When
I grow up I want to be Steven James.
There, I said it…and now there’s no taking it back. The only problem with that statement: I’m
already grown up and no matter how hard I try, none of my writing can hold a
candle to James’ style. Not even the
most basic words like “the” or “cat” seem to hold the same weight and tone as
he can deliver. Don’t believe me? Then I dare you to read the first chapter of
his newest novel, Placebo.
Story:
Protagonist
Jevin Banks, an ex-stage magician—who spends his time investigating
controversial televangelists and psychics for a TV show—stumbles onto a neurological
research program that focuses on mind to mind communication and Banks is dead
set on proving the research as a hoax.
What he finds once he’s there startles him. A small simple plot, as always with a Steven
James novel, unravels into something much more sinister and thrilling than when
it first begins. On top of that, Jevin
suffers from claustrophobia due to the loss of his family, which he spends his
time trying to come to terms with throughout the story. Add in a team of helpers for Jevin: Xavier, a
hippie who specializes in explosives; Fionna, who can crack any computer
security known to man; and Charlene, Jevin’s former stage assistant whose
beauty is rivaled by none, and you have yourself quite a psychological
thriller.
Thoughts:
If
you’ve read the Bowers series—if you haven’t; go out right now and pick up “The
Pawn”—then you will be quite familiar with his writing style. James’ prose is quick, precise, and forces
you to turn to the next page without you even knowing it. He’s one of the select few authors I read and
never have to look at the page numbers. You
know you’ve read those novels where the story is interesting and you want to
get to the end just to find out its secrets, but you still wonder how many
pages are left. Well, you can be rest
assured that this book will not do that to you.
Where
the Bowers series was grounded into the FBI investigative techniques and how
they harness tips/clues to find serial killers, Placebo steps into the realm of
Sci-Fi…but only slightly. James uses
research that exists today and stretches it almost to the point of snapping. Is there a lot of conversations spent talking
quantum physics? Yes. Will half of those words get lost on you,
like singles after a night spent in a strip club? Probably.
Does that stuff really matter if you want to know what the hell is going
on? No.
James
has a way of story-telling that allows him to express his idea to the simplest
of mind or if you fall into the high society arena, then also the most
complicated of brains. If you’re into
all the science/quantum physics jargon, then it’s all here for you, if not—if
you just want a fun, edge-of-your-seat thriller, than that’s here too.
Jevin
Banks’ character is a mix of Harry Houdini and Bruce Wayne. He’s close enough to the regular Joe, but has
those special qualities that allow him to overcome sticky situations. With his ability to overcome locks and make
deadly escapes (Houdini traits) and his knack for being filthy rich (Wayne
traits), there doesn’t seem to be anything Banks has trouble evading. Does the
character completely work? Close enough,
he might just be a little too much like Patrick Bowers in the cognizance sense.
What’s
excellent writing anyway?
There’s
a chapter in the story where a man struggles with his thoughts and instead of
the words coming off as a bunch of incoherent sentences, you can actually feel
the man struggling inside his head. This
is excellent writing. Something only James
has the experience to pull off without completely throwing the chapter out the
window.
More
thoughts:
The
whole arc of the story comes full circle at the end and leaves you with enough
questions to wonder when the next book in the series is on its way. Not to worry.
“Singularity” is due out fall 2013.
You’ll get some hints about where Jevin and his gang are headed, and you
might just be able to guess some twists that are on the horizon.
What
was Weird:
The
convictions of our protagonist had me a little doubtful. I can see being a magician and falling into
to trouble and then using your special skills to evade it, but throwing
yourself in the face of danger just because you want to know the facts, doesn’t
make any sense to me. What propels Banks
forward doesn’t propel me. I like to
know the truth, just as much as the next guy, but stepping in the line of
bullets, knives and fires, makes me want to stay home and watch movies, play
videogames and call the police so they can handle it. Instead out protagonist jumps at danger like
Rambo, except Rambo has the experience to gun-down hundreds of men with a .50
caliber and Banks can pick a lock.
Props
to James:
James
actually mentions Philadelphia in the book without making it look like a
terrible place to visit. Let’s be
serious, nobody really mentions Philly or includes it in their stories. Want to know why? Because once you get past Independence Hall
and the Nation building history, you have nothing left but hipsters riding
skateboards and trash filled streets.
Trust me; I’ve lived in and around Filthadelphia all my life and wouldn’t
move there again if you paid me in prostitutes, which can be found in abundance
in Philadelphia’s more classy areas.
Conclusion:
Placebo
is a wonderful book to start a fresh new series in, and should be a no-brainer
for the Steven James fan. The main character
can seem a little rehashed (See the Bowers Series) and the dialogue can cram
too much science at times, but that doesn’t take away from the excellent story-telling
that the novel contains. If you’re
looking for a well written thriller that includes slight Sci-Fi and doesn’t disappoint,
then Placebo is where to begin.
3.5
out of 5 stars (minus a star for science jargon and a half for the slightly
interchangeable Banks & Bowers)
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