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The Man with All the Answers
From the author of Audible #1 bestsellers In The Darkness, That’s Where I’ll Know You, The Physics of the Dead, and The Stone Man (shortlisted for the Audible Audiobook of the Year award 2015)
He seems to know everything you want before you do.
He’s insightful, kind, and understands you in ways you don’t even understand yourself.
He’s everything you ever dreamed of. But there’s always a catch,About the friends that died in its creation.
About the terrible price he’s had to pay.
Audible Book of the Year Nominee Luke Smitherd returns for the first time in over three years with a tale of psychic mystery and science fiction romance.
What would you do if the Man with All the Answers fell in love with you?
Praise for KILL SOMEONE:
"For a jaded reader, there is no greater thrill than to experience a story that takes you down an unexpected, unexplored path... Smitherd once again proves himself a master at his craft."—Ain't It Cool News
He seems to know everything you want before you do.
He’s insightful, kind, and understands you in ways you don’t even understand yourself.
He’s everything you ever dreamed of. But there’s always a catch,About the friends that died in its creation.
About the terrible price he’s had to pay.
Audible Book of the Year Nominee Luke Smitherd returns for the first time in over three years with a tale of psychic mystery and science fiction romance.
What would you do if the Man with All the Answers fell in love with you?
Praise for KILL SOMEONE:
"For a jaded reader, there is no greater thrill than to experience a story that takes you down an unexpected, unexplored path... Smitherd once again proves himself a master at his craft."—Ain't It Cool News
140 pages, Paperback
Published May 12, 2020
81 people are currently reading
280 people want to read
About the author
Luke Smitherd
32 books580 followersLuke Smitherd is the author of The Stone Man (shortlisted for Audible Book of the Year 2015) and its sequels as well as several other novels. A former singer and guitarist, he now writes full time, hosts the comedy music-discussion show Cracker Juice, and performs around Los Angeles as a stand-up comic. He divides his time between the United States and the United Kingdom.
www.lukesmitherd.com
www.lukesmitherd.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
May 1, 2023
Q:
"I guess my need to build things overcame my need to find things,” (c)
Nice&n cheesy love at first sight and archaeology talk.
Q:
It wasn’t until Dan addressed her directly that she first felt that strange, almost supernatural sensation, the one that never went away in the years that followed. A feeling that he was utterly, completely her other half in a way that no other human being had ever been. (c)
Q:
... being with Dan was like wrapping herself up in the most warming and soothing blanket she’d ever owned. (c)
Gotta love the work & satisfaction drivers talk:
Q:
"You like to build things. I like to figure out things. Make the numbers dance, make them work in the best possible way. And it makes people happy when I do.” (c)
The rest is much ado about time-travel, unknown powers, AI and Obligation, the true nature of which never is revealed. Does one really need forgiveness for correcting mistakes while time-travelling? Or while not? Or for things amended? Not sure but it's still a lot of fun to think about.
"I guess my need to build things overcame my need to find things,” (c)
Nice&n cheesy love at first sight and archaeology talk.
Q:
It wasn’t until Dan addressed her directly that she first felt that strange, almost supernatural sensation, the one that never went away in the years that followed. A feeling that he was utterly, completely her other half in a way that no other human being had ever been. (c)
Q:
... being with Dan was like wrapping herself up in the most warming and soothing blanket she’d ever owned. (c)
Gotta love the work & satisfaction drivers talk:
Q:
"You like to build things. I like to figure out things. Make the numbers dance, make them work in the best possible way. And it makes people happy when I do.” (c)
The rest is much ado about time-travel, unknown powers, AI and Obligation, the true nature of which never is revealed. Does one really need forgiveness for correcting mistakes while time-travelling? Or while not? Or for things amended? Not sure but it's still a lot of fun to think about.
March 2, 2021
Comparing things to Black Mirror has become a very tired cliche at this point, but I can really think of nowhere else to start: The Man with All the Answers plays out exactly like a Black Mirror episode, moreso than any of the myriad things I've ever heard compared to the show. And it would be one of the better episodes, too.
It's very important to understand why, though. Black Mirror, via that one joke that people somehow still think is clever to repeat now, has earned a wildly misleading reputation as a show about smartphones, but that was never the case - it's a show about people, their weaknesses and frailties and hypocrisies and perversions and fears, with technology as window dressing. The tech itself is always ambivalent, a silent bystander as the human beings rip themselves apart. The Man with All the Answers is the same. This is a book with a cataclysmic, world-changing supernatural event at the bleeding edge of scientific thought hanging over it, but that's not the story: the story is the relationship between Rachel and Dan. Dan, thanks to an inexplicable event on a lad's holiday, knows what will happen for the next ten years, but is limited in his ability to explain it to others, or to change the course of history. The book spends a little bit of time playing around with that concept, but mostly it focuses on the human psychodrama of their relationship: how can Rachel process being in love with a man like this? How can that love be trusted when the subject of it knows things about her that she doesn't even know herself, when it would be so easy for him to manipulate her? How much of his ability can she really be sure he's being honest about? How can she forgive him when terrible things happen and he didn't stop them? And what of Dan - what of the mental toll all of this takes on him, knowing things that he cannot share, knowing that he isn't truly in control of his own actions?
The story and the writing is Smitherd at his best, kindhearted and endearing even while swimming in very big, weighty ideas and concepts - the ending in particular seals the story beautifully, as perfectly open-ended, poignant, and thought-provoking conclusion as a story like this could have. I think The Stone Man is the better book, but I would sooner recommend this one to a newcomer to his work; it's shorter, it's a self-contained story rather than part of a larger universe, and most crucially, it feels like a more pure distillation of all the best things about his style.
It's very important to understand why, though. Black Mirror, via that one joke that people somehow still think is clever to repeat now, has earned a wildly misleading reputation as a show about smartphones, but that was never the case - it's a show about people, their weaknesses and frailties and hypocrisies and perversions and fears, with technology as window dressing. The tech itself is always ambivalent, a silent bystander as the human beings rip themselves apart. The Man with All the Answers is the same. This is a book with a cataclysmic, world-changing supernatural event at the bleeding edge of scientific thought hanging over it, but that's not the story: the story is the relationship between Rachel and Dan. Dan, thanks to an inexplicable event on a lad's holiday, knows what will happen for the next ten years, but is limited in his ability to explain it to others, or to change the course of history. The book spends a little bit of time playing around with that concept, but mostly it focuses on the human psychodrama of their relationship: how can Rachel process being in love with a man like this? How can that love be trusted when the subject of it knows things about her that she doesn't even know herself, when it would be so easy for him to manipulate her? How much of his ability can she really be sure he's being honest about? How can she forgive him when terrible things happen and he didn't stop them? And what of Dan - what of the mental toll all of this takes on him, knowing things that he cannot share, knowing that he isn't truly in control of his own actions?
The story and the writing is Smitherd at his best, kindhearted and endearing even while swimming in very big, weighty ideas and concepts - the ending in particular seals the story beautifully, as perfectly open-ended, poignant, and thought-provoking conclusion as a story like this could have. I think The Stone Man is the better book, but I would sooner recommend this one to a newcomer to his work; it's shorter, it's a self-contained story rather than part of a larger universe, and most crucially, it feels like a more pure distillation of all the best things about his style.
February 20, 2021
For the audio book:
It's a pretty good book, up until the last chapter and that really ruins the book for me. The narration was well done.
Spoilers below
It's a pretty good book, up until the last chapter and that really ruins the book for me. The narration was well done.
Spoilers below
February 11, 2021
Will she forgive him? I need a down to earth woman like Rach in my life. I like the plot and the premise. The prologue was what got me hooked and didn't let me off even till the last word. Great story Luke. I really like your work.
July 6, 2021
A great story for fans of Dark Matter or Replay! Author-narrated audiobook which was really well done. I'll be hunting down more from this author!
October 6, 2023
This was an interesting one. An enjoyable read that kept me interested. Would have liked to go deeper on some things, especially later but would definitely read more from this author
December 20, 2020
A strange story that I really wanted to love, but just missed the mark for me.
The first half of this really dragged, to the point where I considered DNFing it, but since it was so short I stuck with it, and I'm glad I did. The latter half really redeemed it for me, as I couldn't help but be drawn in to the intrigue of trying to figure out what was going on. Unfortunately it wasn't enough to bring up my rating any further.
Extra points for the cover though, because oh my god - it's stunning (and to be honest is the main reason I wanted to read this in the first place).
The first half of this really dragged, to the point where I considered DNFing it, but since it was so short I stuck with it, and I'm glad I did. The latter half really redeemed it for me, as I couldn't help but be drawn in to the intrigue of trying to figure out what was going on. Unfortunately it wasn't enough to bring up my rating any further.
Extra points for the cover though, because oh my god - it's stunning (and to be honest is the main reason I wanted to read this in the first place).
January 3, 2021
A SIMPLE MAN'S REVIEW:
What is it with this guy? A lot of great setups and ideas but no explanations or exploration into the hook. It's like, "Here's this crazy, omnipotent force, but don't worry about that. I don't need to explain anything about it because this is actually a story about a boring relationship". What was the point? And more importantly, why?
From the four books I've read by this author, they've all had this same problem. Might I suggest a coauthor? Someone with the "big ideas" and then this author can put it into his story about the mundane?
Skip it!
What is it with this guy? A lot of great setups and ideas but no explanations or exploration into the hook. It's like, "Here's this crazy, omnipotent force, but don't worry about that. I don't need to explain anything about it because this is actually a story about a boring relationship". What was the point? And more importantly, why?
From the four books I've read by this author, they've all had this same problem. Might I suggest a coauthor? Someone with the "big ideas" and then this author can put it into his story about the mundane?
Skip it!
May 24, 2020
He does it again! I just love Luke's books and take on Science fiction. I'm only sad I finished this book so quickly it was one of those I just could not put down, then again I've read most of Luke's books and they're all the same-fantastic.
I really enjoy Luke's writing style, cant wait for the next book. Keep up the good work Luke.
I really enjoy Luke's writing style, cant wait for the next book. Keep up the good work Luke.
July 2, 2020
This is utterly Smitherd which makes it utterly brilliant. Clearly I love Luke Smitherd’s writing and I obviously enjoyed this one too. I have been a fan for quite some time so I was naturally looking forward to this book, especially as he’d kept us waiting for something new for a long time. I was not disappointed as he delivers yet another twisting tale of many parts. Just when you think you understand what, and who, the story is about there’s a new development and it veers off on a new and exciting path. Basically, I’d say this is a book about love but not your typical love story, you just don’t get ‘typical’ from this author! It’s woven through the complex ‘Smitherd Filter’ that gives you something no other writer really does. It’s addictive reading, so start reading and don’t stop because you never know where the story is going. Recommended reading for everyone, great stuff!
May 20, 2020
Twists and turns , it's all for love
Another one absolutely wonderfully written. Yet again Luke has come up with a concept that although in its essence is a traditional concept and rattled and shaken it to give us a spectacular twist.
I don't want to give away any hints of what this book is about because well, I don't want to spoil it for you!! But here's what I can say without any interference from Obligation 😉....
A shocking event in the woods leaves a life impacting effect on Dan. Destiny, fate, past,present and future all inter twine as he lives his more than ideal life with his loving partner. Through a series of events things unravel and it seems maybe things aren't as simple as he thought but fate and destiny cannot, should not be played with....or can they?
A nice and cleverly concepted story that will leave you pondering .....
Another one absolutely wonderfully written. Yet again Luke has come up with a concept that although in its essence is a traditional concept and rattled and shaken it to give us a spectacular twist.
I don't want to give away any hints of what this book is about because well, I don't want to spoil it for you!! But here's what I can say without any interference from Obligation 😉....
A shocking event in the woods leaves a life impacting effect on Dan. Destiny, fate, past,present and future all inter twine as he lives his more than ideal life with his loving partner. Through a series of events things unravel and it seems maybe things aren't as simple as he thought but fate and destiny cannot, should not be played with....or can they?
A nice and cleverly concepted story that will leave you pondering .....
April 28, 2024
Haas anyone got any comments on my observation here?
This has been my 2nd Luke Smithered book (after 'The Stone Man') and what seems to be a pattern with this author, the books start interestingly enough, but at a certain point the story they, somehow, fizzle out and you think to yourself, "OK, it's just another mediocre one, maybe I should start a new one?"
However, when you reach that point in the book, you realise that you have already invested some time and the novel is not bad enough to put down, so you soldier through and finish it only to find out that your initial suspicions were validated, as the book did not turn out that great after all.
I was actually going to start reading something new by another author, but I now need to see if my theory will work out with another Luke Smithered's book so I am gonna grabbing 'The Physics of the Dead' for that very purpose :)
This has been my 2nd Luke Smithered book (after 'The Stone Man') and what seems to be a pattern with this author, the books start interestingly enough, but at a certain point the story they, somehow, fizzle out and you think to yourself, "OK, it's just another mediocre one, maybe I should start a new one?"
However, when you reach that point in the book, you realise that you have already invested some time and the novel is not bad enough to put down, so you soldier through and finish it only to find out that your initial suspicions were validated, as the book did not turn out that great after all.
I was actually going to start reading something new by another author, but I now need to see if my theory will work out with another Luke Smithered's book so I am gonna grabbing 'The Physics of the Dead' for that very purpose :)
May 16, 2020
The concept is fantastic. What if you met a man who appeared to have all the answers? how it is possible? what does it mean? how can you trust someone who knows what is going to happen?
Yes, I like wacky concepts, and I like not being able to second guess and figure the story out and how it will end.
If I was to criticise, the flashbacks were initially a bit confusing (or maybe i'm just a bit thick) and the overall concept of "how" still seems a bit vague to me after finishing the book. I don't let details get in the way of enjoying a good story though and Luke really captures relationships and mysterious events well.
Yes, I like wacky concepts, and I like not being able to second guess and figure the story out and how it will end.
If I was to criticise, the flashbacks were initially a bit confusing (or maybe i'm just a bit thick) and the overall concept of "how" still seems a bit vague to me after finishing the book. I don't let details get in the way of enjoying a good story though and Luke really captures relationships and mysterious events well.
May 17, 2020
Luke does a great job of putting normal people in unusual situations. What happens in a relationship when one of the people knows what is going to happen at each stage? How do they cope, and what will happen? The story develops slowly, and gradually, with the reader being introduced to concepts at a digestible pace. There are some mind-bending things going on, so this is a good thing. And getting to grips with the twists is made much easier due to Luke’s approachable writing. Gripping, thought-provoking, and well-written.
May 17, 2020
Love changes everything
It's been over three years since Luke bothered to publish any new books. Was this with the wait? Too right it was.
So many points in this story I thought I had it all sussed as to what was going on. So many points in this story I was completely wrong. End of the day, this is a fantastic story of love and betrayal and putting things right.
If you're a Smithereen then you'll already have this book. If you aren't, then boy do you have a lot of brilliance to get through.
Now go, read this.
It's been over three years since Luke bothered to publish any new books. Was this with the wait? Too right it was.
So many points in this story I thought I had it all sussed as to what was going on. So many points in this story I was completely wrong. End of the day, this is a fantastic story of love and betrayal and putting things right.
If you're a Smithereen then you'll already have this book. If you aren't, then boy do you have a lot of brilliance to get through.
Now go, read this.
August 16, 2020
I have read/listened to everything this fella has put out and am a big fan. I have to say I was a little disappointed with this one. Although the same extremely readable, page turning, wanting to work out what is going on was there style that is present in all his books was there, it didn't have the same kinda of 'creepy/haunting' element that most of his books have. For me, the end 'reveal' that I was admittedly in very keen to discover fell a bit flat.
Regardless I enjoyed reading it and am looking forward to the next one!
Regardless I enjoyed reading it and am looking forward to the next one!
September 14, 2020
Brilliant just sheer inventive off-the-wall enjoyable brilliance, no other word to do it justice.
I thoroughly enjoyed it like every other work of art that Luke conjures. He really and truly has a unique mind and every novel goes to 11 on the extraordinary scale. He has a talent for creating works that are actually fun to read and you get a 'what in the hell' feeling every 20 pages or so.
My only grumble is that he doesn't release one book a week and I have to wait for my next fix. keep doing what you do best!
Read it immediately if you haven't.
I thoroughly enjoyed it like every other work of art that Luke conjures. He really and truly has a unique mind and every novel goes to 11 on the extraordinary scale. He has a talent for creating works that are actually fun to read and you get a 'what in the hell' feeling every 20 pages or so.
My only grumble is that he doesn't release one book a week and I have to wait for my next fix. keep doing what you do best!
Read it immediately if you haven't.
May 22, 2020
This book was well worth the wait. Luke has an amazing ability to create these new worlds that are so close to reality (or maybe they actually are reality and we don't know it yet) that they don't feel absurd or far-fetched. The story feels real. The characters were complex and lovable. As the story unfolds, there are some unexpected twists along the way and the. I can't wait for Luke's next book.
January 21, 2021
Dan knows everything... or it seems that way. When Rachel meets the perfect guy, the romance is off to a great start... but then it turns out he knows everything. Is he a stalker? What weird bullshit is this?
I'm a fan of Like Smitherd because he never disappoints, and this one is no different. This novella pulls you in at the start and never lets go!
Very entertaining! I highly recommend this quick read...you will come back for more!
I'm a fan of Like Smitherd because he never disappoints, and this one is no different. This novella pulls you in at the start and never lets go!
Very entertaining! I highly recommend this quick read...you will come back for more!
April 4, 2021
Really enjoyable with surprising twists n turns
Really enjoyable reading that I got through in about six hours, did not want to put it down!
Some surprising twists n turns, loved the unwinding of the relationship but would liked Luke to have found a way to flesh out and tell the reasons for the TP's and their outcomes.
Can't wait for the next book, thank you for the enjoyment man 😀
Really enjoyable reading that I got through in about six hours, did not want to put it down!
Some surprising twists n turns, loved the unwinding of the relationship but would liked Luke to have found a way to flesh out and tell the reasons for the TP's and their outcomes.
Can't wait for the next book, thank you for the enjoyment man 😀
May 21, 2020
Hated ending
I got the book because it seemed like an interesting story. Although, I didn't find it too exciting, I kept reading it because I wanted to know what happened to the couple at the end. I hated, hated that the author just left me hanging. I feel like I wasted my time reading all the way to an end and still not know how the couple ends.
I got the book because it seemed like an interesting story. Although, I didn't find it too exciting, I kept reading it because I wanted to know what happened to the couple at the end. I hated, hated that the author just left me hanging. I feel like I wasted my time reading all the way to an end and still not know how the couple ends.
May 24, 2020
Interesting read.
A definite intriguing tale. Gets you thinking about aspects of change, the if you could then would you....? It was an interesting read to say the least and worth the wait, as I had wondered if Luke had fallen off the face of the planet from a writing perspective. Good book sir.
A definite intriguing tale. Gets you thinking about aspects of change, the if you could then would you....? It was an interesting read to say the least and worth the wait, as I had wondered if Luke had fallen off the face of the planet from a writing perspective. Good book sir.
May 25, 2020
What a crazy ride!
I always know I'm gonna be in for a treat when I dive into a Luke Smitherd story. What a rollercoaster this was! The resolution was a tough pill to swallow, I'm not gonna lie. I'll probably be thinking about it for awhile. And man, if Luke didn't do his job then, right?
I always know I'm gonna be in for a treat when I dive into a Luke Smitherd story. What a rollercoaster this was! The resolution was a tough pill to swallow, I'm not gonna lie. I'll probably be thinking about it for awhile. And man, if Luke didn't do his job then, right?
June 5, 2021
It was a good read
Relatively Short- easy to read story. I read it straight through without putting it down. Loved the premise and the twist at the end. Didn’t much like Rachael- but I guess she (her personality) was necessary to the tale.
The ending was abrupt - but fit the gist of the storyline. I would recommend it!
Relatively Short- easy to read story. I read it straight through without putting it down. Loved the premise and the twist at the end. Didn’t much like Rachael- but I guess she (her personality) was necessary to the tale.
The ending was abrupt - but fit the gist of the storyline. I would recommend it!
April 26, 2023
Pretty Well Written
The author has created some very engaging characters and an interesting story. I'm not a huge fan, however, of cliff-hangers or endings that seem to leave it up to the reader to decide how things worked out. For what it's worth, I prefer a nice, tidy wrap up. Good story, though.
The author has created some very engaging characters and an interesting story. I'm not a huge fan, however, of cliff-hangers or endings that seem to leave it up to the reader to decide how things worked out. For what it's worth, I prefer a nice, tidy wrap up. Good story, though.
May 17, 2020
Brilliant!
Another original masterpiece from Luke. I've loved all the books of his I've read. 3years waiting for this one seemed interminable. Please keep writing your fantastic stories even if it does mean not being able to sleep til I finish them. Thank you. 🌹
Another original masterpiece from Luke. I've loved all the books of his I've read. 3years waiting for this one seemed interminable. Please keep writing your fantastic stories even if it does mean not being able to sleep til I finish them. Thank you. 🌹
May 17, 2020
Looking for a trip down mind trip lane? Hop on in.
Total mind trip, as usual. Exactly what I expected and I'm never let down.
Really looking forward to the next two books, Luke . Oh, and btw, I totally read this before the King novellas 😂😂
Total mind trip, as usual. Exactly what I expected and I'm never let down.
Really looking forward to the next two books, Luke . Oh, and btw, I totally read this before the King novellas 😂😂
May 17, 2020
My head is spinning!!
Once again Luke Smitherd has knocked it out of the park. Solid writing, and a storyline that had me hooked from beginning to end. An absolute joy to read - couldn't put it down so was done within 2 day.
Once again Luke Smitherd has knocked it out of the park. Solid writing, and a storyline that had me hooked from beginning to end. An absolute joy to read - couldn't put it down so was done within 2 day.
May 18, 2020
Another head twisting smasher!
Luke is back!!!! Horraayy.!! And what a great journey to take us on. Fantastic engaging characters set in a mind bending yet believable plot.Each and every book always has me questioning ....what would I do? Can't wait for the horror novel!!!
Luke is back!!!! Horraayy.!! And what a great journey to take us on. Fantastic engaging characters set in a mind bending yet believable plot.Each and every book always has me questioning ....what would I do? Can't wait for the horror novel!!!
May 21, 2020
Loved this book!
The story gripped me right from the beginning, and I read it in anticipation of the next chapter and couldn’t wait to see the ending to resolve it all!
Love that it was based on the authors real life experience.
Absolutely great story.
The story gripped me right from the beginning, and I read it in anticipation of the next chapter and couldn’t wait to see the ending to resolve it all!
Love that it was based on the authors real life experience.
Absolutely great story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews