There is a devastating phenomenon that the media has dubbed "False Memory Syndrome" or FMS, where people have memories of things that they didn't actually experience. NYC cop Barry Sutton and neuroscientist Helena Smith are both working on opposite ends of the phenomenon. Barry wants to stop it, while Helena has dedicated her life's work to making it succeed. This page-turner sci-fi/thriller will leave Crouch fans on the edge of their seats.

This book is brilliant. I've read Dark Matter and enjoyed the ride it took me on, but Recursion is truly otherworldy. Without getting too deeply bogged down in the big philosophical questions (this is still mainly just a really fun book), Recursion is a vehicle that takes readers on an uncomfortably introspective journey into what it means to be human. It tackles grief, loneliness, regret, resentment, and so many other negative emotions that we grapple with. But what if we could wave them all away? What if we got a do-over? Would this ability change what inherently makes us human? If every moment had been lived before, and we are now appreciating it more appropriately, would these moments be richer or become hollowed out?

The last sci-fi book to give me this existential crisis was Version Control (read it!!!) and they were both well earned. Can't recommend this highly enough

Thanks to Net Galley for an advanced reader copy. Yet another good Sci-fi thriller from Crouch. This book started off strong and kept a good momentum throughout. I also did enjoy the romantic twist with Barry and Helena, and was rooting for them. The repetition was addicting and I couldn’t put the book down just to see what would happen next. I felt exhausted by the end. I wasn’t quite sure how it would end. I am not entirely sure how much I liked the ending, but perhaps it left it open for a sequel, which I would read.

To start off, Recursion is kind of similar to Dark Matter both in terms of plot and main characters. Barry is a divorced NYPD cop who's life was turned upside down by both the death of his daughter and the subsequent divorce from his wife. Helena is a brilliant scientist desperately trying to come up with a solution to save her mother from the ravages of Alzheimer's. Predictably, what Helena ultimately invents begins to wreak havoc and she and Barry are left racing against the clock to try to prevent the destruction of their world.

While I ended up really liking this book, the first 80-ish pages absolutely dragged. I spent most of book one bored out of my mind and struggling to care at all about Helena and Barry or their stories. Books two through five weren't long enough in my opinion. The story really took off and I was completely sucked in and unable to set Recursion down. I do vaguely remember having the same complaint about Dark Matter, and this is an issue I frequently have with sci-fi novels. I was also a little frustrated with how poorly the characters were written. None of these characters had full backstories and I don't really feel that we found out more about either Barry or Helena than the basic facts I outlined above.

Despite those (admittedly major) shortcomings, I really liked Recursion. The plot was a different and exciting take on the whole "people live their lives multiple times" trope. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoyed Dark Matter, The Seven and a Half Lives of Evelyn Hardcastle, or any of the many other books with plots along these same lines. (I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)

While I loved this author's book Dark Matter, unfortunately I can't say the same for this one. I will be the first to admit that I don't do well with multiple time lines and going back and forth into different scenarios. My head just can't seem to keep it all straight. I had the very same issue with The Time Traveler's Wife and The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. Suffice to say, this book was just not for me but I do know that others have loved it.

An entertaining and engaging exploration of memory, time, and enduring love.

I picked up this book because I loved DARK MATTER by the same author. This story is as captivating as the previous book. It starts with Barry, a NY detective who is answering a distress call and heads to a building where a woman is about to commit suicide. She suffers from FMS or False Memory Syndrome, a disorder where victims have memories of a life they never lived.

From then on, Detective Barry starts investigating this case and what he finds out is a lot more complex than he thought possible.

I was absorbed by the story and the subject matter, it was interesting and stimulating. Highly recommend it.

Received ARC from the publisher via Netgalley

I've read some of Crouch's books in the past and really enjoyed them. However, this one just didn't work for me. The author has created a world where you can see technology do incredible things, and I found the story to have some nice descriptive portions. But, I found it hard to get into, and some parts felt overdone. Helena was a likable character, and the concept is intriguing, but it didn't hold the momentum throughout for me.

Blake Crouch does it again in this sci-fi, mind blowing tale of a man and woman who try to save the world one memory at a time. Mistakes are made, lives are lost (and resurrected), and the age old questions of “playing god” are asked. This was an easy 5 ⭐️’s for me and I can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on it this June. I know I’ll be springing for a hard copy to shove into the hands of all my hands. I

I thought Abandon was a good book. I thought Dark Matter was a good book. And Wayward Pines series and the Andrew Z. Thomas series. I had no idea that Blake Crouch had written an even better book. I created a new shelf just for this book to be the first on it. My "new all time favorite" shelf will be strictly for books of this caliber. I will compare all thriller and suspense books from now on to Recursion. To all the other writers of thrillers and suspense books you now have a high bar to look to.

I understand this book is being developed for a movie and tv series by none other than Shonda Rhimes for Netflix. As it should be. Please be soon, I won't be able to take it if it takes too long.

There is lots of science in the book but Blake Crouch has a way of giving you that information and not going over your head. And Barry and Helena are amazing characters. I hated for it to end but it ended perfectly.

When this book comes out June 11, 2019, run to the book store and buy it. Pre-order it and have it downloaded to you device asap. It is that good, people.

Thank you, thank you, to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this book. And thank you Blake Crouch, keep them coming.

Wow, what did I just read!? This sci-fi thriller by the author of Dark Matter is a fast-paced, mind bending page turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat from cover to cover.

The novel begins with two alternate timelines: Barry Sutton, a New York Police Detective in 2018 and Helena Smith, a neuroscientist in 2007 who has dedicated her life to creating a memory chair, a technology for Alzheimer's patients that will allow mankind to preserve its most precious memories.

Barry begins to investigate a dangerous disease dubbed "False Memory Syndrome" or FMS which leaves the sufferer with vivid memories of a life that never actually happened. Those with FMS not only have memories of their "real" life, but they also have parallel memories of a completely different life. Unable to distinguish real memories from FMS memories, the suicide rate has skyrocketed as people struggle to grasp reality.

Helena, whose research funding is about to run out, is given the chance of a lifetime when Marcus Slade, a wealthy inventor and business magnate offers her unlimited resources to build her ground breaking technology. As she works to perfect the technology of the memory chair, Helena suspects that Marcus Slade may have ulterior motives for hiring her. She soon realizes that her invention is much more than it seems.

Barry and Helena's timelines eventually intersect and this, readers, is where the real (or is it FMS?) fun begins. I won't even begin to pretend that I was able to follow all of the scientific aspects of this book, but I was determined to keep up! Without going into too much spoiler-y detail, Blake Crouch really is the master of fusing sci-fi with the thriller genre. He expertly blends neuroscience, quantum physics and time travel with gripping, heart pounding scenarios that had me flipping the page as quickly as I could. Recursion is a heavily plot based novel and I would love to see Crouch's notes from when he was drafting this book (how did he keep everything straight?). There were so many times that I had to stop and think about what I just read because my goodness, this plot was mind-boggling! Recursion begs the question, if you were given the chance to do your life over, would you?

Publication Date: June 11, 2019

Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for providing me with this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Blake Crouch has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I love stories that make the impossible seem plausible, and he does that very well. A machine that records memories and allows people to time travel. Helena accidentally builds such a machine while trying to help cure her mother’s Alzheimer’s. Then spend the rest of her long life trying to correct the horrible impact this machine has on mankind. I loved it, Mr. Crouch, please continue.

This is a crazy ride of a story. It's a bit of Fringe and a bit of Quantum a bit of Memento.

Our characters invent a machine that let's them go back into time and "do over" parts of their life. Unfortunately, at some point everyone gets hit with all the memories at a point in their lives. This is devastating for most people and many choose to kill themselves. Our heroes go back again and again trying to fix the problems of these technology. Be ready to be confused. That said, this book grabbed me and wouldn't let go. I had a hard time stopping to go to sleep. Highly recommended.

(I read an ARC of this novel provided free by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks, Netgalley!)

Recursion is about a detective who is investigating a suicide related to a new "disease" called False Memory Syndrome, in which people suddenly remember entire lives that didn't happen. Except that's not what it is at all. A neuroscientist who was trying to invent a way for her mom to retrieve her memories lost to Alzheimer's finds someone to fund everything she can imagine, and things get...interesting.

And that's all you get for a summary because you seriously need to read this book. It's dystopian sci-fi if that helps. Years ago, I read another novel of Crouch's, Dark Matter, and I LOVED it. I also remember marveling at the number of plot holes but not caring at the end because it was SO GOOD. As soon as I heard about this one, I looked it up on Netgalley, got a copy, and DEVOURED it. This time I didn't let myself think so hard about it because I'm pretty sure it has a similarly holey plot. What matters here is that it's SO GOOD.

Right after I finished this one, I discovered that Crouch wrote the Wayward Pines series, and I immediately jumped on board. I'm enjoying those books as much as these. Crouch definitely is not a one-hit wonder, and I'm totally looking forward to whatever he comes up with next.

tl;dr: You'll like Recursion if you like dystopian sci-fi or if you've read anything else by Blake Crouch and liked it.

The author of Dark Matter returns with another adrenaline rush of a sci-fi novel.
While investigating a case tied to the recent epidemic of FMS (False Memory Syndrome) suicides, NYC cop Barry Sutton teams up with scientist Helena Smith, who reveals that these instances of people "remembering" lives that never occurred is a symptom of a problem that could destroy the entire world unless the two of them can find a way out- or back.
An absolute blast of a book!

What a thrill ride of a book! This novel is hard to put down and will have your brain working in knots to keep up. I have to admit, some of it gets repetitive and predictable at towards the end but it is still a super fun ride! This novel reminded me in some ways of the old Robin Cook novels that were so popular during the 80s. Crouch blends sci-fi, action, and even romance into a truly unique take on time travel by means of human memory. If you enjoyed Dark Matter, you will not be disappointed by this title. Enjoy!

Wow, I needed time to put together all of my thoughts on this book. As always, Blake Crouch proved that he is a master of the genre. He is so good at creating suspense with is writing. The timing was impeccable and left me turning the pages until I found that I had finished. I absolutely love books that draw me in like this and this was by far one of my favorite books that I've read this year. Without spoilers, I will say that while I would have liked closure in certain aspects, I 100% understand why it had to end the way it did. It left me with a great sense that time is what you make of it. I definitely connected with the characters longing for something and he did such a great job of portraying the characters feelings and motives. I highly recommend this book (and literally everything else by Black Crouch) to everyone.

The walls of this elevator are old, smoke-stained mirrors, and staring into them creates a recursive illusion—an infinite number of Barrys and Helenas in elevator cars bending away through space.



This is not your father’s time travel story. It’s a brand new, updated, complex and mind-bending time travel story that will keep your attention and compel you to keep reading. Recursion is a story of suspense and a bit of sci-fi that has so many twists that it gives a new meaning to the word.

Helena’s mother has Alzheimer’s and her research has led her to the goal of inventing a way to preserve her mother’s core memories so they will be available to her once the disease has progressed. Barry is a detective who’s drawn into this world when he investigates a case of False Memory Syndrome. FMS is when a person has memories of a life that he/she never lived and in some cases, drives the individual mad and possibly to suicide. Working together, Helena and Barry are out to save the world from itself while reality keeps shifting under their feet with an abundance of dead timelines. Both are very likable characters with a very special relationship. I was rooting them on with each and every timeline.

Crouch is a talented writer that knows how to hook a reader and keep them reading. While scientific-sounding in parts, Crouch explains it well enough that it is not distracting and does not diminish the reader’s enjoyment of the story. Recursion delves into the philosophical issues of changing people’s memories and the ramifications it has on their lives. Within the story are discussions about the perception of reality and memories as well as how we experience time (past, present and future). Crouch twists the notion of deja vu into something entirely new and different.

I highly recommend this book. There is something here for everyone — thriller, science fiction, mystery and love story.

Thank you to Crown Publishing and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Having read Dark Matter last year I was very excited for this book! It took me a few chapters to fully wrap my head around what was going on. It didn't take long though and after a bit I was hooked, loving how the storylines came together. Very well done, with twists in time and consciousness that I never quite knew what was coming next. I admit at times it was almost too much for my brain to comprehend, so putting the book down and closing my eyes making a visual map of the events helped. I love when a book has aspects that I can see or imagine happening in my life, even when the voice of reason says it isn't. This was the case with Recursion. I cant wait to talk about this book! I would give it 10 stars out of 5 if I could!

Aah, Blake Crouch. The master of the sci-fi page turner.

Thank you, Penguin/Random House for an advance copy.

My first thought was to give this 4 stars. I was thinking "not AS great as Dark Matter but up there." I felt certain parts were a bit choppy, were a tiny bit forced...but damnit, I loved it too much to not give it 5 stars. Crouch is an insanely good storyteller.

A little bit Black Mirror, a little bit Inception...there's A LOT going on here. The way he can take a complex and what could probably be described as an overly ambitious concept and weave it together in such a seamless way is a testament to the genius bouncing around inside his mind. Because this IS complex stuff largely based around scientific theory of memory, how the mind works and how we perceive life and it's value in ourselves and in other people...it's very heavy. However, he manages to piece it all together in a way that works so well that it just flows so smoothly from the pages.

His characters are so fleshed out and personable, there is nothing one dimensional about the people he creates. Human beings are complicated and he captures that in spades every single time. Nothing is ever as cut and dry as "this person is good" or "this person is bad." No, no, human beings are never that simple and Crouch never dumbs them down for us. You will experience every emotion here...anger, sadness, love. I could not stop smiling when I read the last page.

It isn't a perfect book but when I think of the work put into it, the complexity of the themes and the concepts Crouch managed to put together in what is essentially an action packed sci-fi love story...I can give this nothing less than 5 stars. Bravo.

Loved this! Like Dark Matter, a page turning thriller that also keeps your mind engaged the entire ride. Compared to Dark Matter, Recursion had more of a focus on relationships which I really enjoyed.