A unique protagonist, an interesting plot, and good tension made this an unusual thriller. Eddie, who is high functioning neurodiverse has developed omething the government and others want. Will he be able to use it as he wants and will he survive? No spoilers. A good read.

A fairly decent book. It's not exactly the most entertaining but the concept and overall story was rather well done. I enjoyed it a bit more than I thought I would.

Publication Date: June 1st, 2018. Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Harmony House is a think-tank for high-functioning autistic people. Eddie Parks is a resident who has invented an “echo box” that can recreate sounds that were never recorded. He longs to hear the sound of his dead mother’s voice. Though Eddie’s intentions are pure, he has inadvertently created something that could jeopardize national security, and it becomes clear that the intentions of the institute are less than altruistic. This fast-paced thriller delivers as Eddie and Dr. Skylar Drummond endeavour to keep the “echo box” out of the wrong hands.

High-functioning autism is something that is rarely portrayed with this level of competency in a book. I was thrilled with how well it was written into the story.

This book is a good choice for people who enjoy science fiction and thriller novels with realistic dialogue and interesting characters. It looses some points for the plotting, which was a little scattered, but overall it was an enjoyable read.

This book is the first of a proposed two book series. The ending left me excited to read the next book, which is due in 2019, even though the ‘cliffhanger’ is not what you would call a nail-bitter.

Thank you to Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer for an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

Grade: B

Excellent concept, very well written and engaging. I'm already looking forward to reading more by this author. Well researched.

First and foremost, the editing and completion of this novel is top of the line! When one reads so many ARCs there tend to be typical hurdles you have to overcome with regards to shoddy or incomplete editing and formatting - Speed of Sound did not suffer from this at all.

Past this, Bent has created a very singularly unique story that was a real treat and pleasure to read and be a part of. My nephew has autism and it was so refreshing to see such a realistic portrayal of high functioning autism. Not only that but what a delight that he's a 'super hero' of sorts. I've already suggested this book to my sister and I'm sure she's going to absolutely love it. I found the way Bent portrayed Eddie to be thought-provoking and insightful to say the absolute least.

This was an easy quick read that didn't fall flat because of it. The story is very well developed and for the most part enjoyable from start to finish. There were a few moments that all of the twists got a bit convoluted but it didn't take away from my overall feelings in the end. In an age of government conspiracy being very popular I think this is a well timed release for a book. The implications of the "echo box" are far reaching and it left me asking a lot of "what ifs" throughout. I always enjoy when a book makes me think and discuss those implications with people around me - and this is definitely one of those books!

This was a decent thriller – not pulse-pounding, not enough for you to pull a Joey and place the book in the freezer – but it’s fast-paced, undemanding, and would definitely keep you on your toes for the duration. But before we delve into the minutiae, a bit about the plot …

Synopsis
So we first meet Dr. Skylar Drummond. She’s a psychologist at the top of her field. She’s got all the right credentials, she’s damn attractive and she’s got a good-looking professor of English waiting for her in New York. So far, so predictable.

Dr. Drummond has managed to secure herself a lucrative position at Harmony House – a sort of retreat for high-functioning autistic geniuses that’s banked by the government in the hope that one day they might provide something truly groundbreaking.

Well, one of them is about to, and his name is Eddie Parks.

He’s socially awkward, has a fondness for birds and is a ‘walking lie detector’. And he’s about five minutes away from creating something that will fulfil his lifelong dream of hearing his dead mother’s voice.

He’s also about five minutes away from creating something that’s every intelligence agency’s wet dream. And he’s been five minutes away for about 10 years.

So Dr Drummond is the retreat’s latest ‘let’s try something new’ approach.

And it works. And that’s when the shit hits the fan. Someone dies. Shadowy forces emerge. And before too long, Doc and Eddie are on the run …

Review

I enjoyed Speed of Sound. It’s one of those perfect thrillers for the commute – short chapters, easy language, straightforward storyline – so much so that you tear through the pages pretty damn quickly.

The plot is solid and has enough substance for it not to seem forced. And Park’s quasi-sci-fi invention at the heart of the story is very intriguing. I could fully understand why all the spooks would go nuts for it and it works as a device to propel the story forward. And while it’s really far fetched and seems like such an odd idea when thrown into the mix of a pretty standard thriller, it serves its purpose and allows for a gripping chase setup.

But while it is pacy and exciting, I think the characters are a bit meh. They’re not awful – there is characterisation – but they’re not really anything I haven’t seen before. Skylar’s character is trusty stock in thrillers – bright, attractive, dynamic – and at the end of the day largely predictable. The other characters are two dimensional but serve their purpose. The only real exception is Eddie.

Bernt goes to great lengths to realise Eddie’s world, or at least how the world appears to him. We see him give scores to the canteen food, use prime numbers as the rationale for choosing a taxi cab, and memorise stock phrases in order to get through awkward social situations. We also see him beat himself bloody when the world gets too much for him. You see this from Eddie’s perspective and how this works for him. You also see how it agitates the average denizens of Harmony House and the wider world. It makes it very easy for you to empathise with him, and his difficulties trying to function in a world that wasn’t made for people like him. And his life’s mission is so wonderfully innocent – to hear the voice of his mother. It’s ironically beautiful that a man who struggles to connect with the people around him should harbour an all-encompassing need to hear his mother speak. It’s this innocence and vulnerability, and how it’s preyed upon by those looking to capitalise on his work, that makes us root for him. It works, it’s convincing and it does serve to drive the plot.

To Bernt’s credit, Skylar is a much more rounded individual in her moments with Eddie as well. Each of them brings out the best in the other, so much so that Eddie seems a very different, more evolved person by the end of the book. It’s these intimate moments that linger in the memory, more so than the flashier set pieces more typical of your standard thriller. These tropes are in place, and they are exciting, but they don’t have nearly the same power.

The only thing that’s really off is the ending. It leaves on a cliffhanger which doesn’t come off because it’s so ridiculously incoherent. It doesn’t really upend the story as a whole, which gets tied off fairly well, but I imagine this was meant to lead off into a sequel. Instead, you’re just left scratching your head. Not the end of the world, but in any other book it might have been.

Round-up

A decent, entertaining thriller – it won’t win awards but it’ll keep you gripped and it won’t demand too much of your brain matter. It’s perfect fodder for those who love the genre and for those looking for an easy read for that holiday break.

***

Eric Bernt's book, The Speed of Sound is quite a thriller. The first 1/3 of the book introduces the characters, their back stories and their various motives. From then on, the action and suspense is fast and furious. A very exciting and thought provoking book. Since this is book 1, I am anxious to see what Bernt will have for us next. I was given a copy of this book and have voluntarily reviewed it. #TheSpeedOfSound #NetGalley

Thrilling, engaging, and great premise. I thoroughly recommend this book to lovers of thrill and suspense. And as a mother of a high functioning autistic boy, I wasn't as annoyed by the description of Eddie, a 20 something autistic academic, as I usually am.

First, thank you Netgalley for the copy to read. The Speed of Sound, although starting off slowly, gradually picked up steam and was a fast-moving, action packed book. The idea of an echo box is brilliant, and it's amazing how one person's desire to just hear his mom sing, can turn in to multi-agency mouse hunt. I can see the security implications of a device like this, but Eddie just wanted to hear his mom.

The author was able to create compassion for Eddie. The struggle for Eddie to deal with the outside world must have been difficult for him, and Eric Bernt did a great job of describing that. Sometimes we forget that some people don't understand slang or phrases like "i can't believe my eyes." Eddie would question that phrase.

The ending, for me, was too ambiguous for me. If there is a sequel, I get the need for some suspense to bring you to book 2, but as a stand-alone book, it left me with an audible groan. Good premise, good story, and can't wait to read book 2!

Cat and mouse drama surrounding an astounding device craved by just about anyone and every one, A technological holy grail? Likely, but the uncovering of the multitude of forces in play makes one wonder!

I found this book to be a fascinating look into the world of autism as well as a great fictional suspense book. Skylar is hired by Dr. Fenton to be the new psychologist at Harmony House a special place for special people. Eddie Parks has resided there ever since his childhood and is an autistic savant. Eddie has always wanted to hear his mother's voice since she died when giving birth to him so he builds an archeological audio tool called an echo box. The government is looking on and wanting Eddie's technology for themselves. Skylar and Eddie work with a detective to keep Eddie and the box safe as various groups try to capture them and steal the box for themselves. The only problem with the book is there is an open ending leading to a sequel that doesn't come out till next year. But when it does I will eagerly read it.