Review: Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Dark Matter
Author: Blake Crouch
Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller
Release date: July 26th, 2016

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Description:

“Are you happy with your life?”

Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the masked abductor knocks him unconscious. Before he awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits. Before a man Jason’s never met smiles down at him and says, “Welcome back, my friend.”

In this world he’s woken up to, Jason’s life is not the one he knows. His wife is not his wife. His son was never born. And Jason is not an ordinary college physics professor, but a celebrated genius who has achieved something remarkable. Something impossible.

Is it this world or the other that’s the dream? And even if the home he remembers is real, how can Jason possibly make it back to the family he loves? The answers lie in a journey more wondrous and horrifying than anything he could’ve imagined—one that will force him to confront the darkest parts of himself even as he battles a terrifying, seemingly unbeatable foe.

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I know I’m really late to the party, but I’m finally reviewing this one!

Dark Matter is a page-turner that offers a new perspective on the multiverse hypothesis. Through an action-packed plot and a strong main character, it highlights how each choice we make matters and all that a man is willing to risk to find his family and continue his path in life. It’s one of those books you don’t want to put down and that makes you wonder what you’d do if you found yourself in the same situation.

Dark Matter’s core concept is not new, but it carried it out greatly. It included expected tropes, but it also gave me surprises. That is why I enjoyed it so much—I never truly knew where it was taking me. I found myself constantly nervous and trying to piece the story together before it was unraveled.

One of the best aspects of this novel was the explanation regarding the technology and the parallel universes. It relied on science and made it feel tangible, despite taking me a while to grasp how everything worked.

As far as characters go, Jason was a good protagonist. His life wasn’t exactly one I could identify with, but I still got interested in it. He exposed his fears and doubts, but also showed his strength and love for his family. I liked his honesty and how he handled the conflict at hand, so rooting for him came naturally.

Amanda, on the other hand, was really disappointing. I wanted to know so much about her and see her grow, but her part within the story ultimately fell flat. I think she was only included to keep the main character some company and add dialogues to make the narrative more interactive. She had no depth, no personality, and I think it was a big wasted opportunity.

Overall, the strong point of Dark Matter is what it leaves you with. I can’t stop thinking about life’s paths and all the choices we make. How each moment defines us. It’s an incredibly entertaining book that I can definitely imagine as a film, so now let’s see how it translates to the big screen.