Book Review, 'Enhanced'

Enhanced’ by Ben Brown reviewed by Pete Christensen

  Ben Brown’s ‘Enhanced’ is more science than fiction. It centers around a not too

distant future and the world of genetics that’s already a reality. (Although after the first

forty pages it enters the realm of full blown sci-fi.) The author thrust the reader into

immediate action as the main character Zac Thomas is kidnapped on his way to work in

in Reading, Pennsylvania.

  Thomas is a brilliant over achiever with no family and almost no real social life, but his

ultimate asset is also his Achilles heel. He was born with a very rare genetic code that’s

ripe for what’s known as enhancement. The kidnappers it turns out are a scientist with a

deity complex; seventy something Henry Skinner, and his beautiful Brittish assistant

Lea.

  The reason for the kidnapping isn’t money or medical research. Skinner and Lea have

unintentionally created a mass murdering monster and now they desperately need a

test subject to create a type of super-human capable of hunting him down. To further

complicate the plot, the monster they’ve created is the doctor’s own son Dominic. This

type of hunt or be hunted scenario makes for great action and suspense as the hero

has to constantly enter and re-enter the abyss of danger.

  Brown’s writing style is fluid and his dialogue is down to earth and believable. I can

imagine these conversations taking place between the characters without sounding at

all forced. Zac and Lea’s hunt takes them to a wide range of locations, sometimes

exotic, sometimes sinister. Likewise they encounter numerous characters that may or

may not be predators themselves. This adds to the constant tension of the storyline.

I also enjoyed the fact that while Lea and Zac are on the prowl there are elements of an

old fashioned buddy story that offsets the action.  

  Within the 510 pages the duo encounter Homeland security agents Baker, Long, and

Martinez who may or may not be on their side. Also there’s a possible double agent

(possibly a mole) named Kennedy as well as enough bad guys to keep you guessing. 

   Purely from a sci-fi viewpoint this book is great fun. It moves quickly and is loaded

with action. It’s as if Brown combined the high paced action of ‘The Matrix’ and the

underlying genetically altered science of ‘Blade Runner’ to create this excellent hybrid

adventure and then went further into his imagination.       

  The question remains; would you enjoy this if you’re not a sci-fi fan? I think so mainly

because the main characters are more than likeable, they’re vulnerable, while the

ancillary ones seem real enough to hold their own. You’ll probably find yourself as I did

wanting to see how each new plot twist develops.