Excellent read! The story picks up where we left off in the first book, and--as always--the writing and storytelling is top notch!

The second of this series that I've read courtesy of netgalley, which provides advance copies in return for honest reviews. This is a rough book to review, the story arc is hard to follow and the characters hard to like, but with that said, it is surely a page-turner and I have to say that my overall impression is of an author trying hard to please. My final impression of this book was good, but only AFTER I had understood the key plot point.

The idea of memory and its feeling versus its recollection has been examined in many movies and books. The ideal of addiction versus euphoria can be a powerful drug. In Machine City [Scott J. Holliday/Thomas & Mercer/300pgs], the aspect of a serial killer manipulates its way into the fold. The interesting about the book is what it doesn’t tell you simply from the point of view of the novel’s storyteller. Like “Hardcore Henry”, if this was ever made into a film, it would be very effective as long as that texture was built into it. The Machine is a neural interface using serums that are injected in order to relive memories either uploaded to peer to peer site or recorded by others for profit. Of course there is a black market as well. The time period of the novel is not decidedly set but the outlawing of such addictive technology in a non-apocalyptic suburban setting speaks to a great socio-structural thought. There are underpinings of “IT” with the Eddie Able character being a weird mix of Howdy Doody and the character in the recent satire “Frank” as well as some texture of “Se7en”. The balance of darkness and psychological mischief has the underpinings of David Fincher. Detective Barnes is written within the standard of “do-it-right” cop but the path he takes and the eventual reveal per se really keeps you in the mind of the man, whatever personality he may be. There are drips of gallows humor which permeate the proceedings. The underlining details like Barnes’ slain brother from his childhood integrate with an interesting almost “Stand By Me” nostalgia which gives the novel an old school feeling while being a slight neo-noir where you are what you want to be even if you don’t know it. “Machine City” is an interesting journey through the mind of a detective who may or may not be on the correct path or perception of that which he is pursuing.

B+

By Tim Wassberg

When I saw that this book was coming out, I knew I had to read it. I was really excited, because I absolutely loved the first book. While this one is different, I'd like to think it's just as good but in a different way. Not as violent but still action packed and mysterious. I'm glad to get to know John Barnes all over again.

This time, there's a missing girl. John Barnes is now a former homicide detective, married with a child, working as a construction worker. He's been surgically repaired after the events of the last book, and the voices in his head have gone quiet for quite a while now. He has a son named Richard. It's been six years since the last book.

His new life is rocked, however, when three police officers show up on his doorstep to give him an envelope and ask him to come back on the now outlawed machine, as a favour. Of course, he's reluctant at first. But then he goes to get a pizza, and gets wrapped back up in it all once again. His wife isn't happy. It messed his head up bad last time, and she doesn't want to have to go through that again. But he knows what he has to do will probably save the missing girl and everyone surrounding her.

Desperate to finish an old scavenger hunt from his brother, he begins to unravel things in the world he didn't know were possible. A monster, dressed as a man. He begins hearing a strange new voice, who only pushes him to go on the machine more and more, to figure out the mystery. And I loved every single page of it.

The characters are amazing, and they always have been. That's not something that has changed. What has changed, however, is that they're not looking for a serial killer this time. No more going into victims minds, hunting down the person that killed them. This time, he's searching for a live victim. The story itself was breathtaking, and I couldn't put it down once I started it. It's everything I wanted it to be and more. I could really clearly see the surroundings they were in, and that's always something I enjoy.

Overall I absolutely loved this book, and I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next. I know that this is probably the end of this series, but it definitely makes me want to check out the other books by the same author. If you love exciting and dark mysteries that suck you in immediately, you're going to love this book. While I don't think you absolutely have to read the first book to understand this one, I think you'll definitely enjoy this book more if you do.

Thanks for reading!
(Radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com)

Working well for readers of mystery and crime novels, Machine City delivers a propulsive story that keeps us turning pages. Featuring a relatable main character, there is much to enjoy in this rich story.

Enjoyed the first book more. Struggled to read half then skipped to the end. The end seemed appropropriate.