I learned about this book while searching for something to read on the BookSirens site. I was attracted by the cover and hooked when I read the blurb. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Unexpected Witness is a sci-fi space opera with
elements of a police procedural and an action tale. It moves along at a good
pace with stops along the way to fill in the blanks with character background.
The story is well focused and entertaining. I enjoyed this story immensely.
The
people of Earth have moved among the stars to settle planets for inhabitation.
On one such humdrum world known as Raven, Jace Rojas witnesses a murder in the
streets. Three people are killed by a sniper on a rooftop. When the killer
flees the scene, Jace approaches the three victims to see if he can help them.
Two are dead, but a third mutters something to Jace. Soon the police arrive and
put Jace in handcuffs. He is a clone in a society full of hatred for his kind,
so he is immediately a suspect. When it is determined Jace is not the
perpetrator, he released and sent to his ramshackle home.
The
incident comes to the attention of Marshall Onima Gwok of the Confederation
Bureau of Investigation (CBI), a futuristic version of the FBI. She learns one
of the victims of the shooting was a high-level executive of a major galactic
corporation and is sent to investigate.
When
Onima arrives on at the location of the crime, she learns about Jace being a
witness. She goes to his home to see what information he has and winds up
taking him along on the investigation as an expert consultant - two of the
victims were clones.
During
the investigation, every answer only brings more and more questions, making
Onima and Jace's job into an impossible puzzle to solve.
There
are several characters we learn about through the story. Onima is accompanied
by numerous people aboard her starship to assist her through investigations,
but it is she and Jace at the center of the story.
Jace
Rojas (his clone designation is Rojas AC J7-2247) is a leftover of an almost
forgotten war, thrown aside when he and others like him are no longer needed as
soldiers. As such, he suffers extreme bigotry and is constantly ridiculed
whenever he is spotted by other humans. Perhaps he is a reminder of past
incidents humans are not proud of and trying to forget. Right from the
beginning, I liked Jace. He is smart and there is more to him than meets the
eye. He seems to have a knack for investigating crime and picks up on things
quickly. Owing to his incredible memory, he remembers everything he sees, a
trait bread into all clones. As he and Onima work together, he gains her trust,
and she relies on him for help.
Onima
Gwok of the CBI has several cases ongoing but is told to make this murder
investigation a high priority case. She doesn't carry the baggage of prejudice
against clones most others seem to have. She takes Jace at face value from the
start, and her respect for him grows as time passes. A strong female character,
she has numerous encounters where people in positions of authority challenge
her. She refuses to be intimidated by anyone. Also brilliant, she can find
innovative ways to accomplish her goals. She is also determined. She will not
give up until she has the truth, no matter how impossible it seems to find. By
the end of this story, there are several truths she will need to uncover before
she solves the case.
One
of the takeaways I found in the book, and the most obvious as well, is the
statement the author makes on his feelings about prejudice and bigotry. The
clones were created to fight wars so 'normal' humans wouldn't have to die in
combat. When the war is done, what of the clones? Apparently, they are not
considered human by a large part of the galactic community, so they become
disposable. The clones find themselves doing jobs no one else wants to do. Many
of the jobs they do are not only undesirable and miserable tasks, but they are
also sometimes dangerous. The society in Blehart's vision of the future will be
full of people who are considered subhuman and treated as such. They are forced
to live in makeshift housing and have to live a subsistence lifestyle devoid of
happiness. This concept is vividly and painfully depicted in this tale. It will
hopefully make readers stop and do a little introspection on their own
philosophies; it did for me.
The
other plot point I was most impressed with was the author's world building
skill. The picture painted in the text is not all revealed in the novel's exposition
but is spread through the story and comes as is needed to explain circumstances
of a situation. Often, I wondered about some bit of information I had questions
about only to be treated to answers as I read. I would urge readers of this to
be patient as the world building is revealed, not to mention the backstories of
the principal and supporting characters.
Unexpected Witness is the first of a series of books
under the Forgotten Fodder banner and it is a tremendous science fiction
story that is heavy on fascinating characters being thrown into difficult
situations they have to think their way out of. Readers will get a picture of a
future that is wonderful for some, and dubious for others. It is thought
provoking and in tune with themes we face in the times we are living in. For those
reasons, I give high recommendations for this story as must read sci-fi.
I've
also learned the second novel in this series is available under the title, The
Clone Conundrum, which I will read and review at a later date.
He
is a history aficionado. MJ has been a member of the Society for Creative
Anachronism (SCA - a medieval re-enactment society) for over twenty-nine years.
In the SCA, he studies and teaches 16th century rapier combat (fencing) and
court heraldry, enjoys archery, social interactions with people from all over
the world, and spending time with friends.
MJ
blogs regularly, exploring mindfulness, conscious reality creation, positivity,
the writing process/business, and creating an amazing life.
MJ
currently resides in south New Jersey with his wife and two feline overlords
(cats).
Visit
MJ Blehart website: mjblehart.com
Well,
there it is...
Qapla!
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