by Louise Carey

Gollancz, out now

A young investigator on her first mission discovers far more than she should…

Louise Carey’s debut novel for Gollancz throws the reader straight into the world of InTech as Tanta eagerly prepares for her first mission, engaging our interest with talk of telepathy (or an electronic version thereof,) and corporate espionage. It’s not countries that will be pitting themselves against each other in the future she postulates, but corporations, and the way in which the United Kingdom has been divided feels all too real.

We see InTech, their rivals ThoughtFront and the world through the eyes not just of young Tanta, but also her “mentor” Cole (who’s not so keen on the outside world), and the relationship between the two of them is well developed, without falling into some of the cliché traps. The action sequences are well done, but it’s the character work that keeps you reading – Tanta’s progression through the story brings the reader is charted credibly.

We don’t get all the answers – some of the backstory remains just that little bit out of reach to piece together – but we’re fed enough, as the protagonists start to discover truths that were best kept hidden, to keep wanting to know more.

Verdict: Avoiding some of the traps inherent in a dystopian cyberpunk environment, Carey has created a fascinating world that you’ll ironically enjoy visiting. 8/10

Paul Simpson

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