seemed only seconds after an explosion. Once again, the author failed to describe anything or "show" anything. He told what happened. That is the weakest point of the book. The author tells everything and never shows a thing. The book is interesting, but after reading for a while you forget it's a novel and think it's a computer program advertisement. The characters don't "do" anything. It's like the book comes to a halt at every scene. They just talk constantly and mingle from one angle to the next. I wanted Scott to actually find out details and do some digging, not just have everyone sit around in talk sessions constantly. But that's what happened.

It's obvious that this is a humorous thriller and not to be taken seriously. It reminded me of those old 1980's crime dramas. Kind of cheesy but kind of charming. Yet the charm isn't enough when things aren't ever happening. I also think it would be better if Scott met Val earlier on and then the Soul Identity thing would have served as a deeper mystery and a better reason for Scott to get involved.

This book reminded me of a piece of gum. Sweet and tangy at first, then the flavor slowly fizzles. But at this point you don't know whether to keep chewing or spit it out.

[Nani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Soul Identity and the whole concept of the company the story is built around. In the book, your eyes are the key to finding your past, your soul’s past. Think about retina scans for identity, we already use that in places. The theory in Soul Identity is that no two living people have the same iris pattern, like a fingerprint. The company, Soul Identity, is ages and ages old, since a time when qualified artisans drew the eyes to form the identity pictures. After you have gone, your soul will return as another person, but that soul signature will remain the same. Soul Identity members deposit wealth and things they want to pass on to their “next self,” member of their “Soul Line.” If you join Soul Identity in your next life, you can open your Soul Collection and see what you left yourself.

Soul Identity does NOT advertise, but find clients by seeking those who at least have a mild ability to accept that their soul might have walked the earth before. If your beliefs would not possibly let you believe in some sort of reincarnation or you wouldn’t even be interested anyway. It is a company with incredible financial worth. Soul Collections that are worth great financial sums are invested and the amounts grow. Money and artifacts are left untouched for even centuries because soul members never claim them, the company is worth a TON. You can see why they don’t advertise that they exist. If they made it known that they were around, they’d be subject to con artists trying to find out who has left great sums of valuables and attempting to steal their identity. Think about it, identity theft is already a reality in so many forms and the perpetrators are always looking for new ways to steal.

So I love that the concept is so plausible. The story in Soul Identity had action and intrigue and did bring up the question of soul-identity-theft. It’s a great book! But the company Soul Identity doesn’t exist in reality. Or does it?

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good read, not just for a free e-book, but overall.

The whole concept of a soul identity is pretty captivating all by itself, but what I found even more interesting is that this author chose not to tie prior lives into the memory of the current life. The soul is identified by mapping the eyes. Soul seekers search for the matches and the matching person is notified of their prior lives, of which they have no memory. Their prior identities leave a legacy for their future selves, knowing that the future self will have no memory of their life.

So why would someone leave a monetary legacy to someone who cannot remember who or what they were in a prior life? Scott Waverly, a computer security expert, seems to struggle with the same question, which I found very realistic - I'd wonder the same thing. At the same time, I can acknowledge (as Waverly does) that there are people who would find it an attractive idea. They can give their future selves a leg up in life by leaving them their wealth, which the Soul Identity company multiplies for them.

I found the whole idea interesting enough all by itself, but the story is elevated to another level by subterfuge, attempted murder, murder, computer hacking, a mad dash to discover the truth and thwart the bad guy. I liked that Waverly didn't come across as a superhero. Things don't always go as he plans and he occasionally runs into some sticky situations. Like most primary characters in a story, however, you can count on him to extricate himself and not always elegantly. He is a fun character who is a bit of a smart-aleck, which I like.

This is a smart story and well written. I have put the second book, Soul Intent, on my to-read list and look forward to getting to it.

[Roberta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admire the author for his ability to even compile a work of fiction this unique. He writes how a society called Soul Identity has been around for 2,600 years, within which there are a few members who are called overseers. The overseers were those whose soul had come back several times and could be traced to a notable person.

As no two human eyes are the same, the eyes are photographed for membership. A portion of the eye will be the same for a person whose soul has later reincarnated into another. Using a computer, the photos are then enlarged to attempt to find a match from someone who lived previously. Before the computer came into existence, a hand-held device known as a reader was used for matching. And before the reader, artists used extremely detailed pictures of the eyes.

The author explains how people have wanted to save a portion of their money to be able to have it in their next life. They were able to do this by depositing funds into the society's 'depositary', then reclaiming those funds later after a match was made when their soul reincarnated.

All had been going well for 2,590 years until a society called WorldWideSouls came into existence. During a 10-year period, Soul Identity began losing members to this new group, with existing members leaving and transferring all the funds held in their Soul Identity depositary accounts into new depositary accounts of WorldWideSouls. Soul Identity hired a computer security specialist to begin an investigation, thinking something was amiss with either their computer system or employees. What he uncovered as he had to travel around the world for the answer was shocking.

[Kellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the premise for this book was fascinating and enjoyed entering the world of Soul Identity. The plot line is strong and most of the events of the book are fairly believable, which always makes a book more enjoyable for me – if I can sort of see the action play out as I read the story.

I do wish that the book was longer, and the characters were developed a little bit more. I would have loved to have felt like I know the characters better, and that some of the relationships between them were a little richer in detail. For example when Scott meets Val - a male-boob-man-ego emerges that is sort of out of place for what we knew of him already – which made the romantic relationship feel like it was pretty forced because it might have been expected.

I also wish that there was more time taken to share the details of Soul Identity – a little more history , a little more depth into how the organization is run. More of the history. Details to help pull the reader into the story even more.

It seems like a lot of contemporary fiction brush on the surface quite a bit. I liken it to how often movies feel like they never really “get into” the characters of the book that everyone loved. This book is very similar in that regard.

This the authors first book, and he clearly has ideas for developing some more plot lines as he leaves it open at the end for more to come – so I really look forward to reading the second installment, and watching the author’s skill develop with the characters.

[PJ Swanwick · Rating 3 out of 5]

New age thriller starts strong but fails to deliver on its initial promise

The premise of Dennis Batchelder's novel, "Soul Identity," is captivating: What if some physical trait allowed you to trace your soul through time? What if you could build a storehouse of wealth and accumulated knowledge that each of your physical incarnations could access and build upon? The premise contains such tantalizing possibilities from a spiritual perspective. Unfortunately, Batchelder fails to deliver the depth and insight to propel his story beyond a simple thriller.

Spiritual/metaphysical content: Low. Imagine how much spiritual growth could occur if you could record the wisdom of each lifetime and then use it as a foundation for your next incarnation. The novel's premise allows for this possibility, but it focuses instead on who controls the accumulated wealth. If Batchelder had explored the implications of his premise, Soul Identity would be a much richer, more satisfying story.

My take: I enjoyed this novel as a simple thriller. However, the book could have been so much more. The premise reeks with possibility, but Batchelder fails to deliver any real depth. The simplistic storyline and lack of character development make what could have been a subtle, satisfying, insightful novel a mere "popcorn" read that leaves you wanting more.

[Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A ... unique to you, pattern in your eyes that identifies your soul... that will show up again on earth in someone else's eyes after you have died... identifying your soul's reicarnation.

This was a fascinating book, I read it in one day (and now over half finished with the second book).

This is where I stumble in reviews... I want to tell you all about the mystery and the intrigue .. but how to do it without spoilers?

Just know that you won't be disappointed... This book grabbed me from page one and I am still immersed in the story (so much so that I made my boyfriend buy me the second book)... and it kept me reading on the internet, which I normally don't like to do.. (gosh I need a kindle)...

I am really happy to have gotten the chance to read this on smashwords and I am very much enjoying the second book...

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soul Identity is a good quick read. But that in of itself does not make a book good. Thankfully this book took it one step above.

It takes its readers into a journey and discovery into their own beliefs. Is it possible to get your souls history and future? And if so, is it moral to find out and try to manipulate it?

Every reader can relate to the topic in the book as we have each wondered what happens to our souls once we die, or if we even have one. It was interesting to read how each character felt about the issue and their own questions about it. Whether they were trying to help Soul Identity flourish, or help with its demise, excellent points were raised that forces the reader to choose a side.

While the book held some good action and twists, the characters could have been developed a bit more. Some of the actions they took also seemed a little jarring and made you question how they got into the situation in the first place. I do have the sequel on my reading list and am looking forward to seeing Dennis's growth and progression of the story line.

As this authors' first book, I think it is well done. If he cleans up some characters and tightens up the story line, he is sure to gain a following.

[Emilyhasmetal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book on Kobo a few months ago. The very first thing I thought was "oh man, that's some cool cover" and it really is. As I started reading it, I was hooked with the main character, Scott. His random, smart and fresh personality made this book an extremely enjoyable reading. The storyline and the main point is amazing. A company that believes soul lines can be tracked and could use the need of a bank? Brilliant! However, as the book went by, it came to certain points where the description went too long and unnecessary, making me sleepy and bored. The plot-twist was very clever and made me gasp, it was really good. The characters are a mix of everything and there's so much diversity in every chapter; bad thing? Not every character is described correctly. Some characters just appear for a few scenes and then they dissapear, not like it is a neccessity to know what exactly happened to every single character at the end of the book but, some of them were so cool I really wanted to know. Well, it may be a message to make you buy the second book.
Overall, this is a sexy, smart and enormously interesting book that I don't think deserves the harsh comments it is getting. Writing a book is not easy and I'm sure Mr. Batchelder did it good.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Security systems consultant, Scott Waverly, has been offered a new assignment. The thing is, he's not sure he wants to work with a bunch of nuts who belong to a twenty-six-hundred-year-old secret society that tracks souls from generation to generation. He doesn't believe that souls move from body or that they can be located and identified through eye scans years--even centuries--later. When executive overseer Archibald Morgan invites him to examine the science, however, Scott has to admit he's intrigued with the concept. Besides, the pay's good and Soul Identity's head programmer is drop-dead gorgeous. Also, it's apparent that someone's trying to destroy Soul Identity. But who, and why?

At first, the science was a little hard to grasp, but then science isn't my strong suit. But author Dennis Batchelder explains the concept a couple of different ways in the book so that it became clearer. Once I suspended my disbelief about Soul Identity's purpose and just went along for the ride, I had a great time with this novel. The characters are likeable, the pace moved well, and the suspense in the last sixty pages kept me up well past my bedtime. An unusual and enjoyable read.

[William Bentrim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soul Identity by Dennis Batchelder

A computer consultant becomes involved with a cult promoting immortality but is it?

Scott Waverly is a security consultant with a focus on computers. He is asked to help Soul Identity to plug security holes. Scott’s assumptions regarding the soul and Soul Identity change as he becomes embroiled in an investigation that is beyond his norm.

Having been and possibly still am a computer geek, I enjoyed the Scott Waverly character. His skeptical nature was very familiar. The plot of the book was both entertaining and thought provoking.

The emotions and psychology of the villain were reasonable and understandable within the parameters of the book’s plot. It isn’t a book that will keep you up nights to finish but it is one that you will enjoy reading.

I recommend it.

BTW I read it on my Droid X using the free Kindle ap. I find having a book with me wherever I go has significantly reduced my frustration levels when I am kept waiting in Dr. offices and other places that have little regard for the value of the “customer’s” time.

[Robert Colquhoun · Rating 3 out of 5]

I came across this book when going through the free Kobo books available on my new Playbook and I'm certainly please I did. It was quite good and I would probably give it 3.5 stars if the option were available.
Certainly an interesting concept with some good twists, suspense, humour and a not overly sickening love affair (I say this because I have read some books recently that were utterly ruined by the overpowering incorporation of love affairs that really had nothing to do with the plot).
The characters are very likeable and, as you can surely imagine from the idea behind the book, some are a little quirky and interesting but still likeable.
I just discovered there is a sequel to this novel (Soul Intent) which I will definitely give a read. On Batchelder's website he writes "I feel it is my duty to make (the reader) feel that (their) time was well-spent..." Well, he did it for me. And to think this is his debut novel! I look forward to reading Soul Intent and whatever he comes out with in the future.

[Nita Garcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow start. At first I thought sheesh , how am I gonna get through this book, and just as I had that thought I got to the good part. It was a great concept , but could have had been better. Not a book I'd revisit but just interesting enough that I had to get the second book.

Private security agent hired to find out who is stealing from an ultra secret soul identification agency. The Agency has agents all over the world, they link people to their past lives by way of one's irises. Before you die, you take all your worldly goods you just can't live without to Soul Identity and they store it in a vault for you until your soul is reborn and than the goods are turned over to the reincarnated you. Super secure, but memberships are down and members are leaving, and now someone is hacked their systems, enter an super savvy security agent to the rescue, traveling from one end of the globe to the other in search of the bad guy ( or ... guys)

[Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

After I first purchased my ereader, I decided to see what kind of free books were out there. I found this one at the kobo bookstore and thought it sounded like a good one. There really is not much to say about this one. While the story line was something different, the execution fell short. I felt there should have been some major editing done to this book. I am not a writer, publisher or editor, but I am a reader and this one just felt very choppy. The beginning of the book had a good flow and I did feel connected with the main character Scott Waverly, but then after a few chapters it just gradually fell apart. I found most of the action scenes were rushed and it was over before it really began. The romance between the main character Scott and Val was very forced and I felt it was just there for a token romance.

In the end, it was not a terrible read, just not all that great either. If you are looking for something light to pass the time, perhaps give this one a read.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wild ride!

Soul Identity is an unusual and exciting twist on the current iris identification programs. Mix in some mythology, history and compelling characters and the book just takes off. This is one of those books that you just can't put down until its finished. I was unable to predict the many twists and turns the plot took. Dennis did a fine job making you love or hate the characters. I gave this book 5 stars because it was well written, the characters were well developed and interesting, the plot was original and the mystery keept me guessing throughout. This book would make an excellent movie. I had the privilege to peek into the sequel, and I can guarantee another wild ride as the mystery continues.

[kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this on my iPhone using the Barnes and Noble app. It was one of the 'free book' offerings. The first think I have to say is it convinced me that reading on my iPhone is not only possible, but I like it! I have to say though, that the fact that is was 'free' is what convinced me to try it. It is not a book I would have normally been drawn to on a shelf, and the 'teaser' would not normally convince me to try it. A story about a group that manages your banked assets until your 'soul match' appears?! I probably would have seen that and thought.....'right'....and moved on. But I'm glad I didn't. The story was well developed, and full of suspense and 'how are they going to get out of this' moments. Once I got into it, it was easy to keep reading!

[Tara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another free book. I can't help but think that you get what you pay for...

The plot lacked complexity. The characters were boring and many times the character descriptions (especially in India) were simple and stereo-typical, bordering on ignorant and offensive.

The one thing it had going for it was the concept - reincarnation, soul-tracking, religion/cult, etc. I almost didn't read the whole thing but there was just enough mystery to keep me around for the ending.

The author provides waaayyy too much explanation at each turn, often explaining the symbolism. I'm a smart cookie and don't need, nor want, to be hand held through an already simple book.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm about half-way through this book and I'm torn...I just can't decide whether or not to keep going. The premise of the book is fascinating. The first quarter was really good. But from 25% to 45%, it's all I could do to stay awake. Lots of exceedingly boring background info about the company that even the main character couldn't care less about. If you can't make your character care, why on earth am I supposed to?

Also, I agree with the review that said it was the subject of an adult book, but the writing style/quality is very YA.

There's lots of good reviews, but I just don't know if I can make myself finish this one.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scott Waverly is a computer geek who finds and fixes security issues for his clients. He is contacted by the company Soul Identity. They have developed a system of tracking and identifying souls through time and claim to be able to return all of one's wealth, memories, life experiences and any other valuables to the next reincarnation of you.

Of course, someone is abusing this capability for their own purposes and stealing clients. Scott and a group of other computer geniuses must stop them at all costs!

I was hooked right away, in part by the concept, and then by the author's ability to create good characters with personality.