Quantum: Not really that thrilling

I'm not sure what I expected when I bought this book, but what i got wasn't what I expected either so there we go.

If that last sentence left you confused, then the feeling you're feeling is quite possibly similar to the feeling I was feeling whilst listening to this book.

I read the synopsis when the book was on early release for Prime members, but forgot all about it when it came time to listen. Pro tip, if you get early access to a book through prime you can quite often add Audible narration for a little over £3 which is usually a bargain!

So the book centres around Callie, an identical twin who is if I remember rightly a Nasa scientist type person, but also a cop and also waiting to hear if she's going to be an astronaut, oh and she also helps invent quite possibly billion dollar inventions with her dad which can be used by everyone from the military to Joe public. So it's safe to say she's a busy gal.

Anyhow Callie is gearing to supervise a spacewalk and a shuttle launch which are due to happen at the same time, oh and she has to solve a murder too.

Remember I said Callie had a twin? Well she's hoping to be an astronaut too but she's gone missing, is everything connected? Who knows, I've finished the book and i still don't know.

Interspersed through the book are what I assume to be flashbacks, from either Callie's childhood or recent past but they're not exactly explained, they're just pasted into the narrative with no warning and it can be quite confusing, as soon as they have started then they stop again and the story goes on. This is quite a well used trope but it's not very well executed in this book. Many of the flashbacks had no relevance and added nothing to the story.

The narrator was decent so that's a good point. I'm struggling to find any others.

I don't want to spoil anything but when the book ended I was like "What? That's the end?" I suppose it could qualify as a cliffhanger but it felt like Patricia just thought, "You know what, that's enough for this book, I've reached my word count, the next chapter can be the next book."

I was thoroughly disappointed with the way that it ended and I just don't care enough about the story or the characters to bother picking up the next book when it comes out. If you're a particular fan of Cornwell and her work then you might enjoy it. I would recommend waiting until the series is complete so you don't suffer the letdown that is the end of this book. There really should be a warning about this. It's like going to see a football match and it just ending with no explanation at 78 minutes as the ball goes out for a throw in.

EDIT: the next book in the series "Spin" was advertised for pre order when I submitted this review and it said: "Captain Calli Chase returns in a pause resisting thriller from international bestselling author Patricia Cornwell"

I have no idea what a "pause resisting" thriller is but I assume it is meant to read "page turning", so much attention to detail should tell you all you need to know about this series. Due for release in August 2020 you might want to book a summer holiday so you miss it.

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2 people found this helpful

Different from Patricia Cornwell

Loved the story, but it's a totally different style to her previous books.
If you are not into space science, its heavy going with all the facts and figures.
Found the constant reference to time in later chapters quite annoying, but I get that it's to make you realise how fast everything was happening.
I feel I know Captain Chase like myself now though, the portrayal of her character is intense.

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Not as expected

Unfortunately I found this book and the narrative quite frustrating. I wanted the story to be more gripping. Instead I found myself having to listen to an interminable litany of Captain Chase’s thoughts, interspersed with moments of action. I just wanted to get on with the story. The ending when it came just left me with more questions, with what happened there, is that the end? I usually enjoy Patricia Cornwells books but not this time sadly.

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Wait!!! What?

This was phenomenal, as I expected it to be. I have always loved Patricia Cornwell writing and this was no exception.

There’s more to know about this story... I’m going to look for it! I want to know more about Callie and Carma and what happens. This was a breath catching listen and kept me in the edge of my seat through the whole book!

It’s well worth the time!

January LaVoy was an excellent choice of narrator and the characters were easily distinguishable.

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disappointing

nothing really happened, characters were thin and didn't really engender any emotion. ended feeling let down and bored.

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Disappointing

I have loved Patricia Cornwell book especially Scarpetta stories for many years.
But I found this book didn’t deliver!

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What a let down

Really thought this was going to be a great read, but after a lot of listening - it ran out of speed - the next book will need to finish up a lot of loose ends - disappointed.

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3 people found this helpful

I give up

I don't often give up on a book, but I really can't get on with this one. There's a lot in there that's quite technical, so good if you're scientifically minded, and there's a fantastically qualified female protagonist which is always good. Unfortunately, as told in the first person, the plot seems secondary to her self analysis. I couldn't believe in a character simultaneously so capable and so riddled with doubt. This might not be the case in a paper book or if it was narrated in a more matter of fact style, but I found the breathy, excitable narration to be exhausting.

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Disappointed

Normally a Patricia Cornwall fan, this was disappointing, small story line to much waffle. I found myself bored.

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Gripping but slow

The story is both exciting/gripping and over technical and slow in parts. It took a long time to set the story up but it is the first in a series. Definitely too much technical detail for me. Great narration. Will probably listen to book 2.

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