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zanybibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
The mystery of the investigation was really good and it was almost impossible to fit all the pieces of the puzzle together until the very end.
Click here to read my full review.
I really enjoyed the storyline and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the Cassie Tam Files.
Click here to read my full review.
I really enjoyed the storyline and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the Cassie Tam Files.
wildlyminiaturesandwich's review
4.0
NOTE: I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NineStar Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
For the most part I found this book really interesting. I'm a bit of a geek when it comes to technology and sci-fi and while I would have liked a little bit more sci-fi in this book, the tech talk was spot on and really interesting.
It took me a little while to connect with the main character, Cass, but slowly throughout the book she won me over until I really liked her by the end.
One thing in particular that I liked about this story is that romance wasn't a main factor, it's more background noise than anything else, and I love that. But I am very interested to see how her relationship with Lori develops in the next book and I enjoyed this one enough that I might even buy a physical copy if I can find one on sale!
For the most part I found this book really interesting. I'm a bit of a geek when it comes to technology and sci-fi and while I would have liked a little bit more sci-fi in this book, the tech talk was spot on and really interesting.
It took me a little while to connect with the main character, Cass, but slowly throughout the book she won me over until I really liked her by the end.
One thing in particular that I liked about this story is that romance wasn't a main factor, it's more background noise than anything else, and I love that. But I am very interested to see how her relationship with Lori develops in the next book and I enjoyed this one enough that I might even buy a physical copy if I can find one on sale!
qalminator's review
DNF at 35%. Semi-interesting attempt at tech noir, but I never really got into the characters in any meaningful way. I think I picked it up because someone was talking about the tech-gargoyle sidekick, and so far it hasn't actually done anything. Presumably it will by the end of the book? I'm just not invested enough to keep reading and find out.
rebl's review
5.0
RATING: 4.5 stars
When I was studying English Extension as a Year 12 student, we spent the year focused on a genre study of crime fiction. One of our set texts was Marele Day's The Life and Crimes of Harry Lavender, a gritty urban crime fiction written in a very traditional style, but with a unique (for the time) female protagonist. The reason I bring this up, is that I couldn't help thinking about that book quite a lot whilst I was reading ADDICT. You need to ignore the GoodReads ratings of Day's book, because it's been skewed heavily by resentful teenagers who were tired of the book after studying it. It's dated now (over 30 years later), but Harry Lavender infused pre-WWII crime fiction conventions with fresh, contemporary elements of gender, as well as a real sense of place, with the city of Sydney treated as a character in its own right.
Matt Doyle's ADDICT, though a rather different beast from Harry Lavender, is intelligent and fresh in much the same way Day's book was in the late 80s. A crime is committed and, of course, as time goes on, our detective is led through a series of twists and turns to finally lead her to a thrilling conclusion, where all the puzzle pieces fall into place - a satisfying conclusion is provided, as you'd expect from a detective story.
Set in the near future, Addict combines the engrossing, tenebrous elements of 1930s noir crime fiction with the spectacle and possibility of science fiction. Cassie Tam is, in many ways, a traditional sleuth protagonist, right down to the glock, the dingy apartment, and the social isolation. But Cassie also has a metallic gargoyle as her security guard, and has to delve into the nefarious world of technology addiction as a means to solve the case at the heart of the story. Her client also happens to be a Tech Shifter, someone who uses specially designed machinery to transform into an animal as a form of escapism. Cool, right?
The characters are engaging and memorable, slowly building relationships and inviting us into their psyches. Given this is the first story of a series, the characterisation has been handled well. There's a sweet romance developing by the end of the book, but it hasn't been explored so much as to make subsequent books almost pointless, Doyle has left space to move with the romance -- a wise move, I think!
Setting and atmosphere are amongst the strongest elements of ADDICT. By the end of the novel, I felt connected to the city of New Hopeland. I understood its history, its evolution, and its almost fetishist underbelly, where even crime is driven by zealotry. I'd have no reservations recommending this book!
***REVIEWED FOR CELESTIAL BOOKS***
When I was studying English Extension as a Year 12 student, we spent the year focused on a genre study of crime fiction. One of our set texts was Marele Day's The Life and Crimes of Harry Lavender, a gritty urban crime fiction written in a very traditional style, but with a unique (for the time) female protagonist. The reason I bring this up, is that I couldn't help thinking about that book quite a lot whilst I was reading ADDICT. You need to ignore the GoodReads ratings of Day's book, because it's been skewed heavily by resentful teenagers who were tired of the book after studying it. It's dated now (over 30 years later), but Harry Lavender infused pre-WWII crime fiction conventions with fresh, contemporary elements of gender, as well as a real sense of place, with the city of Sydney treated as a character in its own right.
Matt Doyle's ADDICT, though a rather different beast from Harry Lavender, is intelligent and fresh in much the same way Day's book was in the late 80s. A crime is committed and, of course, as time goes on, our detective is led through a series of twists and turns to finally lead her to a thrilling conclusion, where all the puzzle pieces fall into place - a satisfying conclusion is provided, as you'd expect from a detective story.
Set in the near future, Addict combines the engrossing, tenebrous elements of 1930s noir crime fiction with the spectacle and possibility of science fiction. Cassie Tam is, in many ways, a traditional sleuth protagonist, right down to the glock, the dingy apartment, and the social isolation. But Cassie also has a metallic gargoyle as her security guard, and has to delve into the nefarious world of technology addiction as a means to solve the case at the heart of the story. Her client also happens to be a Tech Shifter, someone who uses specially designed machinery to transform into an animal as a form of escapism. Cool, right?
The characters are engaging and memorable, slowly building relationships and inviting us into their psyches. Given this is the first story of a series, the characterisation has been handled well. There's a sweet romance developing by the end of the book, but it hasn't been explored so much as to make subsequent books almost pointless, Doyle has left space to move with the romance -- a wise move, I think!
Setting and atmosphere are amongst the strongest elements of ADDICT. By the end of the novel, I felt connected to the city of New Hopeland. I understood its history, its evolution, and its almost fetishist underbelly, where even crime is driven by zealotry. I'd have no reservations recommending this book!
***REVIEWED FOR CELESTIAL BOOKS***
chelsealaurenauthor's review
4.0
Matt Doyle has created a world, in which, technological advances are more a part of everyday use than they are today. His future thoughts on technology are not so far-fetched, as most of what's written about already exist in some shape or form.
In New Hopeland, where the novel takes place, there are Virtual Reality addicts, where drug addicts quite literally live in a different dimension when getting high and there are Tech Shifters, who are people who decide they'd be better suited to live a life as an animal. While they don't live this life 24 hours a day, it still is a way that they identify. These are just some of the advances.
We're introduced to Cassie Tam, who is a private investigator. She's known for taking cases that the local police department writes off, and even some that they've "investigated" but maybe not to the furthest potential, enter storyline here.
Lori Redwood is a Tech Shifter who by day is a human woman and in her downtime, she shifts into a panther. Her brother, on the other hand, is considered a Virtual Reality Addict, who has been found dead at the beginning of the book. However, Lori doesn't believe that her brother overdosed like the police department claims. So she hires Cassie to help her investigate further.
It's a fascinating concept, with the development of this world as its base, and then creating this complex storyline on top. As humans, we often stereotype, so of course, when we hear that a drug addict has been found dead, it's almost always written off as an overdose or suicide.
Matt Doyle brings you along for the ride of the corrupt world that they live in--but also, far too similar to the corruption happening today. He has you questioning your own stereotypes, debating who you'd be in this world, and on the fence about how you really believe that Lori's brother died. You're introduced to relationships that Cassie has in order to do her job well, but the trust and loyalty she has to those who should easily be locked up, but without them, other crimes wouldn't be able to be solved. Corruption is a tangled web, my friend.
There's more to this story than just the investigation as we learn about relationships between siblings, parents, and lovers. Do you really know your sibling? Parent? Lover? Friend? What could they truly be hiding from you? Do they genuinely believe in you?
With an unexpected twist that has you placing together each and every puzzle piece, you're brought through to a full circle. As the first in the series, I'm interested to see where else Matt Doyle leads Cassie Tam, and how her story continues unfolds. You won't want to miss out!
In New Hopeland, where the novel takes place, there are Virtual Reality addicts, where drug addicts quite literally live in a different dimension when getting high and there are Tech Shifters, who are people who decide they'd be better suited to live a life as an animal. While they don't live this life 24 hours a day, it still is a way that they identify. These are just some of the advances.
We're introduced to Cassie Tam, who is a private investigator. She's known for taking cases that the local police department writes off, and even some that they've "investigated" but maybe not to the furthest potential, enter storyline here.
Lori Redwood is a Tech Shifter who by day is a human woman and in her downtime, she shifts into a panther. Her brother, on the other hand, is considered a Virtual Reality Addict, who has been found dead at the beginning of the book. However, Lori doesn't believe that her brother overdosed like the police department claims. So she hires Cassie to help her investigate further.
It's a fascinating concept, with the development of this world as its base, and then creating this complex storyline on top. As humans, we often stereotype, so of course, when we hear that a drug addict has been found dead, it's almost always written off as an overdose or suicide.
Matt Doyle brings you along for the ride of the corrupt world that they live in--but also, far too similar to the corruption happening today. He has you questioning your own stereotypes, debating who you'd be in this world, and on the fence about how you really believe that Lori's brother died. You're introduced to relationships that Cassie has in order to do her job well, but the trust and loyalty she has to those who should easily be locked up, but without them, other crimes wouldn't be able to be solved. Corruption is a tangled web, my friend.
There's more to this story than just the investigation as we learn about relationships between siblings, parents, and lovers. Do you really know your sibling? Parent? Lover? Friend? What could they truly be hiding from you? Do they genuinely believe in you?
With an unexpected twist that has you placing together each and every puzzle piece, you're brought through to a full circle. As the first in the series, I'm interested to see where else Matt Doyle leads Cassie Tam, and how her story continues unfolds. You won't want to miss out!
emhamill's review
4.0
Already reviewed it on my Elisabeth Hamill profile. Loved it! Sam Spade meets Blade Runner!
aly36's review
4.0
New Hopeland is a new world. Cassie Tam takes a case for what she think is an easy case. The case turns out to be more than meets the eye. What an exciting Cyberpunk world the author has created! Murder and mystery are fun to read for me and I enjoyed this book. There was lots of good detail in this book for me on this new world and some great new creature/characters. * I received this book from the author and this is my honest review*
the_novel_approach's review against another edition
3.0
~ 3.5 Stars ~
This story is a blend of my two favorite genres, scifi and crime fiction, but it reads as if those elements were two separate stories: the urban science fiction thriller and the who-done-it. Consequently, the worldbuilding was pretty intense. Cyperpunky while also having a teensy bit of a noir feel, it didn’t quite strike me as Blade Runner—it was more urban—but it was close.
In the future, people trade drugs for virtual reality time (which also basically requires drugs to experience full immersion). There’s the usual mob mentality, and impoverished people committing petty crime in our setting, consistent with noir, and also some sweet techy gear.
People wear suits of armor, which can turn them into mechanical animals—it brings the idea of being a furry to a whole other level—and Cassie, our protagonist and private detective, has a pet robo-bird named Bert, a mechanical gargoyle that protects her and the house. Bert’s tech is really quite fascinating because he seems sentient, and he consequently provides much comedic relief. I wish I had known a bit more how he worked, but the surprises were worth it.
We get to the meat of our story when Cassie has a visitor from the damsel-in-distress, Lori Redwood, whose brother is found dead, needle in hand, but Lori claims he didn’t commit suicide. The plot elements around the murder of Lori’s brother were fairly simple and, honestly, not the story’s most winning aspects, but they were palatable.
By far, exploring the world was the most entertaining for me. That being said, there was a lot of backstory and info dump, and I was a bit bogged down by the pacing. My favorite parts were the crystalline moments when the action, science fiction, and mystery elements locked into a vivid mental picture. I also appreciated Cassie’s hard edges. She was a bad-ass protagonist, and I wouldn’t mind reading more stories with her in them.
Our love story with the damsel-in-distress was lacking, but I didn’t really need it to get me through. However, because the romance wasn’t my main focus, the end dragged during the wrap-up of that part of the plot. All in all, the mecha-furries were cool, Bert the robo-bird was cool, and I would give this protagonist another chance. I liked Addict, but it was kinda slow.
Reviewed by Ben for The Novel Approach
This story is a blend of my two favorite genres, scifi and crime fiction, but it reads as if those elements were two separate stories: the urban science fiction thriller and the who-done-it. Consequently, the worldbuilding was pretty intense. Cyperpunky while also having a teensy bit of a noir feel, it didn’t quite strike me as Blade Runner—it was more urban—but it was close.
In the future, people trade drugs for virtual reality time (which also basically requires drugs to experience full immersion). There’s the usual mob mentality, and impoverished people committing petty crime in our setting, consistent with noir, and also some sweet techy gear.
People wear suits of armor, which can turn them into mechanical animals—it brings the idea of being a furry to a whole other level—and Cassie, our protagonist and private detective, has a pet robo-bird named Bert, a mechanical gargoyle that protects her and the house. Bert’s tech is really quite fascinating because he seems sentient, and he consequently provides much comedic relief. I wish I had known a bit more how he worked, but the surprises were worth it.
We get to the meat of our story when Cassie has a visitor from the damsel-in-distress, Lori Redwood, whose brother is found dead, needle in hand, but Lori claims he didn’t commit suicide. The plot elements around the murder of Lori’s brother were fairly simple and, honestly, not the story’s most winning aspects, but they were palatable.
By far, exploring the world was the most entertaining for me. That being said, there was a lot of backstory and info dump, and I was a bit bogged down by the pacing. My favorite parts were the crystalline moments when the action, science fiction, and mystery elements locked into a vivid mental picture. I also appreciated Cassie’s hard edges. She was a bad-ass protagonist, and I wouldn’t mind reading more stories with her in them.
Our love story with the damsel-in-distress was lacking, but I didn’t really need it to get me through. However, because the romance wasn’t my main focus, the end dragged during the wrap-up of that part of the plot. All in all, the mecha-furries were cool, Bert the robo-bird was cool, and I would give this protagonist another chance. I liked Addict, but it was kinda slow.
Reviewed by Ben for The Novel Approach
ladygetslit's review
5.0
Read my full review on my blog, The Story Salve
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars.
*Full Disclosure: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences my opinion of the book.*
Addict is a cyberpunk/crime noir novel that follows Cassie Tam as she attempts to solve the mystery surrounding Eddie Redwood’s apparent drug overdose. Along the way, she has to confront her ex-girlfriend, Charlie, and comes to realize her growing feelings for her client, Lori, a Tech Shifter who uses an animal exoskeleton to role play as stress relief.
what I liked:
* Cassie as the protagonist: she’s slightly snarky & super independent; she’s not afraid of bending the law when she needs to, but she works for the good of her clients in a society where the police aren’t trustworthy
* unique world-building: there’s enough info to give you a sense of the society, but it’s not just a huge info-dump in the beginning & it doesn’t detract from the action of the story
* futuristic concepts that echo our reality: the idea of people who are addicted to virtual reality hits pretty close to home & gives the story an eerie quality that works really well
* Tech Shifting as a metaphor: through her growing relationship with her client, Lori, Cassie learns to reconsider her preconceptions of Tech Shifters, people who use an exoskeleton to transform into an animal or hybrid. Tech Shifting could be seen as the futuristic role playing that is sometimes mocked by non-nerds, and the story reminds us to not be so harsh with our judgements before we really know people.
* queerness & an f/f romance that takes a backseat to the action: Cassie’s flirtation with Lori acts as comic relief rather than detracting from the main storyline. This isn’t a story about being queer, which I also loved.
* the crime plot mixed with the cyberpunk world really kept me guessing
*setup for a longer series: Cassie is such a great character & the world she lives in has a lot of potential for more stories in the future; at the same time, Addict could easily be read as a standalone.
My only issue was the ending. After the mystery is resolved, the story focuses on the romantic tension between Cassie and Lori. I enjoyed this element, but I wanted more of Cassie’s family backstory earlier in the story, rather than having it finally exposed at the end.
Overall: definitely recommended, particularly for sci-fi readers.
Despite the fact that this is outside my normal genre, I really got into the story. There was plenty of world-building that added to the story rather than distracting from it. Addict is a nice escapist type read, but one that also makes you consider aspects of the real world in a new way. I really admired Cassie’s personality and look forward to hopefully reading more of her stories in the future.
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars.
*Full Disclosure: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences my opinion of the book.*
Addict is a cyberpunk/crime noir novel that follows Cassie Tam as she attempts to solve the mystery surrounding Eddie Redwood’s apparent drug overdose. Along the way, she has to confront her ex-girlfriend, Charlie, and comes to realize her growing feelings for her client, Lori, a Tech Shifter who uses an animal exoskeleton to role play as stress relief.
what I liked:
* Cassie as the protagonist: she’s slightly snarky & super independent; she’s not afraid of bending the law when she needs to, but she works for the good of her clients in a society where the police aren’t trustworthy
* unique world-building: there’s enough info to give you a sense of the society, but it’s not just a huge info-dump in the beginning & it doesn’t detract from the action of the story
* futuristic concepts that echo our reality: the idea of people who are addicted to virtual reality hits pretty close to home & gives the story an eerie quality that works really well
* Tech Shifting as a metaphor: through her growing relationship with her client, Lori, Cassie learns to reconsider her preconceptions of Tech Shifters, people who use an exoskeleton to transform into an animal or hybrid. Tech Shifting could be seen as the futuristic role playing that is sometimes mocked by non-nerds, and the story reminds us to not be so harsh with our judgements before we really know people.
* queerness & an f/f romance that takes a backseat to the action: Cassie’s flirtation with Lori acts as comic relief rather than detracting from the main storyline. This isn’t a story about being queer, which I also loved.
* the crime plot mixed with the cyberpunk world really kept me guessing
*setup for a longer series: Cassie is such a great character & the world she lives in has a lot of potential for more stories in the future; at the same time, Addict could easily be read as a standalone.
My only issue was the ending. After the mystery is resolved, the story focuses on the romantic tension between Cassie and Lori. I enjoyed this element, but I wanted more of Cassie’s family backstory earlier in the story, rather than having it finally exposed at the end.
Overall: definitely recommended, particularly for sci-fi readers.
Despite the fact that this is outside my normal genre, I really got into the story. There was plenty of world-building that added to the story rather than distracting from it. Addict is a nice escapist type read, but one that also makes you consider aspects of the real world in a new way. I really admired Cassie’s personality and look forward to hopefully reading more of her stories in the future.
broomesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
It was supposed to be easy money. P.I. Cassie Tam takes on what should be an open and shut case, Eddie Redwood’s accidental overdose and death. He’s a VR addict. It makes sense. All she’d have to prove to Eddie’s sister, Lori, is that his death was exactly what it appeared to be and pocket a pretty penny in the process.
She probably should have known that it wouldn’t work out that way.
As she digs deeper and deeper, Cassie is thrust into more than she asked for. There are assassins, drug dealers, cops who want her to back off, and the world of Tech Shifting. And it’s the first time she’s felt a tug of attraction to anyone since her last breakup. Of course it’d be Lori Redwood, her current client who spends time as a tech shifted.
Right from the first pages, you get Cassie’s sarcasm, snark and wit. Think, Veronica Mars as an adult in a tech heavy world with a touch of crime noire. She doesn’t change who she is for anyone. She is one hundred percent Cassie every minute of the day. The fact that Bert, who I refuse to spoil you on, is just as snarky as Cassie, it’s perfect.
The tech in this world, it went beyond my expectations. I didn’t think of applying it in the methods that Matt Doyle did in this novel. It was vivid, understandable and just as much of the setting as Cassie’s ratty apartment was.
As for the romance, Cassie and Lori flirt throughout. There was a part of me that was all about that. I’m not a fan of characters just jumping into bed. Cassie’s caution but ability to learn why Lori is a tech shifter was a dynamic you don’t really see explore. Cassie rolled with it and took the time to understand. Towards the end is when you get the most action romance wise.
There were times that I forgot there was a mystery happening. I was more interested in Cassie and Lori. I couldn’t help myself. I'm a sucker for a slow burn. I also did not see the reason behind Eddie Redwood’s death coming. It was a surprise but one I felt there could have been a little more build up to. So it was good that I didn’t see it coming but it felt a little flat to me.
Am I going to read the next book when it comes out? You better believe I am
She probably should have known that it wouldn’t work out that way.
As she digs deeper and deeper, Cassie is thrust into more than she asked for. There are assassins, drug dealers, cops who want her to back off, and the world of Tech Shifting. And it’s the first time she’s felt a tug of attraction to anyone since her last breakup. Of course it’d be Lori Redwood, her current client who spends time as a tech shifted.
Right from the first pages, you get Cassie’s sarcasm, snark and wit. Think, Veronica Mars as an adult in a tech heavy world with a touch of crime noire. She doesn’t change who she is for anyone. She is one hundred percent Cassie every minute of the day. The fact that Bert, who I refuse to spoil you on, is just as snarky as Cassie, it’s perfect.
The tech in this world, it went beyond my expectations. I didn’t think of applying it in the methods that Matt Doyle did in this novel. It was vivid, understandable and just as much of the setting as Cassie’s ratty apartment was.
As for the romance, Cassie and Lori flirt throughout. There was a part of me that was all about that. I’m not a fan of characters just jumping into bed. Cassie’s caution but ability to learn why Lori is a tech shifter was a dynamic you don’t really see explore. Cassie rolled with it and took the time to understand. Towards the end is when you get the most action romance wise.
There were times that I forgot there was a mystery happening. I was more interested in Cassie and Lori. I couldn’t help myself. I'm a sucker for a slow burn. I also did not see the reason behind Eddie Redwood’s death coming. It was a surprise but one I felt there could have been a little more build up to. So it was good that I didn’t see it coming but it felt a little flat to me.
Am I going to read the next book when it comes out? You better believe I am