Reviver (Reviver Trilogy, #1)

by Seth Patrick

"Jonah Miller is a Reviver, able to temporarily revive the dead so they can say goodbye to their loved ones--or tell the police who killed them. Jonah works in a department of forensics created specifically for Revivers, and he's the best in the business. For every high-profile corpse pushing daisies, it's Jonah's job to find justice for them. But while reviving the victim of a brutal murder, he encounters a terrifying presence. Something is on the other side watching. Waiting. His superiors tell him it's only in his mind, a product of stress. Jonah isn't so certain. Then Daniel Harker, the first journalist to bring revival to public attention, is murdered. Jonah finds himself getting dragged into the hunt for answers. Working with Harker's daughter Annabel, he becomes determined to find those responsible and bring them to justice. Soon they uncover long-hidden truths that call into doubt everything Jonah stands for, and reveal a sinister force that threatens us all. Putting the paranormal in the police department, first-time author Seth Patrick blends genre lines with this edgy crime thriller. The first novel in the Reviver trilogy, Reviver is sure to appeal to fans of Dean Koontz and Justin Cronin"--

• ISBN10: 1250021707
• ISBN13: 9781250021700
• Publish Date: 18 June 2013
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 17 June 2021
• Imprint: Thomas Dunne Books
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 406
• Language: English

Reviews

[pamela]

http://iblamewizards.com/review-the-reviver-by-seth-patrick/

With an original concept and a fast-paced, exciting and most importantly spine-tingling story, Seth Patrick’s The Reviver is a strong horror début that kept me devouring every last word until the final page.

Jonah Miller is a Reviver, working for the FRS (Forensic Revival Service) as a forensic reviver. Revival is a means of restoring the consciousness of the recently deceased for a brief time in order to firstly, give closure to the grieving families in the case of private revivals, and secondly, in the case of forensic revivals, to question the victims of violent crimes as a means of identifying their attackers. During a routine revival, Jonah feels a dark and evil presence which he just can’t shake. His colleagues tell him it is simply overwork, but when a journalist who was instrumental in the public acceptance of revival is found dead, Jonah finds himself on a hunt for the truth and the reasons behind his so-called hallucinations.

The plot of The Reviver is strong, and it is this plot which props this novel up. Seth Patrick’s writing is clunky in places and his moods don’t quite hit their mark, but the plot is so well crafted and immersive that a few pages in these small failings cease to matter. The characters are perfectly realised and they feel like old friends in no time.

What most impressed me was Patrick’s character interactions. They felt natural and nothing seemed out of place. Any odd behaviours were quickly explained in a way which made them understandable, and personal relationships were developed to increase characterisation rather than drive the plot and distract from the central premise.

While there were some moments I wish had been dwelt on in greater detail, the overall pace is wonderful. The main antagonist could have had a touch more characterisation and motive, as could the elusive ‘unity’ project, however I’m lead to believe this is potentially a trilogy, so I hope that this is all still to come.

Seth Patrick’s novel stands well alone, and was a simply great read. I enjoyed every second of it, and can’t wait for the rest.