A glossy and original technothriller.
Sometimes it feels like we’re all prisoners, confined or restricted by our situation or our limitations. It could be illness, grief, ignorance, or perhaps something more tangible. For Raphael Lennon, his prison is a one-mile stretch of neighborhood in Los Angeles. Within the threatening border of four boundary streets, Raphael lives, works and carves out his entire existence the same way he has for all his 26 years. Terrified to cross those outer roads, he has grown into himself, even enduring the loss of his mother, all while staying geographically paralyzed. However, Raphael doesn’t allow his immobilizing phobia to completely ruin his life. His job as an End Man for the forward-thinking company Norval Portals keeps his mind occupied, and his first-rate skill at locating the dead who aren’t keeps him in demand. A new investigation on the suspicious death of a professor, coupled with a string of mass casualty events, has Raphael working around the clock. Out of the blue, he gets some unwanted attention, unsolicited information and inchoate warnings that threaten the fragile stability he’s achieved in his tightly contained life. Everything he thought he knew might be a lie, and the truth is out there. However, it lies just beyond the lines Raphael has never been able to cross. If he wants to get to the bottom of things, Raphael will have to do what he’s never done before, but he’s only got a few days before a vague warning becomes a deadly reality.
End Man is a glossy and original technothriller that capitalizes on humanity’s cumulative obsession with social media. In Raphael’s slightly futuristic L.A., the people are divided into two distinct groups: the vast majority who maintain an online presence, and those few that are too young, too old or too technophobic to exist virtually. The idea that an innovative corporation would seek to profit from our fixations with our online selves is no great stretch. This concept adds an ominous element to a pensive, dark story. Even the flippant attitude toward deadly tragedies shapes the callous tone of the book, creating an atmosphere where showing compassion becomes a liability. But it isn’t all dreary. Raphael’s benign character has been meticulously drawn, creating a space for readers to empathize with a man that is admittedly flawed, but who has ultimately been duped by the system. To add lightness, the author peppers dry humor and shrewd observations throughout the pages, seasoning a compelling, contemplative tale. Fast and fresh, End Man is a blood-pumping thriller like nothing you’ve experienced before!
