Book Review: Singularity by Steven James

Singularity

By Steven James

ISBN: 9780800734268

$14.99 paperback

$9.99 ebook

From the Publisher: Jevin Banks is searching for a killer--and answers to terrifying questions he never even thought to ask.

When his friend is murdered, illusionist Jevin Banks is determined to find out what really happened. Drawn deep into a web of conspiracy and top-secret research on human consciousness, Jevin won't stop digging until the truth is revealed. Soon he uncovers a dark secret that could change the very fabric--and future--of human life on the planet.

Based on frightening scientific realities and bristling with mystery, suspense, and intrigue, Singularity is the riveting sequel to Placebo.

My Review:

I’m a huge fan of the Patrick Bowers series and was a bit worried that Jevin Banks would be a clone to my fav FBI coffee snob. In some ways, a little bit; and mostly, not so much. Banks is still one of those males who can be a bit clueless, needing the help of the women in his life to figure out—yep, women; he still has a cocky sidekick for protection. He’s not a professional crime fighter, which makes him different. As an illusionist, there’s a little bit of Patrick Jane from the Mentalist TV show involved…intriguing. As a multi-millionaire, he has the ability to do things, to make things happen, that most others cannot.

I also admit to having Placebo in my TBR pile and decided not to read that one first. Although James refers to events in the other book, Singularity felt like it stood alone. Gruesome but never over-the-top to thriller fans, with non-judgmental faith elements mixed in, the story was about who gets to play God with the aging process. How far can we go with our science and experiments to trump death?

 

Told from multiple viewpoints, some of which are surprise one-time throw-aways toward the end of the book to ramp up tension, the story was riveting. The opening action sequence was a little OCO, but it did help to set the characters. I enjoyed learning some background staging for magic tricks and the world of Las Vegas felt very real and very sad. Entertaining cast of characters. I look forward to more.

“Available November 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”