I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Recursion by Blake Crouch Published by Crown Publishing Group on June 11 2019
Genres: Adult, Science fiction
Pages: 336
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
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The nitty-gritty: Time and memory overlap in Blake Crouch’s latest sci-fi thriller, a story that is sure to keep readers up well past their bedtimes.
Blake Crouch has done it again! I’ve been reading a bunch of five-star reviews for Recursion and I couldn’t wait to see what all the fuss was about. Well, I’m happy to say they all got it right. Recursion was one of the best thrillers I’ve ever read, a twisty, time hopping story that got better and better as it progressed. Crouch wowed us several years ago with Dark Matter, another scientific thriller that blew my mind, and it seems lightning has struck twice. This time he takes on the subject of memories and their power to change reality, and once again he’s written a book that will undoubtedly end up as one of my favorite books of the year.
The story alternates between two main characters. In 2018, Barry Sutton is a detective, divorced from his wife Julia for the past eleven years after the traumatic death of their sixteen-year-old daughter Meghan. When the story starts, Barry is called to the forty-first floor of a highrise to stop a woman from jumping off the edge. She claims to have False Memory Syndrome, an illness that makes you think you’ve lived more than one life. The clash of both lives in her mind is too much to bear, and she ends up jumping, even though Barry attempts to stop her.
In another timeline, in 2007, a neuroscientist named Helena Smith is working on a way to map and preserve a person’s memories, influenced by her own mother who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. One day, Helena is approached by a man who seems to know everything about her and her research. He offers Helena a job working for a man named Marcus Slade, a billionaire who will be able to fund Helena’s project and help her realize her ultimate dream of curing her mother’s disease. Helena is suspicious of the deal, but she knows she can’t turn down this once in a lifetime opportunity, so she agrees to leave everything and everyone behind to move to a secret research facility and work with a select team of scientists.
Barry makes a discovery after reading an old police report that leads him to think that there’s more to False Memory Syndrome than meets the eye. This sends him down a rabbit hole that leads to one dangerous event after another, as he chases not only the truth but his own grief-filled memories. Meanwhile, Helena’s team has stumbled upon something amazing during their research, something that in the wrong hands could spell disaster.
Eventually Barry’s and Helena’s timelines converge, leading to some truly mind-bending storytelling. I really can’t say more, because I wouldn’t want to spoil your enjoyment of this book (and you will read it, or I’m coming after you!). Let’s just say Crouch’s story never went where I thought it was going to go, which made this a thrilling read from start to finish.
Crouch has done a ton of research for this book, and he even mentions in his Acknowledgments that the core idea was based on the scientific research of two MIT neuroscientists who were able to implant a false memory in the brain of a mouse. He takes this idea about manipulating memories and runs with it, using relatable characters who all have a stake in the success of Helena’s visionary dream. At times the scientific jargon went over my head, but honestly, I just went with it. As futuristic as it may seem, all of the science makes sense, which is pretty scary! Crouch also takes the old idea of déjà vu and builds a fascinating idea around it. I mean, haven’t we all experienced déjà vu at one time or another? What if there was a more sinister explanation behind those feelings? Crouch takes his idea and blows it up into something terrifyingly plausible, an idea that shook me to the core.
In addition to the mechanical precision of the plot, we also get plenty of great characterization and emotion, which for me always elevates a thriller from simply being a fun read to something I can relate to on an emotional level. Barry and Helena both have (and had) beloved people in their lives who motivate them to keep trying—Barry’s daughter and Helena’s mother—and I wanted them to succeed. There’s even a very cool connection between the two of them, despite the fact that they exist years apart when we first meet them, and that added another wonderful layer to the story. Then there’s the villain, Marcus Slade, a man who wants to play God and meddle in things he probably shouldn’t be meddling in. But with the power of a vast fortune behind him, Slade not only thinks he can do whatever he wants, but he blackmails others into going along with his warped ideas.
The last chapters of the book were actually stressful to read—so much is happening and the potential for things to go wrong is overwhelming—but I loved the way Crouch ended his story. Perfectly paced with shocking surprises, emotional resonance, and scientific ideas that will make your head spin, Recursion should be on everyone’s “must read” list.
Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.
Yay! glad you loved it too, Tammy! 🙂
So far I’ve yet to read anything negative about it:-)
Sounds like he has a great followup hit. I haven’t even read Dark Matter yet but looks like I have another to add to the TBR as well.
Both are really fun, and mind bending if you like that!
Read a lot of 5-star reviews about this book. need to get a copy of this soon. Btw, I liked your use of the phrase “it seems lightning has struck twice.” 🙂
Debjani recently posted…Little Girls Sleeping by Jennifer Chase – Review
Ha ha, I was definitely happy that I loved this just as much as Dark Matter, so I thought the lightning comparison was apt:-)
Great review! This is such a terrific book. I agree, the last few chapters were SO stressful to read… don’t want to get into spoiler territory and say why, but as certain things happened again and again, I was practically hyperventilating. Loved this book! Blake Crouch is going to be a go-to author for me from now on.
That repetition at the end just about KILLED me!
Sounds like an excellent read. I also loved Dark Matter. Have you read his Pines series? I never see anyone talk about that series (granted, it’s really old) but that one always sounded interesting too. I did like the show they eventually made it into.
I haven’t read Wayward Pines but I sort of would like to go back and check it out. I think those books are quite different from his two latest.
I definitely want to read them too! Just a matter of finding the time. Lol
I’m sorry to butt in but I couldn’t help it- I think you guys would like Wayward Pines. Those books were similar to these in that he gets you thinking and they’re really twisty. I wouldn’t say they’re as good as this or Dark Matter, but close.
I’m definitely going to try Wayward Pines, Greg! Plus I don’t want to wait another 2-3 years before his next book comes out:-)
I’m so happy you loved it, and I loved your review, Tammy! I have this coming up and I’m really looking forward to it!
Cool, this is a fun, crazy read, hope you enjoy it!
A five-stars review for a book I was eagerly looking out for is very, very encouraging. And I love the core concept, especially since I enjoyed “Inception”, which used a similar theme about memory manipulation. This is going to be a great read, I can feel it…
Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Maddalena@spaceandsorcery recently posted…Short Story Review: THE ATONEMENT PATH, by Alex Irvine
I think you’ll love it! I will be on the lookout for your thoughts when you do:-)
Sounds like it could be more scientific than I can handle but cool. Glad you enjoyed it! I never made it through Pines when I tried it…lol. I still need to give this author another try some day.
I’ve never tried Wayward Pines, but I do want to one of these days.
I just read Greg’s stellar review as well – so that’s two strong rec’s for this one.
Karen @ For What It’s Worth
Definitely a book to pick up if you like this sort of thriller:-)
This guy has got me now as an auto buy author. I loved Dark Matter, and this was an absolute trip. Definitely one of my favorites too. Sooo thought provoking!
Some of th stuff was heartbreaking towards the end as well, wasn’t it? Crouch is a master at not only this mind twisty stuff but also making you care about the characters.
The deja vu thing blew my mind, and I LOVED his theoretical take on what it could mean. Wouldn’t that be awesome and terrifying at the same time? Such a mindbender.
Greg recently posted…Recursion
He’s such an all around great writer, and one reason I love everything I’ve read of his so far. His books just check all the boxes.
Yay, I’m so glad you read it and loved it! I agree with you about the stressfulness of the final chapters. I couldn’t put it down at that point. And the ending, the last page made me tear up, I won’t lie. It sort of had that 11/22/63 ending feel, if you know what I mean 🙂
It was so emotional! That’s one reason I gave it five stars, that emotional punch always makes a book better:-)
Sounds great, just added it to my list. It’s always fascinating to see where authors take us when starting with a nugget of current science and extrapolating and imagining from there.
I agree, the best science fiction really makes you think!
I have this on my reading pile and am so excited to read it. Great review!
Laura Thomas recently posted…Summer means sharks… Emperors Of The Deep by William McKeever ~ Giveaway
Yay, hope you love it, Laura!
What a great review 🙂 I still haven’t read Dark Matter (although it’s on the list for sure), but this one sounds like something I’d want to read too. Although I do worry about both books being tense, cause I have anxiety issues sometimes. But it sounds like it’s still well worth it!
I can’t speak for how it might affect your anxiety, but I will say things end very well, maybe that will help??
Yep, that helps, thanks 🙂
Oooh. Well, now I definitely have to add this one because I did love Dark Matter quite a bit and this one seems like it’s just as good. He writes really different, out there concepts and I kind of love that.
This story is just bonkers, so much fun and lots of excitement!
I will have to grab a copy of this – you and Mogsy loved it so why wouldn’t I?
Lynn 😀
You’ll love it too!
Ahhh this sounds so incredibly good! I haven’t read Dark Matter yet (I know I know!) but I’ll 1000% be trying this one this year. So no need to come for me! 😀
Both are so good, and really they aren’t related at all so you can start with either one:-)
It was wild, wasn’t it? And I agree wholeheartedly about those final chapters. Definitely stressful and I couldn’t go to bed the night I was reading it until I knew how it would end. Fantastic review!
Suzanne @ The Bookish Libra recently posted…Review: CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT by Brigid Kemmerer
Thanks! Yes, very stressful. He really knows how to make readers crazy!
Oooh, yay 🙂
Can’t wait to read it! Really loved Dark Matter, so i have high hopes 🙂
Me too, I don’t know which was better, they both were so much fun!
AHHHHH, I am so glad you enjoyed this one so much! I have been really interested in reading this one but have been burned by my last few scifi thrillers, so now I know I can dive in with relatively no fear. Great review!
Kal @ Reader Voracious recently posted…American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century by Maureen Callahan
I’ve been oddly reluctant to try Blake Crouch’s books, and I’ve juust realised that it’s because of the covers. That is to say, this review paints such a compelling picture of the story and characters! It brought home that the reason for my reluctance had nothing to do with the books themselves. I should add it to my tbr.
He doesn’t have the best covers, you’re right. But don’t let that stop you, his books are so addictive!
Having an unreliable memory is something I can relate to–I often misplace my glasses!
Okay, I’m hooked. You had me when you mentioned the implantation of a false memory in a mouse. I love when authors do truly detailed research. Great review!
Michelle Willms recently posted…Review of Swann’s Down by Charles Salzberg w/giveaway
This sounds like such a good book! Very unique – really need to get ahold of this one
*shuffles, looking embarrassed* I haven’t read anything by Blake Crouch, yet… I now know I NEED to! Thank you for an inspiring review – literally!
This sounds amazing! Thank you for the review 🙂
Love the premise of saving memories, especially for those with Alzheimers. My father fell victim to this disease and I am curious to read (even in a fictional novel) ideas of how to make it real!
You had me at “secret research facility” and “mind bending”. I like books that make you think.