Reviewed by Anne B for Readers' Favorite

Dan Simmons offers readers a thriller in flashback. The story follows Nick Bottom as he investigates the death of a government adviser. Neither the police, nor the security team, solved the murder. Nick investigated the murder as a police officer. Now five years later, the murder was still unsolved and the father hired Nick to pick up the investigation again. So why Nick? FLASHBACK

Flashback is a drug that allows the user to mentally relive past memories. The drug was extremely addictive and damaged the brain with each use. It had been banned in Japan; however, it was very popular in the United States. The U. S. is bankrupt: morally, financially, and politically. The citizens seem to have turned to the drug rather than face their bleak reality. Like too many people today, they would rather dwell on the past than shape their future. Even our hero Nick wants to revisit his past through his memories of Dara, his beloved, deceased wife.

I was struck by the realism of this story. I hope Simmons is wrong about the future; perhaps this book will serve as a warning. It is an excellent read and the pacing is superb. In the audiobook, there are three readers, allowing the listener to easily distinguish between the characters. The sound is a great quality. The plot captured my attention early in the book and held it throughout. Intrigue, suspense, danger, romance and thrills keep the reader listening to all twenty-two hours.