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outsmartyourshelf's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
It's 2037 & Earth has been split into two: Earth+ the physical world which is neglected & decaying, & Earth- the digital online world which has taken over. Everything is virtual: education, employment, even justice. True crime is big business & Cassie West works for V.I.C.E, a company which takes crime cases & turns them into 3D interactive simulations, & it's Cassie's job to get the families of the missing & murdered to sign up. It's not an easy job but she needs the money as Cassie & husband, Harris, are finally expecting their first child. As she heads home, she tries to call Harris but he isn't responding & Cassie's foreboding is sharpened when lots of emergency drones start heading in the direction she is travelling. As she nears home she sees her house is on fire & Harris is still inside!
Ten years later, Cassie is 'persona non grata' due to her husband's death. Not only did Harris die but he took dozens of people with him as he was the leader of a 'church' of Burners who, on the same day that Harris died, all set fire to their homes & killed themselves & sometimes their families. No-one will believe that Cassie didn't know, but when the father of a young girl called Aly shoots his wife & himself after saying he is a Burner & a second wave is coming, Cassie realises that not only could she save lives but that this could be evidence that Harris was not the leader after all. When she notices an error in the advert for the simulation of Harris's death (called The Blight & due to be released in days) which is being produced by the gold standard of true crime, Past Crimes, Cassie decides to appeal to their founder, Crispin Lake, because if there is one error then there might be more or even evidence which could help prove Harris's innocence - can she persuade Lake to let her into the game before launch day?
First of all, I really liked the premise of this book. It takes a swipe at the popularity of true crime & moves it to the next level. Whilst on a flight, Cassie actually goes through a simulation of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln & plays his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. In the technology you can play as a spectator & watch history unfold or it allows you to be a participant & change history within the simulation. There's also a theme park nicknamed 'Disneyland of Death' with rides such as 'Cannibal Canyon' & 'Wuornos Wave Machine'. There's lots of little remarks in the conversations about how being terminally online is bad for us & that most people don't care how much privacy they lose as long as they are being entertained (bread & circuses for real). For all that, I have the sneaking suspicion that a lot of people would probably jump at the chance to try a Past Crimes simulation.
The world-building & plot were well thought out & although there are several occasions of (necessary) 'info dumping', I didn't find that it detracted from the main story-line. The pace was fast throughout & although it did kind of come close to jumping the shark at the end, it was a fitting end in many ways. As a main character Cassie goes on a bit of journey, she starts off as quite insular & wary which is understandable after ten years of being reviled & viewed with suspicion & it takes a while before she can warm to & trust others. Overall it was a really entertaining & gripping read.
My thanks to NetGalley & publisher, Severn House, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.
Ten years later, Cassie is 'persona non grata' due to her husband's death. Not only did Harris die but he took dozens of people with him as he was the leader of a 'church' of Burners who, on the same day that Harris died, all set fire to their homes & killed themselves & sometimes their families. No-one will believe that Cassie didn't know, but when the father of a young girl called Aly shoots his wife & himself after saying he is a Burner & a second wave is coming, Cassie realises that not only could she save lives but that this could be evidence that Harris was not the leader after all. When she notices an error in the advert for the simulation of Harris's death (called The Blight & due to be released in days) which is being produced by the gold standard of true crime, Past Crimes, Cassie decides to appeal to their founder, Crispin Lake, because if there is one error then there might be more or even evidence which could help prove Harris's innocence - can she persuade Lake to let her into the game before launch day?
First of all, I really liked the premise of this book. It takes a swipe at the popularity of true crime & moves it to the next level. Whilst on a flight, Cassie actually goes through a simulation of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln & plays his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. In the technology you can play as a spectator & watch history unfold or it allows you to be a participant & change history within the simulation. There's also a theme park nicknamed 'Disneyland of Death' with rides such as 'Cannibal Canyon' & 'Wuornos Wave Machine'. There's lots of little remarks in the conversations about how being terminally online is bad for us & that most people don't care how much privacy they lose as long as they are being entertained (bread & circuses for real). For all that, I have the sneaking suspicion that a lot of people would probably jump at the chance to try a Past Crimes simulation.
The world-building & plot were well thought out & although there are several occasions of (necessary) 'info dumping', I didn't find that it detracted from the main story-line. The pace was fast throughout & although it did kind of come close to jumping the shark at the end, it was a fitting end in many ways. As a main character Cassie goes on a bit of journey, she starts off as quite insular & wary which is understandable after ten years of being reviled & viewed with suspicion & it takes a while before she can warm to & trust others. Overall it was a really entertaining & gripping read.
My thanks to NetGalley & publisher, Severn House, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Pregnancy and Miscarriage
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