Blake Crouch can write some damn sci-fi, I tell you what...

This one is about an inventor who invents something incredible, The Chair, only for it to fall into the wrong hands and Ruin The World.

It's got everything: time travel, people who recognize the evil they've done and even they want to fix it, love stories, do-overs, multiple lives.

The narrative is not linear. It made more sense for *me* to read it in chronological order until it merged timelines. Which is difficult, because of course there are multiple timelines thanks to The Chair.

ALL OF THAT is to say it is highly recommended for anyone that is a fan of smart sci-fi. Note: the characters are not very diverse, but it's still a good story.

Words can't describe how much I enjoyed this book. It was fun, fast-paced, and thrilling. There were genuine edge-of-your-seat, laugh-out-loud, "Oh my God!" moments aplenty. Definitely one of my favorite reads of the year! The only reason I'm not giving it five stars is because, 1 ) there are moments that are too steeped in the science of things that made me skip through it; 2) there are timelines that seem to exist just to make the book longer, and thus, could have been skipped to make the book a little breezier; and 3) we don't get to see how the love story that takes center stage unfold, and we're basically told to root for the couple "just because".

Outside of those things, it doesn't detract to the point of disliking it. Obviously you need a deep level of suspension of disbelief when it comes to takes about time travel, because of you think about things too much, you'll find lots of plot holes. But Crouch crafts such a rollercoaster ride of a story, you're willing to overlook them. Definitely read this one!

NYC detective Barry Sutton begins looking into a mysterious ailment that has been dubbed False Memory Syndrome where the victims suddenly remember whole lives that seem to have never happened. Meanwhile, neuroscientist Helena Smith has dedicated her life to creating technology that will allow us to preserve memories. As reality and the past seems to be shifting all around them, Barry and Helena must work together to stop Helena's technology from falling into the wrong hands and to protect everyone's future.

Admittedly, I"m not a big science fiction reader, but I read Dark Matter by Blake Crouch a couple of years ago after seeing it everywhere and it was one of the best books I read that year. When I saw that Crouch had a new book coming out later this year I knew I wanted to read it.

Like with Dark Matter, the premise that Crouch is able to create and flesh out in Recursion is remarkable. He has a great ability to create worlds and technology that play on questions that have haunted many -- what exactly is time and memory? What would you do to relive a special moment or to change the past? Crouch manages to weave intricate science, interesting characters and ethical dilemmas all into one.

Unfortunately despite all of this, I found it a little difficult to get into this one. I found the book started a little slow as it was working to set everything up but then picked up in the middle as things started to fall into place. While the end was thrilling to see what would end up happening, I felt it dragged on a little bit longer than I would have liked. The pacing is the main thing that dropped it down a half-star from 4 stars for me.

Overall, Recursion is a interesting read that will make you think, which is always something I can enjoy out of a book. I definitely recommend this one for those interested in sci-fi and who have enjoyed Crouch's other books.

3.5/5 stars

I loved Dark Matter so I could not wait to read Crouch’s newest novel. I was not disappointed! There were so many twists and turns that I did have to re-read a couple of chapters, but it was definitely worth it. This book was an easy 5 stars for me.

Spoiled by having read Blake Crouch's Dark Matter. This book just isn't as good. BUT, it IS still good.

It's science fiction in the sense that Black Mirror or Michael Crichton's books are science fiction. Nothing that can happen currently in the real world, but plausible enough for the future. And the book makes you think! It's a book that, instead of not wanting to put down, you intentionally put down at times just so you can take some time to think about the ideas in it.

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.

Another fast-paced sci-fi thriller from Blake Crouch that is smarter and more tense than most of what you’ll find out there. Did I understand all of it? Definitely not but still a quick and enjoyable read that reinforces once again why we shouldn’t mess with memory mapping and time travel.

I truly liked this book. It was a sci-fi page-turner almost from the start. You are first introduced to Barry, the NY police detective trying to prevent a suicide and soon after (yet a decade earlier) Helena a scientist facing funding issues. Their stories and those of others intersect on the way to... a danger I certainly did not see coming until just before it arrived (you guessed it, that would be a spoiler). And this just gets you to the middle of the book!
The characters are nuanced and believable. They have lives that truly matter to them and the story (thus to the reader). Because of this, I enjoyed it much better than Dark Matter (by the same author). There was some trepidation leading into this book because of that, but I can honestly say it surpassed and made me forget those earlier worries.
If you like sci-fi with good internal logic (even if the science is not fully sketched out) and a fast moving plot, I would happily recommend this book.


Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read a prerelease copy of this book.

I received this from Netgalley.com for a review.

As Barry searches for the truth, he comes face to face with an opponent more terrifying than any disease—a force that attacks not just our minds, but the very fabric of the past. And as its effects begin to unmake the world as we know it, only he and Helena, working together, will stand a chance at defeating it.

Signature Crouch story, full of mind bending and time warping events. As I read, I kept seeing this book playing out like it was written specifically for the big screen. The techie talk did drag me down a bit but over-all, a good book.

3.25☆

Holy Smokes! Blake, you sure know how to twist a good tale! I loved Dark Matter and I loved this one even more.

The book is a bit repetitive, but it has to be. Hang in there and you won't be disappointed.

My thanks to Netgalley and Crown Publishing for this advanced readers copy. Recursion is due to release in June 2019.

Holy Ambition Batman! Blake, Blake, Blake! This book is an epic tale that took my breath away. Thank goodness it was told in four parts. That helped me make a bit of sense of it all, but only barely. My mind whirled reading this, and while the technical elements bored me a bit, and certainly confused the heck out of me, I really enjoyed it. There is a love story is at the heart of the book, but you don't really know it until the second half. Part of me wishes it was alluded to earlier to establish a sense that Helena and Barry were to be star crossed lovers later in the book, But I know some things need to be left for later in order to get the story moving. A small voice inside of me is yelling to say that I do think Blake may have bitten off a bit more than he could chew with this book. Because while I really enjoyed it, it was very confusing at times. It got a bit overwhelming to my limited brain and I wound up skimming parts so I wouldn't go cross eyed. It also felt a bit repetitive at times, but that makes sense because the book is called Recursion. Hence things keep recurring. Ha! I cannot fathom how Shonda Rhimes and Mr, Crouch will adapt this into a movie for Netflix? I definitely think that this book warrants a limited series at the very least. I would hate it to become a regular series because I think that would then lead to multiple off book seasons. But to tell this full story, you will need more than the time a feature length film allows. Aside from the timeless love story, Recursions best parts are when it all begins to fall apart. The book turns into a downward spiraling, groundhogs/doomsday scenario. I LOVED this whole section as I am an end of days book fanatic. These chapters had me flipping the pages so fast in order to see what was coming next. Blake is one of my favorite authors and ranks up there with Sir Stephen King. I will read whatever he writes forever!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of Recursion in exchange for any honest review. :)

I loved Blake Crouch's Dark Matter, so I was excited to read this. As expected, it did not disappoint. What a thrill-ride, I felt like I was on a roller-coaster. I didn't understand all the details, but it didn't take away from the enjoyment of this book. It make me think: wouldn't it be nice to go back into your memories and re-read books for the first time (again)?

"We think we're perceiving the world directly and immediately, but everything we experience is this carefully edited, tape-delayed reconstruction." *

It's been eleven years since NYC detective Barry Sutton's sixteen-year-old daughter was killed in a hit and run.  He's still grieving that loss and the subsequent disintegration of his marriage when he begins to investigate a suicide involving the new phenomenon False Memory Syndrome.

"Eight months ago, the Centers for Disease Control identified sixty-four cases with similiarities in the Northeast. In each case, a patient presented with complaints of acute false memories. Not just one or two. A fully imagined alternate history covering large swaths of their life up until that moment. Usually going back months or years. In some instances, decades." *

Meanwhile, scientist Helena Smith has been given unlimited funding to continue her research on mapping memories of dementia patients. Helena works non-stop to design a chair that will allow subjects in advanced stages of Alzheimer's to reactivate mapped and stored memories. She's determined to perfect the design before her own mother's memories are lost forever.  
As testing begins, Helena finds herself at odds with billionaire benefactor Paul Slade when it appears they are no longer working toward the same goal.  Helena wanted a chair that would allow people to relive their memories.  Slade shocks her with the news that the chair actually allows people to return to the past.

Running across multiple timelines, Recursion takes readers through the past and present in a race to save a world suffering the far-reaching effects of False Memory Syndrome from self-destructing.

I had a hard time putting this book down!  It's compulsively readable with a compelling story, likeable MCs, and multiple action-packed timelines that come together seamlessly once you can keep them straight!  

Thanks to Crown and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.  Recursion is scheduled for release on June 11, 2019.

*Quotes included are from a digital advanced reader's copy and are subject to change upon final publication.

So, everyone has talked about the brilliance of Blake Crouch and his writing.

I was super excited to read Recursion by this author and expecting a wild ride! Well.. unfortunately this book was extremely hard for me to get into and lost my interest completely.

I don't do well with multiple timelines and going back/forth between characters and timelines when I can't connect to the storyline period. I was getting so frustrated and confused trying to piece everything together. It finally started to pick up half way through but not enough for me to be "wowed" by the story.

I don't like to feel like reading is "work" for me to keep track of a book and unfortunately this was wayyy to much work for me.

Overall, 3 stars for me on this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and Crown Publishing for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Publication date: 6/11/19
Published to Goodreads: 5/8/19

I completely lose myself in Blake Crouch's worlds and Recursion was no exception. I started this late one Sunday evening and ended up staying up until almost 2 am to finish because my goodness I had to know...

Recursion delivers a brilliant, addictive science fiction thriller. One you won't be able to set down. Add it to your bookshelf or audio library. It's the perfect summer thriller.

Full review will appear on Caffeinated Reviewer June 11th (link provided) It will be shared on all social media for 90 days. Reviews will post to Amazon and Goodreads.

This book was such a nice read. I’ve read Dark Matter from this author and really enjoyed it. I was pleasantly surprised to see that this was just as good as that one. I enjoyed the story and the characters were very well written.

My thanks to Crown Publishing, Blake Crouch and Netgalley. Once again I received a gratis copy, all for the price of a measly review! What's funny is that I truly hate reviewing books, but for some author's, I'll go through it! Or as I call it hell and high water!
First of all I have read Mr. Crouch since 2013. When I got my first kindle fire. I bought everything he had written, and loved most of it. Most! Man, all my favorite storytellers eventually scare the crap out of me. I love that and hate it! Crouch books tend to leave me with nightmares. Not that he's too terrifying, although I think so. But because his tales leave a lasting impression. I've read 2 crouch books that I hated. One was a short story, the other...blah, good behavior. Ug, hated it! It's a truth though, my favorite authors, sometimes stink! Crouch, has always been one of my go to authors. Forget Bad Behavior, because that was not my groove. Crouch, always gets a.pass because he tends to truly capture the imagination. He's one of about 20 or so authors who are so vividly descriptive, that I do see the mind movie. few author's are descriptive enough to give readers the mind movie. Blake is one of those who let me see. He unfolds a tale, and in my head it has color, and the smell and tastes are distinct and it's immersive. Really, all I need now is smellovision! So few authors can do that! I actually took some notes while reading this book. I NEVER take notes! But, I'll admit that looking through them it seemed "to me," to give too much away. Shit, damn and hell! I try not to ever do that. I'm sure you can find other reviews to give a tease. I don't tease! I mean, sometimes!😇 I thought at.first that this book may have been too much like Dark Matter. If you feel that too, then push through! This won't take long as it very quickly finds its own groove. then you're hooked! Also, if you are like me, and read and get the point of Quantum physics, mechs...I think you would love this. I have read much about quantum theories. Mathematics in is self is snoozeville, for me! Put it in words, and give me concepts, and I understand that. It makes sense to me. That doesn't mean I want anything discovered "too" much in this field. Just because of government and nut jobs! They are all the same really!
My last thought in this book, is what started off as one of my first thoughts in reading this book. Nobody should mess with my memories. Yes, some are false, and have changed in the many times I've remembered then. So what? Our real memories, changed or not are what were left with in the end.
I actually loved this book. I read it in 3 days. Sure I may have read another book or two at the time, but 3 freaking days!.That's a world record for this person! If you've not read Blake Crouch, then you should. This is more science fiction...which I usually hate! But, it was some damn fine reading. If you want Thriller/Horror? The Pines trilogy. No, not the lame show. Heck, just hit me up on Goodreads, and I'll find you 3 books that scares the gee willikers outta me, and 3 to 4 that are just "BLOODY" as you want! Don't be scared off from the science. It's in layman's terms, and very understandable! Highly recommended!

"He who controls the past controls the future. He who controls the present controls the past."
- George Orwell, 1984

This was a book I had to sit and think about before writing my review, mainly because I had to let it sink it. What would it be like to live your life over again? What would it be like to go back and change past events? How would this action affect your future? How would it affect the future of others? This book is deep and is thought provoking.

Blake Crouch has written a very ambitious and carefully crafted book about memory, preserving memory, shifting reality, and using our memories and dangers associated with altering these things. He does this with skill and finesse. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall while he was writing this.

Neuroscientist Helena Smith has dedicated her life to inventing a device which will preserve our memories. Her intentions are pure. She wants to help her Mother who has Alzheimer’s, she wants to help those experience their happy times once again. But what happens when people begin experiencing False Memory Syndrome - a syndrome that causes irrational behavior in those who experience memories of lives they never lived.

NYC police officer Barry Sutton begins to investigate the syndrome, he learns that there is more going on than meets the eye (or memory). As he digs deeper, he becomes more involved until he is knee deep in neuroscience, time, memories and a lifetime of trying to get things right.

I highly recommend making note of the date/YEAR on each chapter as this book is told in both timelines. Things jump around a bit and can be confusing if you are not on your toes keeping track of your time lines. This is a book I really needed to sit and ponder after reading. I found that the more I thought about this book, the more I enjoyed it.

Blake Crouch has a brilliant creative mind and he puts it to good use in this book. The beginning of this book was work for me until I found my rhythm with this book. Fans of his previous book [book:Dark Matter|27833670] will enjoy this one as well. I did enjoy Dark Matter more mainly because I found it was easier to follow but his one is good, but it took a little more (okay, a lot more) work on my part.

I also loved that not only is this science fiction it is also a love story and Crouch writes some beautiful passages such as “...I want to breathe the same air as you every minute of every day of my life, no matter how many timelines I live." and "My soul knows your soul in any time line."

Science Fiction fans, Crouch will not let you down with this book. Read those chapters headers and keep them in mind while reading each chapter as time does jump around.

Thank you to Crown Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wow!

I read this several days ago and am still thinking about it. I read so many books that they often blend together. So when I'm still thinking about a book, that's a big deal to me.

This book is about memory, and how we store it. Wait, it's about time travel. No it's not, it's about the mapping and manipulation of memory.. You know what....you just need to read it. It's crazy. It's thought provoking. ..

It's a well written journey that you should try.

Exactly the kind of mind-blowing, trippy time travel stuff that I love and have come to expect from Blake Crouch. Genius and it makes you work to understand the story. 5 stars.