A review by jdcorley
The Need by Andrew Neiderman

emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

A species of human that develop into a male and a female identity and then shift back and forth between the two either voluntarily or not forms the basis for this rather lengthy character study. You get the idea that the author may be excited by this possibility but equally repulsed; the central question is the murder of a lover that both "versions" of the same person shared. The rather dimwitted stud of a murder investigator who is receiving all this information is portrayed with such inconsistency and lack of real interest that the tension is gone halfway through. You don't get a feeling of bigotry in favor of the gender binary but the book sure doesn't make sense in a  world where trans or non binary people exist. Is this the "erasure" the kids are always going on about? it sure doesn't feel good to read.