James Litherland

REVIEW: Captures an earlier era style for a formula whodunit, complete with an isolated island mansion and a plethora of suspects. I had a little trouble with the added element of the time-traveling amateur sleuths. Although billed as a stand-alone, I may have gained a better understanding of the Watchbearers by reading the first two books. The book invites you to follow along with a twisted trail of clues until the killer is finally reviewed. Keeps you guessing until the very end. I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

DESCRIPTION, NOT REVIEW:
IN THE SUMMER OF 1992, tech billionaire Brandt Keener dies drinking a glass of wine while dining with his nearest if not dearest on his small private island off the Washington coast. Despite suspicious circumstances and an abundance of motives, the police find no evidence of homicide, and three weeks later the same people who were present at his death gather again for the reading of his will. Convinced the man was murdered, time-travelers Sam and Bailey inveigle themselves onto the island to investigate, but soon their best suspects start dying…… (mehr)

Third in the Miraibanashi trilogy, Endurance of the Free is smoother, faster reading than its predecessors, building confidently to its exciting conclusion. Themes are explored more deeply than in the other books as rebels seek to create something close to a perfect society. The balance between individual freedom and collective responsibility is nicely explored, in a world where collective responsibility has devolved into authoritarian control. As each step is programmed and planned, the rebels know their new world won't be “perfect—rules never could be—but the inherent authority to make decisions would belong to each individual…”

The spirituality behind rebellion is convincing too, low-key enough not to slow the story, but deep enough to give the narrative genuine meaning and direction. Japanese names and ideas blend very plausibly with Christian themes. And it's all set in a futuristic (but believable) world, where samurai skills are as important as talents with computers, and hope is hard, but not impossible to find.

The action is exciting. The arguments are intriguing. And the plot flows nicely forward, making this my favorite of the trilogy. With minimal but nicely sufficient backstory, it would be well worth reading on its own as well.

Disclosure: I was given a copy and I offer my honest review.… (mehr)

James Litherland’s Enemies of the Batsu continues a story begun in Whispers of the Dead, plunging the reader straight into a world of Japanese spies, Batsu overlords, and high-tech futuristic mystery. The characters’ introspective musings offer plenty of reminders of previous events, but readers would probably be advised to start the series at the beginning. So much has already happened, but now Roshike is a guard, risking all to protect both strangers and friends as he hides his true self in fierce anonymity. Meanwhile Seiko determines she “hadn’t maintained her cover here successfully for three years by allowing her feelings to override her training and judgment…” But sometimes judgement might not be sufficiently informed. Feelings could be what make us human. And “the right sort of guidelines actually help us live free.”

There are plenty of thought-provoking situations and ideas in this novel, which maintains a clear moral compass in spite of violence and deception. The story’s end is a powerful blend of the surprising and the inevitable, and I should enjoy reading more.

Disclosure: I was given an ecopy and I offer my honest review.… (mehr)