I usually require a strong start for any novel. I was reading along OK for a while, enjoyed the world where self-driving cars were the law and young people were hacking them to take back control, but then I did a double-take when I was told the narrator's car went off the road and crashed into a light pole because the OS hadn't applied the most recent patch. Then we get into the infidelities and bedroom practices of the narrator and his wife for far too long and I'm done.

The Absolved by Matthew Binder is told through the eyes of Henri, an oncologist in the not-so-distant future where robots and other technological advances have taken over most of the world's jobs. I love the voice of Henri. He is a great narrator in this new world, being flawed and disillusioned and completely credible. If not for my love of this character and the incredible writing talent of Binder, I doubt I would have been able to finish this book. The story quickly falls flat and as interesting as Henri is as a character, he's not enough to carry the entire story.


I was provided an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.