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Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Janus Origin: Threads of Control by Daniel A. Riddle introduces us to Nathan Longton, a café owner in Preston, whose life is upended when a mysterious student, Lan Nguyen, stumbles into his shop, pursued by unseen forces and haunted by an intrusive voice in her head. What’s interesting is that Nathan and Lan share identical necklaces and fragmented histories, pulling them into the mysterious Project Janus Origin together. It turns out to be a clandestine mind-control experiment that manipulates memory, identity, and connection. Assisting them are Ollie, a sardonic tech expert, and Marcus, a jaded ex-scientist with both insight and biting humor. As Lan's inner voice intensifies and shadowy agents close in, Nathan and his allies must unravel the conspiracy before trust disintegrates, and as reality blurs, they wonder if their bond is authentic or just elaborate programming. A blend of psychological suspense, sci-fi speculation, and emotional slow-burn romance, this novel probes whether the heart can ever be free when your mind isn't your own.
Author Daniel A. Riddle has a unique way of narrating that gives so much detail without ever sacrificing the pace of the story, and he expertly balances tech-driven suspense with poignant emotional stakes that kept me flipping the pages. I was pulled into the narration and emotional atmosphere around the characters. Figures like Ollie and Marcus provide welcome humor and depth amid the tension, whilst keeping the action relatable and realistic. Against this, the concept of engineered love is handled with suitable depth and is both chilling and heartbreakingly plausible when it hits our heroes where it hurts the most. This is a fascinating novel of ‘what ifs’ that places you right in the action and asks you what you’d do in the same situation, and I adored that involvement with the storyline. Overall, Janus Origin: Threads of Control is a highly recommended read for fans of themes of identity and trust, which intertwine beautifully in this smart psychological thriller.
