Review by Momiji1987 -- The Broadcast by Liam Fialkov

Jordan David · Post by **Chelsy Scherba** » 23 Jul 2018, 19:11

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Broadcast" by Liam Fialkov.]

4 out of 4 stars

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The Broadcast by Liam Fialko is a spiritual novel with a bit of a science fiction twist. For twenty-five years, a famous murder mystery remained unsolved. In a new television series called, The Broadcast, grainy footage allegedly shows past events as they actually happened in real time. With the murder solved, several detectives begin coming forward hoping to use the technique for other cases, but a greater mystery remains. Where did this stunning footage come from, and how is it available decades after the fact—even long before cameras existed? Stewart McPherson is an investigative journalist who suspects the show is fake. He recruits Michael, a young intern, to gather intel from the show’s producer, Walter Lindsey. Meanwhile, married couple Jonathan and Sarah come across an ancient sacred site on their wooded property. Could the site have something to do with the mysterious broadcasts?

This book is very interesting for a variety of reasons.The entire time I was reading, I felt like I was drifting through a strange, extraterrestrial journey of some sort involving the interconnected lives of these characters and this mysterious television show. The writing flows in a bizarre, almost dreamlike way. There’s not a lot of dialogue, but a lot seems to happen nonetheless.

The author very cleverly writes each chapter almost like an episode of television, which is suitable, given the book’s title. Each character is fleshed out through a series of pivotal moments in their lives. Sarah is a woman desperate to have a baby after she was forced to give up her only child for adoption. Her husband, Jonathan, grew up in foster care and has a strained relationship with his older brother, Walter Lindsey. Each individual is searching for happiness and purpose, and they are broken spiritually. Much of the book is dedicated to watching these people find themselves and recover from their lowest points.

The broadcasts themselves are something of a geeky dream come true for me, particularly when they start delving into ancient historical times. I have often wished I could finally learn the truth about what really took place in history, so I almost felt like I was able to do that when the broadcasts were being explained. The author does an excellent job of depicting certain eras of history in a way that seems both fair and accurate. I actually learned a few things, particularly about the religious debates surrounding Jerusalem.

Some content may be a bit controversial for some readers. Sarah’s desperate desire to be a mother involves her getting into a string of affairs. However, I liked that the author didn’t glorify her actions or make the scenes graphic. In fact, this content was pretty tastefully written. I didn’t have to skip pages like I’m prone to do with adult content. I also liked that the author gave Sarah a place to grow from and made it clear that her behavior was immoral. Another area of controversy is religion. Catholics might be offended by certain portrayals of a priest and a nun in the book, while some Christians may feel uncomfortable with the mystical New Age themes that are present. The author also takes a position on whether or not there was ever a Jewish temple in Jerusalem, a subject of much debate. I don’t remember seeing any bad language, but the adult themes contained in this book would not be suitable for children.

The book appears to be professionally edited, but careless mistakes are scattered throughout. I mostly noticed typos, an incorrect tense here and there, missing words or quotations, and “then” used when it should have been “than” in a sentence. Another round of proofreading could solve those issues because there aren’t very many to fix.

Overall, I was entertained and enjoyed getting to know each character. The plot was interesting and kept me guessing, and I also loved the weird, dreamlike feeling I got while reading each chapter. There were some errors, but not enough to take off a star. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I think most readers will enjoy this novel, but people sensitive to religious or spiritual debates may want to tread cautiously.

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The Broadcast
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Ashiyya Tariq · Post by **Ashiyya Tariq** » 25 Jul 2018, 23:33

It sounds an interesting book with a mix of spirituality and science fiction. I like the reality based depiction of historical events. Thanks for this great review.

LaurenHaupt · Post by **LaurenHaupt** » 28 Jul 2018, 23:45

Sounds like a fun book. Has an interesting plot to it. Great review!

Dael Reader · Post by **Dael Reader** » 29 Jul 2018, 15:03

I read and reviewed this one too and had a little bit of a less positive reaction. I thought it was a great idea that just wasn't executed as well as it could have been. I enjoyed your review though.