Review – Dark Matter by Cameron Cruise

Synopsis
There are those among us whose mental capacity is so evolved that they are able to tap into abilities that are beyond this world. Often diagnosed as autistic, these medical marvels have led quiet lives, ignored by science. Until now. One by one, these special "Indigo children" are disappearing and turning up dead. Now a boy handcuffed in a basement awaits his turn while two predators fulfil a mission for a madman. Caring for her own autistic brother, FBI agent Carin Barnes is driven to find the missing boy and hunt down his abductors—psychic twins Adam and Evie. At the command of their father, the pair are collecting children for torturous experiments he believes will lead to the evolution of the human race. But in order to succeed, they need one powerful element…something that Carin and her brother possess…matter that elevates some minds to the highest levels of intelligence—and drags others to the deepest pits of hell.

Review
Gia Moon is a painter, but she is also a psychic. These two talents come together causing her to paint scenes which she believes are actual crime scenes. Seven Bushard is a detective that teams up with Gia to investigate the brutal murders of extraordinary autistic children known as ‘indigo children’ because of their special abilities. To complete this team is Carin Barnes, a FBI agent who has a extreme interest in this particular case, as her brother is also autistic. Together this trio will combine and put to use all their various skills to track down whoever is behind these heinous murders.

But don’t think for a second that this is just a simple crime, with a simple explanation. Thrown into the mix is the search for a mythological artefact that may be the key to discovering Atlantis, a pair of psychotic twins, a madman determined to uncover the next step in humankind, and a romance that may not survive this adventure.

Dark Matter is an intense thriller, with more suspense and sub-plots than most novels can pull off. But Cameron Cruise shows a knack for pulling everything together for a roller-coaster of a read. The characters in this novel all possess a unique and individual voice and even the villains are original and intriguing. One of the key aspects in Dark Matter is the phenomenon of psychic abilities in humans, and the author seems to really know her stuff. Rather than coming off as kitschy, it comes across as very scientific, but never confusing or jargon-heavy.

Overall, Dark Matter was a hugely enjoyable read, my only regret was that I didn’t read Cameron Cruise’s first novel The Collector beforehand. Both books can be read as stand-alones, but the characters of Seven and Gia were first introduced in The Collector. I would highly recommend Dark Matter to anyone interested in a good thriller with paranormal overtones.

About The Author
Cameron Cruise a pseudonym used by Olga Bicos, has worked with some of the most brilliant legal minds in the United States at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. A lawyer turned writer, she has lived throughout the world, and has a special interest in the paranormal traditions of different cultures. She speaks five languages and currently lives at the beach with three Rhodesian ridgebacks and a beagle.

Published by Mira Books 

I’d like to send a huge shout out to J. Kaye for sending me her copy of Dark Matter to review. Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity to read this cool book!

---

© 2008-2010 Joanne Mosher of The Book Zombie. All rights reserved.