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Flashover

by Gordon Highland (Goodreads Author)

4.57 of 5 stars 4.57 · rating details · 23 ratings · 16 reviews

Electrocution and a two-story fall from a church rooftop leave former musician Tobe Mohr deaf, burned, and broken. A guilt-wracked priest invites him to live in the vacant rectory during his recovery, where many townsfolk believe Tobe — despite his own skepticism — has developed clairvoyance in his return from death. Adapting to rural life after having toured the world’s s...more

Paperback, 276 pages

Published April 23rd 2012 by CreateSpace

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Aug 04, 2012 Caleb Ross rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: guilty-by-association

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This, Gordon Highland’s second novel, contains all the quick-pacing of an airport bestseller with the methodical attention to sentence structure and language of a high-literary life’s work. Though the premise isn’t earth-shattering in its concept (the author would tell you this himself) the execution of the premise is absolutely unique. Not much can be said here without spoiling, so I’ll leave the official synopsis to speak for...more

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Jan 10, 2013 Ripley rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Gordon Highland’s Flashover came to my attention through Caleb J. Ross’ video review. Given Ross and myself are alumni of the same post-secondary institute and Highland’s close proximity to my house I decided to read the novel on my new Kindle. My library needed something a little sexier than City of God and Treasure Island. Flashover focuses on Tobe Mohr, a Kansas City based musician who develops the ability to see a person’s memories through touch after a lightning strike (not too dissimilar...more Gordon Highland’s Flashover came to my attention through Caleb J. Ross’ video review. Given Ross and myself are alumni of the same post-secondary institute and Highland’s close proximity to my house I decided to read the novel on my new Kindle. My library needed something a little sexier than City of God and Treasure Island. Flashover focuses on Tobe Mohr, a Kansas City based musician who develops the ability to see a person’s memories through touch after a lightning strike (not too dissimilar from Quinlan Vos’ main Force power), and Sera/Sarah, the central desire for Tobe in his life after near electrocution. The secondary cast includes a Catholic priest who cares for the shocked Tobe, the protagonist’s cheapshit father, Sarah’s child Dacey, and the various possible fathers of said pre-pubescent. Sarah’s mysterious disappearance precipitates a ceaseless chase by Tobe while the author reveals Sarah’s backstory through prequel segments to Tobe’s present.
The plot does not find sure footing until Tobe is struck by Zeus. Tobe’s initial realization to the transfiguration of his body is the strongest section of the novel. Highland hits the high notes when Tobe’s self-actualization sinks in over the permanent course correction of his life.
Sarah’s concurrent origin story is the little seed growing into Flashover’s spine, and it is shown to the audience by Highland’s temporal tom foolery. I found Sarah’s sections a bit flat as a character. She worked better as the McGuffin than a narrator commenting on the hows and whys her and her child ended up in the story. Tobe’s bafflement at the Rashomon of reality gave enough mystery to the reader. While the following statement might seem contrary to the paragraph I typed, the final Sarah’s scenes towards the novel’s dénouement were excellent. Highland injected new life into the morbid trunk scene sub-genre.
The novel’s final third, when the plot threads start producing a multicolored quilt, increases the pace as the Mohracle races forward to ultimate conclusion and apotheosis. Highland hits the lever with many memorable scenes, including the trunk of terror. Flashover’s concluding chapter is a bit of a weak water balloon. The fates of the surviving characters are spelled out for the audience. This epilogue ties the final strings together into a bow, but the bow is not necessary.
Upon concluding the novel I thought about the narrative arrangement of the intermixing timelines alongside the titular otherworldly power bestowed upon Tobe. Given the focus on Tobe’s growth back into humanity after his accident I found the imposition of the supernatural alongside the blended chronological arrangement mildly superficial, almost irrelevant to the emotional focus at Flashover’s core. I felt similar feelings when I read Ross’ Stranger Will. The philosophical crossing Will created between him and Mrs. Rose is a strong enough dichotomy not requiring the crackpot Jim Jones plot. Perhaps I am simply a much more conservative reader than I give myself credit for. Returning to thesis, the balkanization and mutation of the plot will interest most readers while I found them intriguing yet ultimately not as vital as some readers will contend.
I rate Flashover a three out of the five because Highland shows promise as a young writer who illustrates a strong foundation for growth as a novelist. Despite some criticisms, I enjoyed the novel, and I am looking forward to Highland’s next project.

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Oct 18, 2012 Richard Thomas rated it 5 of 5 stars

Grounded in reality with elements of the supernatural, Flashover is a funny, touching and satisfying read. This is not your typical mystery or thriller. Nor can it sit squarely in science fiction, either. It’s a literary mash-up, one that holds your attention, while at the same time, forcing you to pay attention. You will be challenged, but that’s a good thing. The language is a mix of poetic lyricism and straightforward, hard-boiled, no-nonsense grit. And just when you think the story is going...more

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Jun 22, 2012 Peter Goutis rated it 5 of 5 stars

In Flashover we have a story about a man called Tobe Mohr who, through an almost fatal accident, has been given a gift to see into people’s minds. From his point of view though, it’s nothing special. He only sees what is already there. He only sees what people already know. It’s just that, sometimes the people may not want to admit what they know - to themselves or to others.

Like most stories, it’s a love story. His love, she disappears one day. His new mission is to find out where she went and...more In Flashover we have a story about a man called Tobe Mohr who, through an almost fatal accident, has been given a gift to see into people’s minds. From his point of view though, it’s nothing special. He only sees what is already there. He only sees what people already know. It’s just that, sometimes the people may not want to admit what they know - to themselves or to others.

Like most stories, it’s a love story. His love, she disappears one day. His new mission is to find out where she went and why she left him.

When describing this book, it’s hard to do it justice. The story doesn’t sound like much - a man goes on a journey to find the girl he loves and we discover what happened to her. But Gordon is really good at plotting. This story isn’t linear. It jumps all over the place time-wise. And there are multiple characters we follow through these timelines. The time ranges from well before Tobe’s accident, to I think about 5-6 years after it. It’s done so well though, that it never needs explaining where we are in time. It’s done with subtle clues each time, so as to never make you feel lost when a new section starts out. It’s handled masterfully. Never once did I have to question what was going on. But also, I never felt like I was being spoon-fed the story.

Another area that Gordon shines is how clever the writing is - it’s tight and metaphorical. There are little things for people who are really paying attention. There are clever things that will make you chuckle. There are things sprinkled throughout to give you clues. If you catch them, you can start to guess at some of the connections.

More than a love story though, this becomes a mystery or thriller and a tale of personal discovery. It becomes many things. There are elements of the supernatural. There are elements of philosophy, metaphysics, touches of theology - yes, there’s a lot going on here. And it’s all tied together seamlessly.

There are all these hints sprinkled throughout the whole book about how all these people are connected and what’s really happening. They start getting pieced together about halfway through. And each one, you get this moment where you realize what’s happening. And then Gordon digs the hole a little deeper, giving you more to discover.

I can see myself recommending this book to just about anyone who reads. This book is written so well, with so many great elements, it’s got a lot of crossover potential. This book is written as if Gordon is a career author. But this is only his 2nd book - his first being Major Inversions. I’m sure we can expect many more great things from him in the future.(less)

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Aug 24, 2012 Irina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Wow! I have only just finished the book, and that's all my mind can form right now, but I'll give it a try.
Flashover is captivating, it's surprising and very very well-written. You don't get bored for half a sentence, you never know what to expect, but yet you're somehow always connected to the time frame of every sequence. How? I can't tell exactly, but you just know. The story goes back and forth, but it's never chaotic. It's never dull. And the style... that's some serious good writing right...more

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Sep 03, 2012 Shane rated it 3 of 5 stars

DISCLAIMER: I was provided a copy of the e-book version in exchange for a review of this book.

Tobe Mohr was a normal guy, with a normal job, and a normal future when he had the accident. Now he's scarred, deaf, and clairvoyant. The community sees his clairvoyance as a gift, Tobe isn't quite as sure. A new living situation, compliments of the priest of the church where he had his accident, leads Tobe to a relationship with Sera and her daughter. When they disappear from his life, Tobe's search fo...more

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Jan 04, 2013 Michael rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, literature

Gordon Highland's second novel is a surprise in many ways. While you may be expecting something a little more supernatural or fast-paced without a great deal of character, the book quickly reveals that it has other plans. It's actually a rather slow burn, delving into characters and backgrounds right from the start, and the story doesn't kick into high gear until around the halfway mark. But the characters are endearing, and drive you to explore the tangle of events that brings them to the fated...more

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Sep 01, 2012 Tracy Fleming-Swehla rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Karen Sage, Stanci Soderstrom, Heather Landes

Recommended to Tracy by: Gordon Highland

Shelves: ghosts-spirits-angels, mystery, fiction

I want to explain why I liked this story so much, but I really don’t want to give any spoilers! So I’m going to start out with: Just Read it. Not only is the plot interesting, and filled with unpredictability, but the references to music and “pop culture” make this a fun story that keeps the reader paying attention so as not to miss a detail. For me, there were two read-worthy aspects to this story. Obviously, the plot being one of those – and that’s what I can’t talk about because you must expe...more

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Sep 03, 2012 Simon West-bulford rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: author-friends

Tobe Mohr, a guy dismissive of an unusual gift he receives after a near-fatal accident fixing a church roof, is missing the love of his life: Sera. Throughout the narrative, his supernatural gift is downplayed considerably, which gives the story a healthy dose of realism. His new ability seems almost natural - an understandable bodily compensation for his loss of hearing, and whilst reading, I found myself constantly wondering just how much of it was Tobe’s natural empathy/intuition and how much...more

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Jan 16, 2013 Paul Eckert rated it 5 of 5 stars

So if you've read any summaries of this book, you know that a guy named Tobe Mohr has a near-death experience which leaves him with a interesting ability. Having read that, you may think you know where the story is going - the guy develops this ability into a power, and then uses this power to save someone in trouble, and at the end he comes to terms with his ability and finds a niche where he can live his life comfortably. But that's not this story.

Flashover does not dwell on Tobe or his abili...more So if you've read any summaries of this book, you know that a guy named Tobe Mohr has a near-death experience which leaves him with a interesting ability. Having read that, you may think you know where the story is going - the guy develops this ability into a power, and then uses this power to save someone in trouble, and at the end he comes to terms with his ability and finds a niche where he can live his life comfortably. But that's not this story.

Flashover does not dwell on Tobe or his ability, but it his ability that holds the story together. The story concentrates on the lives of three main characters and a strong cast of minor characters, alternating between past and present, how their lives intersect, and the consequences of those intersections.

That summary does no justice to the book, but really no summary really can. The fascinating thing about Gordon Highland's work is that you find yourself lost in the story without really thinking about what the plot is or where the story is heading until you're almost at the end. You care about the characters, and things happen, and all the pieces form a vague picture. About three quarters in something big happens, and you can see how all the threads that came before form a complete tapestry, and it's all you can do to follow it to the end to see the whole picture. There are no morals to be learned, no twist endings. The magic of Highland's work is that it's a unique experience in storytelling. Too often writers want to make a point with their story, but Highland chooses instead to dazzle the reader with the art of losing oneself outside the confines of reality.

Highland's prose is almost impeccable, the only hiccups coming in some of the "flashover" sequences which felt unnecessarily stilted. What amazes me is the way he can maintain a certain tone over the course of a book, and then comes a chapter that is so tense and horrifying that it made me squirm in my seat. These words have power.

I only had a few nitpicks about the story by the end. I wished Tobe's ability had been explored a little bit more, and that I had understood more what it meant to him. Also, I felt there was a key scene missing toward the end that, given Tobe's mission for the entire book, we really should have experienced with him. But overall these were small bumps on an interesting journey.

I'd recommend Flashover to someone who is patient and loves to lose themselves inside characters' lives, and who appreciates that storytelling isn't just well structured sentences, that it's a ride with the power to engage all of our senses in the power of imagination.(less)

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Aug 19, 2012 Edward rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: crime, neo-noir, sci-fi, transgressive

I was highly impressed with this novel. An excellent read from a very talented writer. Flashover has a non-linear plot told from different perspectives of the characters from diffferent points in their lives. Highland pulls it all together gracefully without ever confusing you. The book is very literary at times, but also has a dash of scifi thrown in, due to the lead characters ability to see into peoples past by touching them. Also a love story, a mystery and a major crime are all mixed in. I...more

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Oct 18, 2012 Michael Gonzalez rated it 5 of 5 stars

Call it time travel. Call it disjointed narrative. Call it a mystery. A love story. A comedy. Tragi-comedy. Tragedy. Flashover wears many masks and wears them well. Tobe Mohr survived a freak accident that’s left him with the ability to read people. Not quite seeing their past or future, but understanding what they’ve done. It’s a gift he uses reluctantly to get by in his recovery, one that eventually leads him on a road to discovering more about the whereabouts of the woman he loved. Like his p...more

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May 28, 2012 Bookedpodcast rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Hear our full review here: http://www.bookedpodcast.com/2012/05/...

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May 28, 2012 Robb rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Check out http://www.bookedpodcast.com for all of my book reviews.

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Jul 19, 2012 Jack rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned

This book has a lot of twists and turns. It is hard to write a review of it without giving anything away. A non-linear timeline is used very well, which is saying something, because that sort of literary technique can backfire in a hurry. Speaking of literary, Highland is a very literary writer, and at times you find passages are are more art than storytelling, but these are generally used very well as part of the "flash" sequences.

Head on over to Amazon and check it out. It's a good price for...more

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Apr 28, 2012 Gordon rated it 5 of 5 stars · (Review from the author)

If I don't believe in it myself, how could I possibly expect anyone else to?

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May 20, 2013 Inkwellmonster marked it as to-read

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Apr 21, 2013 Ipsith rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Apr 01, 2013 Matthew Vaughn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, general-fiiction

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Dec 19, 2012 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

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About Gordon Highland

Gordon Highland is the author of the novels Flashover and Major Inversions, a columnist for ManArchy Magazine, and has published short stories in Word Riot, Warmed and Bound, Noir at the Bar Vol. 2, In Search of a City, Solarcide, and others. He lives in the Kansas City area, where he makes videos by day and music by night.

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