I was given this series of books in exchange for an honest review. Please note that this is not a summary of the books - for that read the descriptions of each book. However as there are three books in the series at the time of this review, I am reviewing each book separately, yet keeping the idea that they are interrelated in mind.

Deja Vu

Excellent work of science fiction, beautifully balancing the science and the fiction. It is not so heavily into the realm of science that the average reader will struggle to the point of frustration, exasperation, or simple give up. Nor is the story all fiction - there is real science contained within. Granted you may not see the actual formulas for how certain things were arrived at, yet it clearly is bases upon true science.

It will, however, make the reader think. There are multiple layers to this story, so many that I expect I've only begun to scratch the surface. The more time spent thinking about the story and its multitude of angles, the more questions I find myself trying to answer. Or more accurately, trying to find the answers to within the book. Yet I don't think that they are all contained within the book. Some, I expect, are questions humanity has been asking since it could form questions, while others are on a somewhat smaller scale.

Thankfully this it only the first of three books, so there is more time to plumb the depth story and how everything interconnects.

Flashback

Crisp and contained, the writing manages to instill a sense of fullness with few words. Ian Hocking contrives to write a non-linear linear story, and for the most part has succeeded.

Flashback continues with most of the same cast of characters, and introduces some new ones as well. The story continues in the same non-linear, linear fashion that was introduced in the first of the books . Events and people circle round themselves and each other, appearing and disappearing without any visible guidance. Yet this book seems to be more convoluted than the first (& a good thing too, as I don't know how many people would continue with the series had it begun with this book). And yet, in some ways it did begin with this book - ways which defy the tidy logic that most humans crave, if not require.

There is no shortage of action and mystery for the continuance of the story, and an overarching theme begins to make itself felt and seen. Well written, in an exceptionally creatively voice, Flashback leaves you lusting for more. With numerous story lines still incomplete , the reader can only hope for some form of resolution by the end of the third book.

The Amber Rooms

More confusing than first two books, the Amber Rooms still focuses on the same main character, adding a few new ones to help carry a fair portion of the story, and returning to one character who has been present throughout all of the books, yet remained a mystery. In this third book that mystery finally begins to unravel.

As with the first two, this book has the story moving in a semi non-linear fashion, and if anything is more confusing with its hopscotching through time than both books before it combined. I say semi non-linear because I feel at heart it struggles to be linear, yet never achieves that goal, at least not in a manner we can see.

Russia, 1908, seems to be the time for this book, as we return to it time and again. Of course there is a logic there, tied to the title of the book. For those who know world history well, they will make the connection early on; for those not as well versed in Russian history enough will be explained to make the connection clear. Given the prominence of that era, it interesting to view that part of history through the lens of the characters and their individual and shared stories.

As individual books I think I'd rank this lowest due to the confusion, and also because some would make no sense without information from the prior books. It also left some loose ends, which normally is acceptable since that grants the author access to continue the story should they elect to, and gives the reader a chance to creatively add their own mark in the world inside the story.

The three books taken as a whole are terrific and get 5 stars from me. This is a stunning work that blends fact and fiction together to create something refreshingly new and completely enjoyable. With these books you aren't just along for the ride, you are actively engaged, and at times laboring right alongside the character(s) to figure out what is going on before time runs out. ( )

Deja Vu Only -Book 1 I will add to this as the other books are read.

Whether you are male or female you will enjoy this techno-thriller. Kommissarin Saskia Brandt will spin you into her worlds from page 1. I had to put the book down a few times to catch my breath.

If you don't know what a techo-thriller is, in this case it is really cool futuristic advanced technology including memory implants, action, suspense, reality shifts, and time travel.

The pace is fast, the characters are well defined, the dialogue is refreshing and the whole conundrum of time travel is well done, not over-done.

Hocking does a nice job with both female characters. They are likable, believable and sexy without being exploited. I appreciate a male who understands that a woman will always take her earrings off and tuck them away before putting on a helmet!

The male characters are strong too - they are interesting and distinctive. I especially loved David's healthy Ego.

There is a lot of fun sassy dialogue - especially between Saskia and British Detective Inspector Jago. At one point she incorrectly refers to this high ranking official as her deputy. Jago later tells her,
"Don't apologize. I've never been a sidekick. It'll be a new experience. You better call me Scotty then."

In a tense moment, when Saskia insists Colonel McWhirter allow her into the partially destroyed, unsafe lab, a very angry McWhirter quips,
"Splendid. Why not? we'll call it "the Magical Mystery Tour" and invite coach parties."

There are some minor editing issues, but nothing to stop you from wanting to read. In Chapter 14 Saskia takes both her coat and jacket off and hands them to Jago before entering the lab, yet somehow, in the lab, she tucks a folder into her jacket.

** I read a critical review about Deja Vu being confusing. I have to say - about mid-way through the book, I stopped and skimmed through from the beginning back to the middle. This was enjoyable and well worth it. I picked up several "ah-has!" and was better able to follow along.

I'm left with a few questions - maybe they will be answered in book 2, Flashback, which I will start reading immediately. ( )

Dr. Ian Hocking brings a refreshing aspect to time travel. The books are an embodiment of the terminology "technothriller". Though the Saskia Brandt Omnibus may be placed under the sci-fi category, it is most definitely in a class of it's own. I most enjoyed the fact that being a "sci-fi" book, the entire story stayed rooted on planet Earth. These three books are an obvious culmination of the time and study the author dedicated to the idea of travelling through time and addressing well-known historical data.

In DEJA VU we meet Saskia Brandt, an investigator who doesn't realize that her own actions are being dictated by someone or something else. She is in the midst of investigating David Proctor, who is accused of bombing a British facility in 2003, but he has no recollection of the incident. Proctor's genius daughter invents something that changes the course of everyone's lives. In the meantime, as Saskia finds her secretary killed at the office, she realizes that she is being hunted.

Then we smash into FLASHBACK, this is where the magic happens. As we delve into the realm of time-travel, and face human turmoil, we jump between continents and several various points in time. Saskia's character takes a bit of a backseat as the author demonstrates an intricate web of peril and outright exposure. We meet some of the characters from DEJA VU, but there are new intriguing faces that come into play. Dr. Hocking's cunning story development and quick-witted repartee made this book an absolute page turner.

And lastly, THE AMBER ROOMS. The author's vast researching skills are evident in this last book of the series. This book brings together some of the gaps from the other two books. I quite enjoyed the interesting facts about pre-revolutionary Russia placed into the story. Saskia Brandt is transported back to the last crumbling days of Tsarist Russia. Unlike the other two predecessors, this book only relies on technology to supplement the story, not to make it the main attention grabber.

The characters are well developed and brilliantly brought together. I commend Dr. Hocking for keeping the characters human. They are not above dying, feeling turmoil, or being physically and mentally injured. No one gets off unscathed.

Find the entire review here:
Bookend Chronicles ( )