Riders

by R.K. Brown

Miriam and Peter are riders, each possessing a rare genetic mutation which, once triggered by a near-death experience, enables them to "jump" from their old bodies and "ride" new ones. First meeting in the immediate aftermath of the infamous Strasbourg pogrom of February 14, 1349—the first Valentine's Day Massacre—they begin a love affair that spans nearly seven centuries and fourteen generations of hosts. Now, after spending over fifty years in the idyllic setting of Lake Mohawk, New Jersey, they prepare for a fresh start in Birmingham, Alabama, where they unexpectedly encounter another rider, a ruthless Egyptian named Anwar, whose evil plan centers on taking control of the United States presidency. With no way to communicate this threat to the rest of the world—who would believe their story?—Miriam and Peter must decide whether to run or to put their long lives at risk to stand and fight a sinister foe who will stop at nothing in his quest for power.
Suspenseful and romantic, Riders blends preternatural legends and actual historical events to weave an epic love story that transcends the confines of normal human existence.

360 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 20, 2018

About the author

also writes as Robert K. Brown

Reviews

[Carolyn Breckinridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Riders' is creepy fun, a good read anytime but especially exciting around Halloween which is about the time I’m finishing it. The premise of author R.K. Brown’s novel is that there are rare souls among us who can, at the instant of death, ‘hop’ into the body of another human who is in near proximity. These ‘riders,’ as they are known, maintain their unique identities despite taking on the physical appearances of their new hosts. Only other riders can identify one another via their reflections in mirrors, water, etc., because these reflections bear the physical identity of the original person. In this way the loving couple, Miriam and Peter, have (basically) secretly maintained their rider existences and their relationship for more than seven hundred years. When the couple relocates to Birmingham, Alabama, however, their lives complicate. They find themselves in the unusual situation of getting tangled in the lives of two other riders and a third person who has the genetic make up to ‘hop’ when her time for self-preservation comes. One of the riders, Anwar, threatens great harm to them and also to the political system of the United States, and thus, Miriam and Peter have to decide if they will disappear or fight to eradicate the evil they perceive. From the beginning this plot was based on an interesting premise but I didn’t fully engage with the characters, perhaps because the dialogue seemed somewhat forced/formal and brief references to Hitler felt a little over the top. However, as the story progressed the plot tempo increased, making it a true page-turner and the last few chapters are stellar, indeed, some of the best I’ve ever read. It is a well-written, editorially-clean book that requires its readers to accept that in this case, even the “good” characters are for all intents and purposes, serial killers over time. ‘Riders’ is the first in a series of three novels, and I’m definitely planning to read all three. Unique and interesting. A fun blend of reality and the supernatural. (Paperback edition).

[Mitzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story. Makes you think about the question , would you want to live forever? At what cost?