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Kill Time
by T.J. MacGregor
Time
Travel, Dissidents, Corruption and Decay
TJ MacGregor's Kill Time depicts the corruption
of society as a mother is abducted by government agents and society's
values turn extreme. Protection from outside threats and and medical
maladies turn rogue as extremism and corruption enter the scene. Time
travel heightens the suspense and characterization as the author
reveals history and future influence.
Nora's mother disappeared when she was a child. Now, as she prepares to
tell her husband that she wants a divorce, her childhood fears come
back to haunt her as her husband is taken away from her right in front
of her in a restaurant by FREEZE (Freedom and Security). Labeled as a
terrorist, there is no recourse and her attempts to find out the charge
become much too similar to a Kafka novel. As she traces a trail of
clues left by her husband, she uncovers medical research gone awry,
disappearing dissidents, political corruption and power brokering,
greed run rampant and an eerie connection to a television show from the
past. The ending leaves some things hanging but it works well here,
giving a vision that makes the reader ponder.
Kill Time
addresses issues of our current culture, indeed issues faced throughout
history, but in de-familiarizes them through time travel and a
futuristic feel. TJ MacGregor gets down to timeless values,not specific
political personalities or events, and in doing so, reaches beyond
party politics into the heart of human values. I adore suspense that
takes parts of culture perhaps good in the original intention and
twists them, showing the underside when "good" things become too
absolute, too fanatical. TJ MacGregor reveals the dark underside of
aspects of today's society without preaching and without moralizing,
leaving the reader to form their own ideas. As homeland security and
medical research cross the boundaries into corruption and fanaticism,
TJ MacGregor provides an eerie portrait.
The references to Rod Serling, The
Twilight Zone and Jerry Garcia and The Grateful Dead are just
downright fun. TJ MacGregor's thriller amuses with its look into 1968
culture and chills as time travel brings an all too real look at the
influence of television albeit through the twisted and delightful
vision of TJ MacGregor's time travel suspense hunt.
Publisher: Kensington
Pinnacle
(October 2007)
Reviewed by Merrimon,
Merrimon Book Reviews
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