A review by shelby1994
Device Free Weekend by Sean Doolittle

tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

 

Thank you @GrandCentralPub for the #gifted copy

I was initially very taken in by the premise - a group of scattered friends reunited by an enigmatic billionaire on his private island, no phone allowed? Death and chaos ensue? It sounds like a fun riff on Glass Onion in airport-thriller format. 

Unfortunately, the charismatic voice of Daniel Craig wasn’t the only thing this book was lacking. 

By splitting the book up into multiple perspectives, Dolittle keeps up from the intricacies of the main plot. Like a MC being bombarded by NPCs and side quests, we lose track of what does and doesn’t matter, and not in a “slight of hand” kind of way. 

Also, I may not be a tech savant, but if you’re going to use VR and advanced computer programming as a key plot device, you have to walk us through it. The final third of the book throws so much at you (VR, medical jargon, a Die Hard-esque chase scene that comes out of nowhere, SO MANY LIVESTREAMS) that the chaos just made me want to set the book down and go sit in nature for a bit to reboot. Which I did.