In the beginning, it
was pitch black.
And there was pain.
But distant, like a memory. Or a threat, prowling the far reaches of the
darkness.
Weightless. Suspended
in the void. No up, no down. Nowhere.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to wake up in
hospital after an accident, with no clear idea of where you are or what has
happened to you? It’s an intriguing, if frightening, scenario, and one that is,
understandably, rather beloved of writers and filmmakers. It’s also the
starting point of Kathy DiSanto’s Amanda’s
Eyes, a pacy and exciting thriller set in the year 2075.
For a novel set in the near-future, Amanda’s Eyes is not especially futuristic. Several references are
made to technological advances and social developments, but these do not dominate
the story; in fact, the fictional world in which the story takes place is, in
essence, not so very different to our own. However, one area in which great
advances have been made is in medicine, which is relevant to the protagonist
and her story.
Amanda – or A.J. Gregson, as she is known professionally –
is a police journalist. She has hitherto, by her own admission, had “a charmed
existence. Smooth sailing, baby, for thirty-two years.” Headstrong and
brilliant, she is utterly devoted to her work, and seemingly unstoppable –
until she finds herself in hospital, blind and weak and suffering from a mild
case of amnesia. This section, rather impressively, never drags; in fact, as we
learn about Amanda’s life and the incident that put her in hospital, it picks
up an impressive pace. As it turns out, Amanda was badly injured in an
explosion while investigating a ruthless group of assassins, known as the
Ferrymen. Specifically, her eyes were destroyed; but, this being 2075, medicine
is soon able to provide her with replacement eyes, created from her own DNA.
However, as Amanda soon finds out, a new pair of eyes is not
the only thing she has gained. She has also developed something akin to “second
sight”, whereby she can – occasionally – see beyond the front people present to
the world and glimpse the real person. (In case you’re rolling your eyes at
this point, don’t worry: DiSanto is skilled enough to allow us to suspend our
disbelief.) This new ability is crucial to the novel.
Amanda’s crusade against
the Ferrymen is now personal – “Everybody says experience is the best teacher,”
she says, sadly, “but nobody tells you how ruthless she can be” – and it isn’t
long before, with her newfound ability, she receives an indication as to where
the main power behind the Ferrymen lies. That power is in fact in the hands of
someone completely unexpected, who’s been hiding behind a façade of
philanthropy and bonhomie for years, which sounds depressingly plausible in
this day and age.
Teaming up with Agent Jack Eagan, Amanda sets out on the
Ferrymen’s trail, and what follows is something of a rollercoaster ride,
involving elements of crime, sci-fi, mystery, and even a very slight hint of
romance. DiSanto certainly knows how to command her readers’ attention; the
book pulls you in and won’t let you go, dragging you along for the ride through
each twist and turn. I found myself staying up late a couple of nights so that
I could read on, oblivious to the fact that I was dead tired and had an early
start the next morning – a sure sign of a successful thriller.
My only complaint about the book – and it’s a very minor niggle
really – is the unsatisfactory ending (warning - very slight spoiler coming up). The narrative was hurtling toward an
amazing showdown, and then – well, nothing, actually. Amanda loses
consciousness just at the moment of highest tension, and the next thing we know
we’re reading the Epilogue, and a quick précis of what actually occurred. I
felt a bit let down; but then again, let it be said, if I’d been in Amanda’s
situation I’d probably have passed out too.
As I said, this is a small complaint, and shouldn’t put
anyone off. Amanda’s Eyes is a
fabulous, genre-bending, fun read, and well worth its price tag. Recommended.
To buy Amanda's Eyes, visit amazon.com or amazon.co.uk.
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