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Josh Cumberland #2
POINT
A deadly new craze has taken hold.
What else is there when life has no point? In a Britain on the edge of collapse, there is a desperate new craze - a suicide cult made up of disaffected young people. They kill themselves in "cutter circles", loaded up with teenage cool and desolate dreams.
For ex-Special Forces soldier Josh Cumberland, this is just the start of another descent into the very heart of darkness. It's a virus. Find out who caused it. Destroy them. Survive.
Savage satire, brilliant characters and incredible near-future thrills from the author of Edge ...
What else is there when life has no point? In a Britain on the edge of collapse, there is a desperate new craze - a suicide cult made up of disaffected young people. They kill themselves in "cutter circles", loaded up with teenage cool and desolate dreams.
For ex-Special Forces soldier Josh Cumberland, this is just the start of another descent into the very heart of darkness. It's a virus. Find out who caused it. Destroy them. Survive.
Savage satire, brilliant characters and incredible near-future thrills from the author of Edge ...
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First published September 1, 2010
About the author
Thomas Blackthorne
2 books6 followersThomas Blackthorne is a pseudonym of John Meaney.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 21, 2011
It's spreading. The suicide cults of kids barely through puberty. They kill themselves in Cutter Circles, brought together by 3g and desolate dreams. It's a virus. A plague. Who knows how to stop it? Find out who caused it. Find out who's in charge. Destroy them. Survive.
I knew nothing about Point by Thomas Blackthorne when it dropped through my letterbox. The publisher had asked for reviewers for some of their upcoming titles and there was another novel I was hoping to get my hands on. I was a little disappointed but like the dutiful reader I am, I picked up the book and started to read. Within five pages all thoughts of the other novel had fled, and I was completely hooked.
Set in the near future the novel is a frenetic, intelligent thriller with a splash of science fiction thrown in for good measure. In a world where the United States is falling apart, there are televised knife fights, and the British government is full of corruption, the reader is introduced to ex-serviceman Josh Cumberland.
Josh was formerly a member of 'The Regiment' - think black ops amalgam of all the United Kingdom's special forces. He is privately contracted to discover the location of a missing scientist who has disappeared while working on an important energy project. On the face of it this seems like a straight forward case of corporate espionage but there is much more gong on. Meanwhile Josh's partner, Suzanne, has become involved in the investigation of the Cutter Circles. Suzanne is a neuropsych therapist and the authorities are using her specialist skills to determine the purpose of the suicide cults.
Plotwise there is a lot going on here but it doesn’t feel like anything has been shoe horned in. The two separate plot threads converge and the story builds to a thrilling conclusion.
This novel seemed to me to be the perfect blend of action and science fiction. Gritty and well paced, I was impressed with the vivid detail of all the events. At one point, there is a thrilling parkour chase through the streets and across the rooftops of Paris, and it was easy to picture this like something straight out of The Bourne Ultimatum as the descriptions were so deftly handled.
The different technologies used by Josh and his contemporaries are believable and not a million miles away from sort of thing that is available today. The neuropsych techniques that Suzanne employees to help investigate and interrogate suspects are also extremely realistic. It’s easy to imagine that a professional therapist would use something like hypnosis to put a victim at their easy while questioning them.
Point is a sequel to last year's novel Edge. I haven't read the first novel but I should stress that this didn't hamper my enjoyment of Point in anyway. There are mentions of incidents from the previous novel but these did not detract from the main story. If anything, after completing Point I am keen pick up Edge so that I can learn more about the characters, and their various back stories. Now that I have been introduced to this universe I can only hope that there will be more.
Thomas Blackthorne is a pseudonym for the science fiction author John Meaney. Point is published by Angry Robot Books and is due for release on the 3rd February 2011.
[avhamazon locale="UK" asin="0857660780" linktype="pic" picsize="medium"]
I knew nothing about Point by Thomas Blackthorne when it dropped through my letterbox. The publisher had asked for reviewers for some of their upcoming titles and there was another novel I was hoping to get my hands on. I was a little disappointed but like the dutiful reader I am, I picked up the book and started to read. Within five pages all thoughts of the other novel had fled, and I was completely hooked.
Set in the near future the novel is a frenetic, intelligent thriller with a splash of science fiction thrown in for good measure. In a world where the United States is falling apart, there are televised knife fights, and the British government is full of corruption, the reader is introduced to ex-serviceman Josh Cumberland.
Josh was formerly a member of 'The Regiment' - think black ops amalgam of all the United Kingdom's special forces. He is privately contracted to discover the location of a missing scientist who has disappeared while working on an important energy project. On the face of it this seems like a straight forward case of corporate espionage but there is much more gong on. Meanwhile Josh's partner, Suzanne, has become involved in the investigation of the Cutter Circles. Suzanne is a neuropsych therapist and the authorities are using her specialist skills to determine the purpose of the suicide cults.
Plotwise there is a lot going on here but it doesn’t feel like anything has been shoe horned in. The two separate plot threads converge and the story builds to a thrilling conclusion.
This novel seemed to me to be the perfect blend of action and science fiction. Gritty and well paced, I was impressed with the vivid detail of all the events. At one point, there is a thrilling parkour chase through the streets and across the rooftops of Paris, and it was easy to picture this like something straight out of The Bourne Ultimatum as the descriptions were so deftly handled.
The different technologies used by Josh and his contemporaries are believable and not a million miles away from sort of thing that is available today. The neuropsych techniques that Suzanne employees to help investigate and interrogate suspects are also extremely realistic. It’s easy to imagine that a professional therapist would use something like hypnosis to put a victim at their easy while questioning them.
Point is a sequel to last year's novel Edge. I haven't read the first novel but I should stress that this didn't hamper my enjoyment of Point in anyway. There are mentions of incidents from the previous novel but these did not detract from the main story. If anything, after completing Point I am keen pick up Edge so that I can learn more about the characters, and their various back stories. Now that I have been introduced to this universe I can only hope that there will be more.
Thomas Blackthorne is a pseudonym for the science fiction author John Meaney. Point is published by Angry Robot Books and is due for release on the 3rd February 2011.
[avhamazon locale="UK" asin="0857660780" linktype="pic" picsize="medium"]
May 28, 2012
A great bit of speculative sci-fi. I love the near-future world the author's created with both Point and Edge. I really love the way America plays into things. You could probably do a whole series of books on what's happening in America, but here it's only a side story (though it does affect the main story quite a bit).
I think that's a great metaphor for America in general. We think that what we do is so important (and it is, because our decisions effect the world at large), but to other countries we're this entity that a can serve to distract from what's really important internally. At least that's one thought that popped into my head while reading this.
Overall a really great book. It's a future world that's easy to imagine really happening. The action is honestly quite breathtaking. The whole hypnosis thing is done in a very believable way. I look forward to this series continuing.
I think that's a great metaphor for America in general. We think that what we do is so important (and it is, because our decisions effect the world at large), but to other countries we're this entity that a can serve to distract from what's really important internally. At least that's one thought that popped into my head while reading this.
Overall a really great book. It's a future world that's easy to imagine really happening. The action is honestly quite breathtaking. The whole hypnosis thing is done in a very believable way. I look forward to this series continuing.
September 21, 2023
It's rare that the 2nd installment in a series is better than the first, but this one was. Where is book three, John?
..as a bonus I counted at least 2 references to Adam Hall's (Elleston Trevor) Quiller books. And seeing that connection, the influence of that writer becomes apparent here (in a good way). I'll definitely need to check out more of John Meaney's work.
..as a bonus I counted at least 2 references to Adam Hall's (Elleston Trevor) Quiller books. And seeing that connection, the influence of that writer becomes apparent here (in a good way). I'll definitely need to check out more of John Meaney's work.
August 23, 2019
A fun read. Hypnotic (see what I did there?). I wish there was more to the series!
June 27, 2022
" Ghost Force: You didn't see us, We weren't here"
You should read this once, it is full with emotion. The plot also been written beautifully.
August 8, 2011
Two and a half stars.
This is not at all what I expected from the cover or the back of the book, though of course that's not Mr. Blackthorne's fault.
The back of the book suggests a near future soft apocalypse style book. In reality, it's the second book in a series set in the near future which focuses primarily on an ex Ghost Force (elite British soldiers who are as good with computers as they are with combat) member and his hypnotherapist girlfriend (though her job title is slightly different).
I had no idea this was the second book in a series. Consequently, I spent the first quarter or so of the book extremely annoyed because it quickly became clear that it was in fact the second book in a series and Blackthorne expected the readers to be familiar with the characters. Which, of course, I wasn't.
Unfortunately, my unfamiliarity with the characters means the first part of the book had little impact on me. I didn't care about the protagonist's family situation or care if he got along with his girlfriend. As a general rule I find the stoic shove everything in a box and ignore it characters irritating and bland. If the character doesn't let himself feel anything then why should we? We get glimpses but again, since I didn't care about his relationships it made it hard to connect with him.
Susan displays more emotion and spends more time thinking about her feelings and relationships but I didn't find it that much easier to connect with her. She spends much of the book easily hypnotizing roughly half the people she meets. No one is ever resistant. Apparently all she has to do is match their breathing and speak a certain way and viola. She's a very repetitive one trick pony. I don't think it's that easy to hypnotize someone (at least, I'd hope not) and I have consent issues. Randomly hypnotizing someone on a train to not freak out without asking her if she wants your help is not okay. Yes, it turned out well for the woman in question, but it's still messing with someone's mind without her consent and in a way she not only can't control but she don't realize has happened after. It's a violation and it's not okay.
For a while I wondered if the plot mentioned on the cover and back of the book was even going to be more than a small subplot in the story. It does eventually take over the main plot but not for a really long time.
So if you read the first book you may enjoy this book a lot more, especially if the first book establishes an emotional connection with the characters.
By the way, it turns out Thomas Blackthorne is a pen name for John Meaney. I liked his Tristopolis series (though I think it ended at two books) but as I recall relationships weren't his strong point then, either.
This is not at all what I expected from the cover or the back of the book, though of course that's not Mr. Blackthorne's fault.
The back of the book suggests a near future soft apocalypse style book. In reality, it's the second book in a series set in the near future which focuses primarily on an ex Ghost Force (elite British soldiers who are as good with computers as they are with combat) member and his hypnotherapist girlfriend (though her job title is slightly different).
I had no idea this was the second book in a series. Consequently, I spent the first quarter or so of the book extremely annoyed because it quickly became clear that it was in fact the second book in a series and Blackthorne expected the readers to be familiar with the characters. Which, of course, I wasn't.
Unfortunately, my unfamiliarity with the characters means the first part of the book had little impact on me. I didn't care about the protagonist's family situation or care if he got along with his girlfriend. As a general rule I find the stoic shove everything in a box and ignore it characters irritating and bland. If the character doesn't let himself feel anything then why should we? We get glimpses but again, since I didn't care about his relationships it made it hard to connect with him.
Susan displays more emotion and spends more time thinking about her feelings and relationships but I didn't find it that much easier to connect with her. She spends much of the book easily hypnotizing roughly half the people she meets. No one is ever resistant. Apparently all she has to do is match their breathing and speak a certain way and viola. She's a very repetitive one trick pony. I don't think it's that easy to hypnotize someone (at least, I'd hope not) and I have consent issues. Randomly hypnotizing someone on a train to not freak out without asking her if she wants your help is not okay. Yes, it turned out well for the woman in question, but it's still messing with someone's mind without her consent and in a way she not only can't control but she don't realize has happened after. It's a violation and it's not okay.
For a while I wondered if the plot mentioned on the cover and back of the book was even going to be more than a small subplot in the story. It does eventually take over the main plot but not for a really long time.
So if you read the first book you may enjoy this book a lot more, especially if the first book establishes an emotional connection with the characters.
By the way, it turns out Thomas Blackthorne is a pen name for John Meaney. I liked his Tristopolis series (though I think it ended at two books) but as I recall relationships weren't his strong point then, either.
October 23, 2011
while i did enjoy point, it didn't really quite have the punch of the 1st volume - edge. together though they provide an interesting view of a near future UK. climate change in this volume has led to winter at the height of the summer and declaration of a 2nd christmas. more conspiracies here, attempts to change the political landscape, mixed with knife fights, drones, hacking, free running, and crickets as snack food. i think this character/setting has some mileage still in it.
April 17, 2012
"Point" engaged me more than "Edge" (the first in this set) and I found the story more interesting. I truly kept reading to see what would happen next. But "Edge" set up all kinds of things without which this second book would be confusing and harder to follow. I'm truly looking forward to the next in this series - assuming there is one given the way this one ends. Three cheers to publisher Angry Robot and author Blackthorne.
February 28, 2011
A fast paced, action filled read set in the near future. The plot has many interesting twists and turns with the two main characters exposing a nefarious plot that could cost them their lives. If you like Tom Clancy's Net Force or the Jason Bourne series you'll love this. Highly recommended!
Full review here
Full review here
April 30, 2011
Not as riveting as Edge was for me but still a nice solid read, interesting character's and situations. The premise of the society behind the books is what really drives the story and makes it interesting and it seemed to have less focus in that area then the prior book.
July 20, 2016
Wow, did this one suck. The last time I bailed on a book as quick as I did this one was Twilight
June 10, 2011
Some very interesting ideas but a little undirected overall; gets bogged down in the combat scenes & the resolution lacks real punch. But enjoyable enough.
August 6, 2011
The author writes suspense fine. And we like the characters fine. But there is something missing.
October 1, 2011
Kind of like an 80's action movie combined with a hypnotherapists wet dream. A lot of missed opportunities for for sausage based puns. I mean really... Josh Cumberland?
January 18, 2013
Some nice dystopian world-building here, but the characters and plot are written in a messy, difficult-to-follow manner. There's potential in this series, but it's very rarely met.
May 16, 2011
Nice follow-up to Edge. Similar structure and pacing.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews