Rating: 5 Stars
Author Blake Crouch has delivered another mind-bending sci-fi thriller, Recursion, that had me on the edge of my seat from the beginning. Wow, was all I could think to say when I first finished reading. I enjoyed Dark Matter a lot and was expecting a lot from this new book and Crouch has totally delivered. I am predicting this book will be in my top 5 at the end of the year. I just don’t see it going any other way.
Barry Sutton is a NYC detective and he has just arrived on scene at a NY building where a woman is threatening suicide by jumping from the forty-first floor. As he attempts to talk her out of jumping, he discovers that she is suffering from FMS or False Memory Syndrome. She recounts in detail a life where she was married and has a nine-year-old son. Then suddenly, about a month ago, she claims she just woke to find herself single and an investment banker with a new set of memories.
The CDC does not know what causes FMS or if it is contagious. So far, there are just a few cases; but, in a majority of the cases the person afflicted is usually driven mad by the false memories. As Blake contemplates the suicide, he is not able to prevent, his detective instincts push him to investigate. He follows the only lead he has. The husband, Joe Behrman, the suicide victim says she was married to in another life that now lives in Montuak.
Barry’s meeting with Joe just leaves more questions unanswered. Joe insists he does not know the victim, but all Berry’s instincts says he is lying. Something is not right and then Barry suddenly has a complete separate set of memories. No one every jumped from the forty-first floor of the NY building three days ago, and there is someone watching him.
The answers to understanding everything lies in the past with Helena Smith, who years prior has invented a “chair” that she hopes will help Alzheimer patients like her mother recover some memories. This “chair” is so much more than just a device to capture memories. It has the ability to alter time with devastating consequences as we soon find out. Only Barry and Helena working together can hope to stop the very fabric of space and time unraveling.
There are so many things I loved about the book. For me, the best part was the characters. Crouch did such a good job with the character development. Usually in thrillers I feel like the action was the main character. Not here, I totally got Barry and Helena and by the end I felt I had known them for years.
The way Crouch described the science made the story seem plausible. This element of realism elevated the plot, resulting in more tension. It was just so well done and not many authors can pull this off so seamlessly. Many kudos!
I highly recommend this book to lovers of thrillers and sci-fi. It is a ride you will never forget!
I received a free copy from the publisher, via Net Galley, in exchange for my honest review.