Iain Reid’s writing knocks me on my feet every time. The poignant, sharp, and cutthroat writing in Foe was no exception. His books (although he only has two) always seem to have the same sort of pattern. They carry a theme and a purpose. Not many books consistently do that anymore. And after sitting here thinking about all of the above in Foe, I’m completely blown away.

The plot of this story was the most gripping thing for me in this book. It was interesting and piqued my interest from the start. The depth of it really didn’t set in with me, though until I finished the book. I laid there and stared at my ceiling and literally thought “wow, that was deep.” Because it is. Human nature, relationships, our day to day lives. The things that happen in this book really struck me as interesting because these are our lives that we live day to day.

Touching on Iain’s writing a little bit because well, I love it. He has this way of making you feel unsettled and completely on edge. I don’t know if it’s the tone of his writing or just the sentence structures and settings that he works with but I’m blown away by every page that I turn. Just like in I’m Thinking of Ending Things, Iain makes sure you are left feeling the least amount of comfort that he can while still following a story line that leaves you wondering and grasping for more.

For such a short novel- Iain sure has a way to provide you with just the right amount information while still allowing you to use your own mind and not manipulating you in any way. He doesn’t take from you, only gives you what you need to decipher what you want how you want it.

Foe was such a unique story. It was reflective and it really made you think. I really appreciated the book for those reasons alone. The way Iain reflected relationships and human nature captivated me from the get go. I have so many questions and for once that’s a good thing. I love the endless possibilities.

Definitely a book that stays with you! Could not put it down!

Highly recommended if you enjoy suspense genre! Thank you for my review copy, which I received through Net Galley.

Reid has constructed an entrancing page-turner that will stay with you after the last page has been read!

Foe is a look at what it means to be human. Reid writes a science fiction book with the strong elements of a psychological thriller. He twists the reader around to question their own beliefs of human behaviors and love. Government interference and whether you actually have choice when they come to you with strong "options" is also a theme that will resonate with readers of futurist sci fi.

Foe is another quirky, slow burn offering from the author of I'm Thinking of Ending Things. Fans of his style will find themselves at home within these pages and newcomers should be encouraged to stick it out to the end, because just like with ITOFET, the ending makes the book.

I've heard of Iain Reid's first novel so I decided to pick this one up. I recommend this to fans of thrillers/mysteries. The plot is so interesting and kept me reading until the end.

I finished this book last night. If you've read ITOET, you know that his style is to make you think you skipped a chapter. Or maybe you missed the epilogue. You start violently tapping the side of your kindle, waiting for one more page to turn, and NOTHING!! Then you sit quietly with the book, or lie in bed thinking back to what you've just read, and little lightbulbs slowly start to glow above your head. 'Oh SHIT! NOW I get it...' The puzzle pieces start to come together, and the little clues Iain gave us throughout the book start to make sense. But don't get me wrong, he has a special talent of writing his books so that you'll finish it and immediately want a reread to find any of the little things you may've missed that pointed us toward the end of the book!

I love his writing style. The dialogue flows very well. And the thought process of his characters (all THREE of them in this book) is very realistic and free. You feel their pain, conflict, brief moments of happiness, and sadness through his words. It's not a difficult read at all. Connecting the dots is the hardest part, and that's what makes me a loyal fan of his work. The deep thinking and calculating that his books force you to do is my favorite part. Thank you for another masterpiece, Iain!!
His books belong in their own genre. The WTF genre.
I'm going back in for a reread soon. Still puzzle pieces to find places for in this story. I'm excited for this book to release so I can discuss and read about others' conspiracy theories!

Things that make you go hmmmm.....

Not what I expected. At. ALL.

And I mean this in a good way!

It starts off weird and ends weird! I wish I had a friend that was reading it at the same time to compare thoughts. Like did they get out of it what I just did? My mind is blown at that ending!

"Is it ever eerie at home?"

I found myself highlighting so many passages that fascinated me or freaked me out and I can't share any of them because it gives "something" away, no matter how subtle!

You might see it coming or you might be like me and be so wrapped up in the story, biting your nails with worry about what's happening that you don't even see it happen till it slaps you in the face. I LOVE that type of novel. Reid was a pro at this in I'm Thinking of Ending Things.

Can't wait to see what else this author puts out!

Uneasy Lies the Head

There are ABSOLUTELY NO SPOILERS HERE, because any attempt to discuss the plot, or its meaning, or its implications, or even the issues it raises, will contribute to ruining the book for you. But, it does seem possible to give you an idea of what kind of book this is.

Consider your favorite Twilight Zone episode. It was a TV show and so you watched it as actors acted out their parts. There was a plot, and it was moved along by the actors acting and things happening and enough dialogue to explain and propel the story. But you were outside it all looking in. No character was ever developed beyond being a character that played its part in the story.

Now, consider that same episode from the inside out. You are inside a character, following his thoughts, observing and participating in the action. This book is written in the first person. You are inside the action, figuring out what's going on and reacting as the plot unfolds around you. If there is a twist, it is happening to you. The center of everything is Junior, and you are Junior, and you experience things the way Junior experiences them.

If that sounds interesting, then this book may appeal to you. The writing is crisp and economical, because Junior is a plain spoken man and this is Junior's story. The book is fairly brief, (a Twilight Zone episode was about 22 minutes long), and it feels like it's taking its time even though it's actually rather fast paced. There is a subtle undercurrent of twilight unease, the farmhouse setting is nicely claustrophobic, and Reid knows how to use a little detail or observation to influence how you feel about a character.

So, this is an elegant story with unexpected twists and cleverly disguised surprises, which is, of course, exactly what was promised. A nice find.

(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)