I was lucky enough to read this book after the author reached out to me and provided me with an ARC. I hope the prospective reader will read this review fully before making any prejudgments on the book. I will give the book my thoughts. These thoughts are completely my own and not swayed in any way by anyone else’s reviews or opinions.
“SEVEN ORPHANS SURVIVED THE JAMES WHITE MASS SUICIDE AND THEY ARE LIVING ON MARS TODAY. YOU WILL BE PAID 100 THOUSAND H-MOLS PER ORPHAN YOU LOCATE, PLUS A 300 THOUSAND H-MOL BONUS IF YOU FIND ALL SEVEN. DRAW YOUR REWARD FROM ARESCORP BANK, ACCOUNT #24798239 AS YOU LOCATE EACH SUBJECT. WE WILL MONITOR THE ACCOUNT AND CONTACT YOU AGAIN AFTER YOU LOCATE FIRST SUBJECT. USE SAME ACCOUNT FOR ALL REASONABLE EXPENSES RELATED TO CASE.”
Zeb Haradon-The Orphans
Here we are following Jim who is a private detective. He suffers from neurological symptoms that are completely unknown. He has been hired, by an anonymous person, to search for seven orphans. These are the only seven people to survive a mass suicide that happened 30 years before. On Mars, there is no where to hide. Everyone is into something that is bad. That could be drugs, organized crime, war refugees, and a church that was not what it seemed. Jim discovers more than meets the eye and is thrown into a rollercoaster of events that could change the outcome of his case.
I loved the plot. What got me was the location and the area. It was a treasure trove of different imagery that was based upon a place of mystery. There was something real, yet fictional about this book. There were moments where we think about different historical events that correlate with the novel such as, the Jonestown Massacre or Heaven’s Gate. These brought a broader picture to the events the seven orphans went through and the knowledge they must be concealing. The out of this world aspect comes from the location. It is almost as if there are two mysteries combined into one to create another mystery. The depths of outer space is so foreign to us in many ways and then you add the complexity of a cultlike atmosphere. You are in for one wild ride.
My Rating: I find the author to be a genius in combining historical elements with this out of this world feel. This was one large feat and I was excited about it every step of the way. I am not always the biggest fan of these novels, but this one is a recommend. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. I am giving anyone who loves this idea a nudge to read it. You will be faced with so many twists and turns that you won’t know what is happening next. Overall, what a wonderful read. Please, go and purchase this book right away!
On Review by Sara 