Early Review of Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

Title: Dark Matter: A Novel
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Science Fiction
Format: Hardcover; 352 pages
Publisher: Crown (July 26, 2016)
ISBN-10: 1101904224
ISBN-13: 978-1101904220
Author's Website: http://blakecrouch.com/
Notes: I received an eARC loan from the publisher for review purposes.

Jason Dessen was happy with the choices he'd made in life. He loved his wife and son. He felt rewarded by his work as a teacher. In college, many thought he'd go on to do groundbreaking work in his field, but he never regretted his choices. He was content with his life and wouldn't change a thing. Then one dark night a man with a mask kidnapped him at gunpoint and stole it all away. Now he'll do everything in his power to get it back. First, he has to figure out what exactly happened...

This book deals with the idea of multiverse. A multiverse is the concept that there are an infinite number of possible parallel universes like ours which vary in small to huge ways. Take the possibility that when choices or decisions are presented, the universe, as we know it, splits and diverges into all possible outcomes conceivable. Factor in this happening for every decision that every individual ever born has or will ever make and you can see what a vast amount of parallel universes could exist. The concept has been around for years, and makes for some good stories. Mr. Crouch takes this concept one step further and adds in the element of one individual from one parallel universe stumbling into and altering the path of another where another version of himself exists. That is the main premise for this story. The "what if" factor.

So as you read this story, think about what, if anything, you would change about your life. If you could alter or change one decision what would it be? They say hindsight is 20/20, but what if there was another way to get back that choice? What would you be willing do to get that chance?

I gave this one 4 out of 5 roses. I love the concept of a multiverse and this was a fun, albeit a tad crazy (in a good way), read. I like how the book makes you think, and brings up questions like..What makes us who we are? Is it the people around us, the choices we make, or something else? Do all of us have the potential in us to be good or evil? Do we all have a breaking point? This novel brings up so many topics for discussion which is what makes it such an excellent book club pick. Plus, who hasn't wondered what would have been if they'd made a different choice at some point in their life? I would love to see this one expanded and made into a series.