Review by ciecheesemeister -- The Broadcast by Liam Fialkov
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Review by ciecheesemeister -- The Broadcast by Liam Fialkov
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Broadcast" by Liam Fialkov.]
4 out of 4 stars
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The Broadcast by Liam Fialkov is a mystery/thriller with science fiction and paranormal elements. The story centers around a mysterious television broadcast that shows details of cold case crimes, enabling the police to bring perpetrators to justice even after many years. The videos are always without sound and shot from above. The videos are most helpful in solving crimes that occurred outdoors.
Although the videos serve a useful purpose, many viewers are skeptical about the source, which the broadcasting company, TXB, has promised not to reveal. Many people think that the videos are fake, including an investigative journalist named Stewart McPherson, who recruits Michael Evans, a field researcher from TXB, to gain inside information about the videos used on the program.
The story follows the lives of several different characters, including Stewart McPherson, Michael Evans, and Walter Lindsey, the producer of The Broadcast. The story also follows the lives of Walter’s brother Jonathan, a computer specialist, and Jonathan’s wife, Sarah. Over the course of the book, the way the various characters’ lives are intertwined is revealed.
Jonathan and Sarah own a property in the California mountains. One day while hiking in the woods on their property, they discover a strange site which their dogs will not approach. Over time, Jonathan unearths more of the site, which is revealed to be similar to Stonehenge. Jonathan is interested in the theories presented by Erich von Däniken in his book, The Chariots of the Gods, and wonders if the site may have been constructed with the assistance of ancient extraterrestrials.
Jonathan and Walter were raised by different families after a tragic auto accident claimed the lives of their parents when they were very young. Sarah is haunted by thoughts of the child she gave birth to at sixteen years old, who was given up for adoption. She desperately longs to have another child but has been unable to become pregnant. She begins having affairs, which puts a strain on her marriage.
I decided to give The Broadcast four out of four stars although there were a few aspects of the story which I had issues with. On the positive side, the writing is excellent, the story flows well, the plot is intricate, imaginative, and addresses certain relevant social issues such as privacy and media sensationalism. Any scenes of violence are described in a realistic fashion without becoming lurid. The book was professionally edited. I found no errors in the text.
I took exception to the fact that older female characters are referred to in such ways as “her face was pretty and gentle despite minor wrinkles at the corners of her eyes”* while older male characters are described as “having several deep wrinkles that added character to his face.”** The assertion that women “lose their beauty” and become hideous hags as they age while men “develop character” is deeply sexist, reducing women to objects rather than people. It is time for this stereotype to be put to rest.
The Broadcast is a good choice for those who enjoy science fiction, speculative fiction, and a lot of detail in a story. Its intricate subplots might become frustrating for people who enjoy a very linear storyline. The book bills itself as a “mystery/thriller,” but it would not be the right choice for a person seeking to read a more traditional whodunit. Although the tale contains elements of mystery, I would classify it as science fiction.
*Fialkov, Liam. The Broadcast: A Mystery Thriller (Kindle Location 1864). Kindle Edition.
**Fialkov, Liam. The Broadcast: A Mystery Thriller (Kindle Location 4303). Kindle Edition.
******
The Broadcast
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
The Broadcast by Liam Fialkov is a mystery/thriller with science fiction and paranormal elements. The story centers around a mysterious television broadcast that shows details of cold case crimes, enabling the police to bring perpetrators to justice even after many years. The videos are always without sound and shot from above. The videos are most helpful in solving crimes that occurred outdoors.
Although the videos serve a useful purpose, many viewers are skeptical about the source, which the broadcasting company, TXB, has promised not to reveal. Many people think that the videos are fake, including an investigative journalist named Stewart McPherson, who recruits Michael Evans, a field researcher from TXB, to gain inside information about the videos used on the program.
The story follows the lives of several different characters, including Stewart McPherson, Michael Evans, and Walter Lindsey, the producer of The Broadcast. The story also follows the lives of Walter’s brother Jonathan, a computer specialist, and Jonathan’s wife, Sarah. Over the course of the book, the way the various characters’ lives are intertwined is revealed.
Jonathan and Sarah own a property in the California mountains. One day while hiking in the woods on their property, they discover a strange site which their dogs will not approach. Over time, Jonathan unearths more of the site, which is revealed to be similar to Stonehenge. Jonathan is interested in the theories presented by Erich von Däniken in his book, The Chariots of the Gods, and wonders if the site may have been constructed with the assistance of ancient extraterrestrials.
Jonathan and Walter were raised by different families after a tragic auto accident claimed the lives of their parents when they were very young. Sarah is haunted by thoughts of the child she gave birth to at sixteen years old, who was given up for adoption. She desperately longs to have another child but has been unable to become pregnant. She begins having affairs, which puts a strain on her marriage.
I decided to give The Broadcast four out of four stars although there were a few aspects of the story which I had issues with. On the positive side, the writing is excellent, the story flows well, the plot is intricate, imaginative, and addresses certain relevant social issues such as privacy and media sensationalism. Any scenes of violence are described in a realistic fashion without becoming lurid. The book was professionally edited. I found no errors in the text.
I took exception to the fact that older female characters are referred to in such ways as “her face was pretty and gentle despite minor wrinkles at the corners of her eyes”* while older male characters are described as “having several deep wrinkles that added character to his face.”** The assertion that women “lose their beauty” and become hideous hags as they age while men “develop character” is deeply sexist, reducing women to objects rather than people. It is time for this stereotype to be put to rest.
The Broadcast is a good choice for those who enjoy science fiction, speculative fiction, and a lot of detail in a story. Its intricate subplots might become frustrating for people who enjoy a very linear storyline. The book bills itself as a “mystery/thriller,” but it would not be the right choice for a person seeking to read a more traditional whodunit. Although the tale contains elements of mystery, I would classify it as science fiction.
*Fialkov, Liam. The Broadcast: A Mystery Thriller (Kindle Location 1864). Kindle Edition.
**Fialkov, Liam. The Broadcast: A Mystery Thriller (Kindle Location 4303). Kindle Edition.
******
The Broadcast
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Wild World by Peter S. Rush
