Slip

by Michael Pogach

BYRON CAN SEE THE FUTURE.

Just a few maddening seconds. Never able to change anything.

It’s a curse she’s been running from for years. Just like she ran away from home where her mother died the day she was born. Where her father blamed her.

But when her father dies suddenly, Byron is finally able to come home. A quick visit, she thinks—collect her inheritance, say hello to her childhood best friend, Chase, and be gone before morning. Except Chase is missing…and no one seems to be looking for her.

Desperate to find her friend, Byron instead uncovers a pattern of young women who’ve vanished from this town over the years—a pattern that points to her dead parents, and to the mysterious source of her visions. Now, with a kidnapper closing in, Byron must learn to break her curse and change the future she’s seen. Her life—and Chase’s—depends on it.

308 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2022

About the author

Michael Pogach is an author and college professor. He is the author of the upcoming historical fantasy VALHALLA BURNING (July 2026, from Diversion Books). His previous novels include the Gothic thriller SLIP, which has been hailed as “a riveting thriller with a provocative central mystery” (Holly M. Wendt, author of “The Bolton Strid”) and “a thriller-mystery with a hint of the paranormal and a protagonist that will take a bite out of you from page one” (Gwendolyn N. Nix, author of I Have Asked To Be Where No Storms Come), as well as the dystopian thriller Rafael Ward series: THE SPIDER IN THE LAUREL (a 2018 Kindle Book Award finalist), THE LONG OBLIVION (a 2019 Kindle Book Award semi-finalist), THE TYRANT GODS, and THE HIDDEN EMPIRE. He's been called “one of speculative fiction’s rising stars,” by C.T. Phipps, author of The Rules of Supervillany.

When not working on his next book, Michael teaches literature and creative writing in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley where he lives with his wife, two kids, and a black cat named Wednesday.

www.michaelpogach.com

Reviews

[Holly M Wendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

SLIP is a riveting thriller with a provocative central mystery and a magnetic protagonist. Byron's story is as searing as her welding torch, joining past, present, and premonitions of the future within a frame of complex and compelling relationships that make this novel so satisfying in so many ways.

[E.G. Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly had no idea what to expect when I picked up Slip by Michael Pogach. I know him as a thriller author, so a fantasy was a bit of a divergence. Except, it wasn’t at all. And it was a fantastic read.

1. Thoughts on the plot
This book follows Byron, welder and sculptor, as she returns home to deal with the death of her father, whom she hasn’t seen for seven years. But in dealing with his estate, there are things she can’t quite get around. Like the fact that he left most everything to his friend, David. Or questions about her mother. Her missing friend, Chase. And the fact that her ability to slip a few seconds into the future appears to be morphing? Yeah, that’s a problem, too.
This book is one part fantasy, three parts mystery, and an equal amount thriller. I was fascinated with the plot twists and the various pieces that twined together to really make this book interesting. It had a lot of details, and while that could, in the hands of other authors, be overwhelming, I think Michael Pogach managed to pull it off expertly. I will say that I did figure out the murderer right near the halfway point, but I didn’t mind in the slightest.

2. Thoughts on the characters
Byron has got snark in spades. I love her snark. It’s two degrees shy of outright cynicism, but is definitely in that category. And why not? As we learn in the book, things are not always what they seem and she’s had a hard life. I appreciate her attempt to reconnect with her past, as well as forge a new future. And while initially she comes off as difficult, it quickly becomes apparent that she is far from it; she is defending herself against a cruel world.
As for the other characters, I think there were only a couple I wanted to know more about. Namely, her father. Why she was considered the intellectual heir to the Romantics, little details about his life. Nothing too extreme, just a couple of things to fill in the very few gaps that there were. On the whole, though, I think all the characters were exceptionally well done.

3. Favourite part
The ending, where things all get sorted out. I like that Byron gives no quarter, despite being in trouble already, and doesn’t let up until things are fixed.

4. Critique
The only critique I have is that I wanted more. Alas, the book had to end somewhere and I think it ended in the right spot. Still.

Overall, I would say that Slip is an excellent mix of fantasy (though more paranormal than true fantasy), thriller, and mystery. I would highly recommend this book.

[Gilbert Stack · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting mystery about a young woman (Byron) who returns home to claim her estate when her estranged father dies. Right from moment one, things in her hometown are odd. Her father’s best friend and executor is a special kind of jerk who appears to enjoy needling (in an unkind way) his friend’s daughter. He also appears to be the major beneficiary of the will and even though much that is left in the house is Byron’s, he insists on having her visits chaperoned.

Byron, however, is not interested in her inheritance so much as she’s interested in trying to learn more about her dead mother. Except…she begins to uncover evidence that her mother didn’t die when her father says she did and appears to have committed herself to an insane asylum. What’s more, she finally figures out that her best friend growing up (the only person in town she stayed in touch with) is missing. She tries to investigate her friend’s disappearance on top of trying to figure out what happened to her mom and (unsurprisingly for a mystery of this nature) the two things might be connected despite being some 25 or so years separated in time.

The actual mystery is frankly very good. The big weakness in the novel is Byron, herself. While it is easy to sympathize with her frustrations and her desire to learn what happened, she herself is not very likable. Her bitterness over her past is understandable, but coupled with her utter stupidity, I never warmed to her as a heroine. The huge chip on her shoulder is too big an obstacle to overcome.

I should also mention that Byron has a minor psychic power to occasionally catch glimpses of the past or future. It’s not enough to make this feel like a genuinely paranormal book, but it is enough to let the author fill in some details of the past that he probably couldn’t have told us any other way.

[Barbara Eastham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slip by Michael Pogach is a great find for me and indeed for anyone who’s a fan of the amateur sleuth with a little supernatural skill thrown in. The protagonist, Byron, is one feisty lady who reminds me a little of Robert J Crane’s heroine, Sienna Nealon from Girl in the Box series. However, I do find Byron somewhat more believable in that her ability in Slip is more easily acceptable as a real possibility. Her prickly personality could be a result of her lack of parental affection as a child growing up with only a seemingly indifferent father and never knowing her mother. Or, it could be attributed to her being a struggling artist who has had a troubled childhood and forming the opinion that as a female she is unheard in a man’s world. Whatever you think she still has the strength of character to do what she seems necessary to achieve her goals and although she considers herself a quitter she actually finds the grit and determination to continue her investigation into the mysteries within her own family and the circumstances of her childhood friend’s “radio silence” at a time when she ordinarily would’ve been Byron’s most supportive ally. Are the two issues connected in some way? We start out with a death in Byron’s family which takes on a voyage of discovery that even Byron didn’t foresee. At least, not initially. A great page turner leaving the reader wanting more and with plenty of scope to develop this strong female character and her abilities into an interesting and most readable series. I hope we hear more from Byron. I’m new to Michael Pogach but this book certainly whetted my appetite and I fully intend to read more of this author.

[Booksta · Rating 5 out of 5]

📖 𝕖𝔸ℝℂ ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 📖

· · • • • ✤ • • • · ·
𝙏𝙞𝙩𝙡𝙚: 𝘚𝘭𝘪𝘱
𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧: 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘦𝘭 𝘗𝘰𝘨𝘢𝘤𝘩
𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙧𝙚: 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳
𝙋𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙨: 308
𝙊𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙡: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
𝙎𝙤𝙣𝙜: 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘦𝘭 𝘑𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘴𝘰𝘯 - 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳

· · • • • ✤ • • • · ·

*** Thank you to the author @michaelpogach and 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘵 for giving me a change to read this book.***


___________💭𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜💭_____________


First I will start by saying that getting into this book was a little hard for me, but I pushed thrue and after the first few chapters the story picked up and I was hooked.

Byron, our FMC, can see future. Just a few seconds at a time but she is never able to change things. She has been runing from it and her past for years now. But, when her father dies suddenly Byron is finally able to come home. She was planing on a quick visit to collect her inheritance, say hello to her childhood best friend Chase and be gone the next morning. Except, when she gets there she finds that Chase is missing and no one is looking for her.

And this is where the story gets really interesting. Byron discoveres different secrets and patterns that point to her dead parents and to the mysterious sorce of her visions. And now, with the kidnapper closing in she needs to brake her curse and change the future she saw in her visions because hers and Chase's life depends on it.

Will she be able to do it??

Well, you have to read it yourself to find out. All I am gonna say is that this book is worth pushing thru and reading it to the end.

[JulieAnn Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those stories that becomes so enthralling, you lose all track of time. I loved this book! Byron is a character unlike any I’ve read before: she’s rude, brazen, and just a bit volatile. But, she was a perfect character for this book: Her bold personality pushes her to proactively solve the mysteries of her mother and of her missing friend. The “slips” (visions of other events at a different time) that Byron has are incorporated seamlessly into the story as to not be a distraction but instead welcome clues to help solve these mysteries. I really liked how, as Byron gains more control over her life, she also begins to gain control over her slips. Great book! Great set of characters, all with very unique personalities! I will be following Michael Pogach and I hope for a Slip sequel in the future!!

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main character, Byron, takes some time to get used to and can seem a little clichéd at times, but overall it was a pretty gripping read and some nice twists and turns. Now that I’m used to Byron, and with the ending, it would be interesting to read more about her as she starts to understand her slips. Hopefully Nacio would show up, too, as he was the most likeable character to balance out Byron’s roughness.

I received a free copy of this book with freedom to leave my own review or not. All opinions are mine.

[Vi Bakshi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slip is a very well written book. I’m always drawn in by unique storylines and characters, and this has both. It was a pleasant surprise as it was sent to me by Voracious Readers Only and, on the surface, I wouldn’t have chosen it for myself. It’s unique choice of subject is what kept me reading and even though it had some personal triggers for me, it was worth the effort. The only reason it didn’t get five stars is that it could have been shortened without taking anything away from the characters, the storyline/plot, or the overall excellence of the book.

[Emmeline Everdeen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this was a good one! I loved the mystery, the suspense, the twists and turns, and the splash of supernatural abilities. I simply couldn’t put it down and spent two very late nights reading. I hope there is another Byron adventure…
Perfect book for those who love a well written, page turning, thriller with a strong female main character.
I received this book from the author through Voracious Readers Only

[P Diotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I loved about this novel was that you could really immerse yourself in it. It was easy to visualize what was happening, and  the story was riveting. I also like how it ends, because it leaves it open to a sequel without making you feel like you've been left hanging. There were a few errors but not enough to take away from the novel, and they'll probably be fixed soon, as I emailed them in. I look forward to reading more from this author!

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from the author through voracious readers only and I'm delighted that I did. There were a few moments in the beginning when I had a little trouble getting into the book but eventually it picked up and I was hooked. I think that it has a little bit of everything for everyone.
I definitely recommend it!!! :)

[Jess Reads Horror · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this quite enjoyable despite the random mistakes in the book.
There’s some true crime and a bit of supernatural involved. Basically quite a bit going on and while the different stories were interesting, I was a bit unsatisfied at the end. I guess I wanted more resolution, but I understand that’s not how the real world works most times.

[Mandi Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slip is a dark, propulsive thriller that blends supernatural suspense with raw emotion. Byron’s curse, seeing the future but never being able to change it, creates unbearable tension, and as the mystery of her missing best friend deepens, the story grabs hold and doesn’t let go. Atmospheric, chilling, and deeply human, this is the kind of book you’ll stay up late finishing.

[Kindlelover 1220 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bryon ran away from home and she thinks she could run from a curse that plagues her life. Her father has died and she returns home. She discovers her friend is missing and in her quest to find her friend, she discovers other young ladies has vanished. This was an unique story that started off very promising and kept getting better. A thrilling and suspenseful story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been a great Gothic novel, it was a well written novel and I loved the plot of the book. The characters worked so well and I was glad to know them.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Gwendolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the vein of Dean Kootz's Odd Thomas, Slip delivers a thriller-mystery with a hint of the paranormal and a protagonist that will take a bite out of you from page one. Byron's adventures have only just begun.

[Marsha Katz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! The main character, Byron, is compelled to return home and discovers startlingly and chilling details about her past through visions of slips.
Started reading and couldn't put it down. Hoping for another book in this series.

[Cara Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The plot is captivating. The writing is phenomenal. The FMC is a total badass. And, I am thoroughly traumatized. So basically Slip has everything I want in a good thriller.

Byron is a snarky bitch at the best of times and that might not be for everyone, but it is an absolute yes for me.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved SLIP. Fascinating main character -- both screwed up and strong. Waiting for a sequel.

[Sharon Noel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slip is a fast paced, gripping mystery with a lot of twist and turns. But that isn’t the only strength to the book. The protagonist, Byron, while not very likable - especially at first - is very realistic given the trauma she has experienced and the almost psychic ability she is tormented with. Her bitterness, self protectiveness and selfishness, and general disdain for life and everyone else makes a lot of sense. It gives an interesting character arc, with her ending the book with indications that she is perhaps finally ready for a more traditional hero’s journey - or at least an anti-hero’s journey. The supporting characters are also interesting and the ending had moments in it that were genuinely surprising to me. I also appreciated that Mr. Pogach did not bog us down with technical details of how Byron was able to see the future. They happen. They are interesting. And they provide a lot of questions and potential about future stories for our welding, motorcycling, badass female mechanic. (Another strength of this book - our heroine is not a stereotypical female caricature.)

I did think that Byron should have been given at least one likable trait early one. While she was understandable, it was hard to like her or to sympathize as much of her problems early on were driven by her commitment to bitterness. Also, she used a lot of metaphors and similes. She was named after a famous poet, but I still felt they got excessive. But the biggest complaint I had was the climax. While it had something of a two punch combo, and the second part caught me off guard, that first part unveiling with the big baddy felt a bit clumsy and not as weighty as it should have been given the severity of the crimes.

All in all, the book is a good read. And if it is the first in a series about Byron the psychic detective, it is a great introduction to a character who has a lot of potential.

[Sean Duggan · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I'll admit that this book was a bit of a slog at first. Byron's troubles were many, and at first, it seemed that most of her troubles were mundane, or at least related to her "slips", which seemed uncontrollable, and inevitable. The truth, from her point of view, was that these views of the future were immutable and therefore basically doomed her to whatever was depicted there. Almost 3/5 of the book, the main plot came about the promised human trafficking of the blurb, and between that, and revelations of Byron's parenthood, things started heating up. I appreciated the twists in the narrative from there, but it took a while to warm to the book, one of the reasons my review of an advanced copy is a bit late.

I will be clear that, eventually, everything works out. Byron figures out at least one mystery of the setting, some other details turn out to be incidental, and she's drawn into future adventure. I am curious as to what she will wind up exploring. The narrative, while initially somewhat depressing, is realistic. An individual, facing a potentially corrupt system, and lacking much in terms of traditional action hero traits, is going to be clumsy. That said, for those concerned with such matters, this story does end with an esoteric happy ending with the heroine having solved her immediate mysteries, and with more yet to come due to her history.