Genre: Psychological-Thriller
Description:
Richard Trescerrick dedicated his life to creating the Brainscape—a
device that provides access to another person’s mind. When he discovers the
government agency providing his funding intend to use his invention to control
people’s thoughts, he hides the final algorithm that will complete the machine.
During a brutal attack by a government agent at his home, Richard is knocked
into unconsciousness and becomes comatose. A group of government agents, law
enforcement, and psychologists, aided by his estranged son, Luke, enter his
mind using the Brainscape and search for the algorithm.
Author:
The author is a freelance writer living in Devon, in the South of
England, who has published a number of novels and short stories.
Appraisal:
First off, let me say this is one of the best-written books I’ve read
this year. Mr. Townley has a solid grasp on the craft of writing fiction.
Sentences so lean that, like the notes in a Mozart symphony, you’d be
hard-pressed to pick a spare word that could be removed without reducing the
story.
The opening few chapters paint a picture of the challenging
relationship between Richard and his son, Luke. I empathized with Luke, and
with his son who has some undefined mental challenges of his own. This ‘real
world’ introduction is set against a beautifully drawn backdrop of a Cornish
coastal town.
But the story doesn’t dwell in the physical world for long. Most of
the words are used to follow the characters as they ride the roller coaster of
Richard’s imagination inside his comatose father’s mind.
And inside the Brainscape, it’s Jumanji meets A Christmas Carol (the
parts where Scrooge is taken back in time), with a smattering of Alice in
Wonderland. Nothing is as it seems, and everything is triggered or controlled
through metaphors that relate to the old man’s life and loves. Luke learns
aspects of his father’s life hitherto misunderstood, and in the process he also
learns about himself. As Luke battles the evil government agent (who
understands how to control the Brainscape-world) the action is non-stop: a
psychedelic happening driven by words instead of pills.
I felt certain reluctance to surrender to this imaginary world. After
all, I was enjoying the introductory story, and the idea of spending most of
the book in a place where there were no rules that I could fathom, didn’t
appeal. However, the imagery was so strong, and the pacing so fast that I soon
left my niggling Doubting Thomas behind, let go of the reins of reality, and
went along for the ride.
And it was a lot of fun.
FYI:
Added for
Reprise Review: Lost in
Thought by Simon J. Townley was a nominee in the Thriller/Suspense category
for B&P 2013 Readers' Choice Awards. Original review ran November 20, 2012
Format/Typo
Issues:
English spelling and English settings. I enjoyed this aspect of the
story because, for, me the locations were familiar. I don’t believe this would
cause a problem, or lessen the enjoyment, for a reader unfamiliar with England.
Rating:
***** Five Stars
Reviewed
by: Pete Barber
Approximate
word count: 75,000-80,000 words
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