AUDIO

Past Crimes

Dreamscape Media. Feb. 2024. 10:24 hrs. ISBN 9781666655841. $17.99. SF
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Welcome to Earth+, a virtual world in the year 2037. The company Past Crimes doesn’t just let viewers watch a true crime documentary; they actually live it. Cassie West was one of those who licensed people’s tragedies for public consumption and dissection until her own life fell apart. Not only did she lose her husband, Harris, and their unborn child, but Harris also became known as the Vertex Ignis, a cult leader who had his followers self-immolate in an event known as the Blight. Ten years later, Cassie learns there may be a new Blight, and she goes to Past Crimes headquarters to try to avert another tragedy. While keeping the action moving at a brisk pace, Pinter (Hide Away) creates an imaginative future that seems alarmingly close at hand. Narrator Ellen Quay’s portrayal of Cassie, full of heart and bravery, emotionally grounds the story.
VERDICT This critique of social media culture and the widespread obsession with true crime is recommended for fans of sci-fi/thriller hybrids. Share with readers of Blake Crouch, Nick Harkaway, and Daniel Burke.
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