The Bottom Line: The author of Wayward Pines and Dark Matter delivers yet again, establishing Blake Crouch among the 21st Century’s elite authors.
There aren’t many authors who can deliver a jaw-dropping reveal like Blake Crouch, and the surprises in Recursion proves that he’s still writing at the top of his game. If you haven’t yet read Crouch, or seen the TV series based on his Wayward Pines series, he’s known for establishing worlds where reality isn’t quite what it seems. Memories are often in conflict with what the character is experiencing in real time, with devastating consequences.
In Recursion, New York City cop Barry Sutton investigates the devastating phenomenon the media has dubbed False Memory Syndrome—a mysterious affliction that drives its victims mad with memories of a life they never lived.
Meanwhile, brain scientist Helena Smith has dedicated her life to creating a technology that will let us preserve our most precious moments of our pasts. If she succeeds, anyone will be able to re-experience a first kiss, the birth of a child, the final moment with a dying parent.
To say much more enters into spoiler territory, but needless to say that humanity is faced with a terrifying threat, and the two characters – who could not be more different – will need to join forces to save humanity.
As with all Crouch books, Recursion is a quick read, with the hardcover edition clocking in at just 336 pages. Audiobook fans are in for a treat, as publisher Random House has gone the extra mile in employing excellent storytellersÂ
 
