Book Review: The Fold by Peter Clines

STEP INTO THE FOLD. IT’S PERFECTLY SAFE. The folks in Mike Erikson's small New England town would say he's just your average, everyday guy. And that's exactly how Mike likes it. Sure, the life he's chosen isn’t much of a challenge to someone with his unique gifts, but he’s content with his quiet and peaceful existence.  
That is, until an old friend presents him with an irresistible mystery, one that Mike is uniquely qualified to solve: far out in the California desert, a team of DARPA scientists has invented a device they affectionately call the Albuquerque Door. Using a cryptic computer equation and magnetic fields to “fold” dimensions, it shrinks distances so that a traveler can travel hundreds of feet with a single step.
The invention promises to make mankind’s dreams of teleportation a reality. And, the scientists insist, traveling through the Door is completely safe.
Yet evidence is mounting that this miraculous machine isn’t quite what it seems—and that its creators are harboring a dangerous secret.  
As his investigations draw him deeper into the puzzle, Mike begins to fear there’s only one answer that makes sense. And if he’s right, it may only be a matter of time before the project destroys…everything.  
A cunningly inventive mystery featuring a hero worthy of Sherlock Holmes and a terrifying final twist you’ll never see coming, The Fold is that rarest of things: a genuinely page-turning science-fiction thriller. Step inside its pages and learn why author Peter Clines has already won legions of loyal fans.

I read 14 because I heard great things about The Fold, and I wanted to read the books in the right order. I loved 14, so I was looking forward to The Fold. The first 60% was a total page-turner, but the last part felt underwhelming. I think the mystery kept me interested, but being able to guess the truth behind it made me lose interest, especially because I always expect authors to surprise me, even if I guess how things will turn out. Like they will be as expected, but better or more interesting.

Mike was an okay protagonist, although I usually prefer regular people like Nate from 14. I have to concede that Mike’s eidetic memory is a key aspect of the story, but I find it difficult to believe that he never decided to do anything with it. I just didn’t buy the character. Also, his tendency to count all the time became old soon. Jamie is also an important character in the book, and one who seemed interesting from the start, as she wasn’t going to make things easy for Mike. Sadly, due to events that I won’t spoil here, the character wasn’t allowed to evolve, grow, and help create a compelling story.

The last part was too much action and too little else for my liking, not adding much to its counterpart in 14, which had been my least favorite part of the novel.

I liked the couple of cameos from 14, though. That was nice.

Story (Plot)
Overall:

lomeraniel

My name is Elena. Since I was a little child I loved science fiction and fantasy, and I can’t resist a good novel. In 2015, while wait I started to listen to audiobooks and I discovered the pleasure in being able to read while doing my daily tasks, so there’s always an audiobook playing on my phone. If you see me with my Bluetooth headphones on, please be gentle, I get easily startled.

I live with my boyfriend, which I met during my six-year stay in Belgium, four cockatiels, eight lovebirds, and a hamster in Madrid, Spain; and I like to spend my free time knitting and sewing while listening to audiobooks.