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A review by melissa_b_67
Culpability by Bruce Holsinger
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has infiltrated our everyday lives. What was once just a futuristic imagining in science fiction movies and novels has slid its way into virtually every facet of our lives. While this is not news to anyone, Bruce Holsinger’s latest novel, Culpability, explores AI from the perspective of the family structure. Who is to blame to when a tragedy occurs and AI may have played a part.
In Culpability, 17 year-old Charlie, is behind the wheel of the family vehicle, when a devastating crash occurs. Also in the car is Charlie’s father, mother and younger sisters. But this isn’t any car, it’s an autonomous vehicle. From the POV of Noah, the dad, with interspersed text messages from one of the daughters to a friend, this unthinkable crisis of a family, takes many twists and turns that were both suspenseful and thought-provoking. As a parent of young adult children, I found the often-tricky topic of doing what’s best for our children, how that responsibility plays out as they mature into adults, and within todays’ framework of a technology-based society, to be on-point.
Many parents will likely be able to put themselves into the shoes of Noah, the dad, and Lorelei, the mom, to a certain degree. The concerns and fears that they deal with in this book are universal, however each parent has some idiosyncrasies which seemed extreme on both ends of the spectrum, resulting in some questionable choices at various points in the story.
Topics of societal and parental responsibility during modern day, family secrets, and wealth and privilege, is central in this family drama. Set on the Chesapeake Bay in the sultry months of summer, along with some Succession-like vibes, makes Culpability a great book for someone who is looking for a beach read with substance. Likewise, this would be a fantastic book club pick. Lots of juicy topics to discuss!
Holsinger is a new-to-me author and I will definitely be diving into his backlist.
Thank you NetGalley and Spiegal & Grau for an ARC of Culpability by Bruce Holsinger in exchange for my honest review.
In Culpability, 17 year-old Charlie, is behind the wheel of the family vehicle, when a devastating crash occurs. Also in the car is Charlie’s father, mother and younger sisters. But this isn’t any car, it’s an autonomous vehicle. From the POV of Noah, the dad, with interspersed text messages from one of the daughters to a friend, this unthinkable crisis of a family, takes many twists and turns that were both suspenseful and thought-provoking. As a parent of young adult children, I found the often-tricky topic of doing what’s best for our children, how that responsibility plays out as they mature into adults, and within todays’ framework of a technology-based society, to be on-point.
Many parents will likely be able to put themselves into the shoes of Noah, the dad, and Lorelei, the mom, to a certain degree. The concerns and fears that they deal with in this book are universal, however each parent has some idiosyncrasies which seemed extreme on both ends of the spectrum, resulting in some questionable choices at various points in the story.
Topics of societal and parental responsibility during modern day, family secrets, and wealth and privilege, is central in this family drama. Set on the Chesapeake Bay in the sultry months of summer, along with some Succession-like vibes, makes Culpability a great book for someone who is looking for a beach read with substance. Likewise, this would be a fantastic book club pick. Lots of juicy topics to discuss!
Holsinger is a new-to-me author and I will definitely be diving into his backlist.
Thank you NetGalley and Spiegal & Grau for an ARC of Culpability by Bruce Holsinger in exchange for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Grief, Car accident, Gaslighting, Alcohol