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iMe #2
No Signal
In a breathtaking follow-up novel to ‘Proximity’, Serge says it’s the ultimate Augmented Reality game. He’s chosen his Ten carefully - the reckless, driven and strong. He tests them. Ten become Four.
DI Clive Lussac wants to fight the system that controls everything, but he’s ill and losing the people closest to him. In the middle of eco-
protests, he’s lost four tourists.
As Clive’s world unravels, he and his partners DC Ava Miller and DS Zoe Jordan race to find the tourists and the true reason behind the game. It may already be too late.
A CONTROLLED POPULATION
The UK has embedded technology - iMe.
It knows where you are... all the time. It controls what you eat.
It has eradicated crime and made everyone healthy.
A DEVASTATED WORLD
The world is on the brink.
The Government talks but doesn’t act.
It thinks it’s safe.
TIME FOR CHANGE
Who will ignite it?
Who has the determination to see it through?
What will be sacrificed for the cause?
DI Clive Lussac wants to fight the system that controls everything, but he’s ill and losing the people closest to him. In the middle of eco-
protests, he’s lost four tourists.
As Clive’s world unravels, he and his partners DC Ava Miller and DS Zoe Jordan race to find the tourists and the true reason behind the game. It may already be too late.
A CONTROLLED POPULATION
The UK has embedded technology - iMe.
It knows where you are... all the time. It controls what you eat.
It has eradicated crime and made everyone healthy.
A DEVASTATED WORLD
The world is on the brink.
The Government talks but doesn’t act.
It thinks it’s safe.
TIME FOR CHANGE
Who will ignite it?
Who has the determination to see it through?
What will be sacrificed for the cause?
- GenresThrillerScience Fiction
384 pages, Paperback
Published June 4, 2020
About the author
Jem Tugwell
6 books40 followersJem Tugwell is a crime fiction author with a Crime Writing MA from City University. In a past life, Jem had a successful career in IT and investment management. He lives in Surrey with his wife and has two great children. Outside of his family and writing, Jem's loves are snowboarding, old cars and bikes.
Jem is inspired by the law of unintended consequences, the fascinating possibilities of technology and all the things that might happen.
Jem’s books include:
DISHONOURED - In this psychological thriller, Dan’s world is pulled from under him in a single moment - now he has to fight for family.
iMe Series – near future detective crime thrillers:
PROXIMITY (Book 1) – When years of embedded technology have eradicated crime, DI Clive Lussac finally has a case to challenge him.
NO SIGNAL (Book 2) – Clive and Zoe are back on the trail of four gamers with a hidden agenda.
You can find out more about Jem and his books at www.jemtugwell.com, on Twitter @JemTugwell or Facebook JemTugwellAuthor
Jem is inspired by the law of unintended consequences, the fascinating possibilities of technology and all the things that might happen.
Jem’s books include:
DISHONOURED - In this psychological thriller, Dan’s world is pulled from under him in a single moment - now he has to fight for family.
iMe Series – near future detective crime thrillers:
PROXIMITY (Book 1) – When years of embedded technology have eradicated crime, DI Clive Lussac finally has a case to challenge him.
NO SIGNAL (Book 2) – Clive and Zoe are back on the trail of four gamers with a hidden agenda.
You can find out more about Jem and his books at www.jemtugwell.com, on Twitter @JemTugwell or Facebook JemTugwellAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
June 1, 2020
iMe knew where everyone was. It saved their signal so that it also knew where everyone had been. There was nowhere to hide.
The beauty of this story lies in how it is set in a future that feels so close that you can almost touch it. Even now there are events mentioned in the news about how governments from certain countries are using devices, such as a bracelet, to track an individual’s location and health stats due to the coronavirus. The iME series takes it all a step or two further, but there is enough truth in the core of story to make it all very plausible and far too realistic.
Clive is the main protagonist in the series. He’s by far my favorite character and is so incredibly relatable. Dragging his feet into this future that he does not want is very taxing as it affects his job opportunities, his love life, and his personal freedoms. Choosing to not exercise or not to eat properly is a luxury we all currently have, but in Clive’s world freedom is a dream of yesterday. The iME sees it all and is determined to help Clive choose a better lifestyle. And if he doesn’t, then there is always the vending machine to turn him in to the Freedom Unit Enforcement under the Ministry of Well-being and Health branch of government, where you can be disciplined for not following the expected guidelines. What hope is there for Clive when he can’t live the life he wants?
The vending machine said: ‘Clive, my friend. What can I get you?’
But No Signal also begins to explore how it affects other areas of governing too. Even tourists entering the country for a short period of time are required to wear a special bracelet called the iTourist. Honestly, I would think this might discourage tourism and have a monetary impact that goes along with that, but if so there is no mention of it.
In No Signal, Clive is still at his same job, but this time he has a new partner – Ava. Zoe is still around, but she has moved on to another position. Life is boring for Clive in the Proximity Crime Unit, but what they don’t know is that four individuals from outside the UK are about to enter the country. They are playing a game with the goal of getting to a destination before their opponents can get to their own destination. It is all a pretense though and the real goal is much deadlier and with a purpose. While that goes on, Clive begins to sense a much broader conspiracy in place concerning members of government and perhaps something new called The Church of the New Modelists. But, in the end perhaps Clive is not alone in his frustration with how much iME really controls.
I like this series. I like how fully-fleshed out the idea of iME is within the context of this world – how far-reaching the technology is and the stranglehold it has on all aspects of society. Given how prevalent technology like this is becoming, I really like how it begs you to begin asking questions about how far is too far in terms of technology, freedom, and privacy, while giving you a rather thrilling and entertaining story all at the same time.
Rating: 5 stars
May 28, 2020
Series are tricky. Dystopian series are even trickier. The setting has to move on along with the characters, you need new limits to the worlds you have created. New problems. New ways to include the characters, while keeping the connection you built in previous installments.
Did my hand tremble in trepidation when I picked No Signal, the second book in the iMe series?
Not at all. Jem Tugwell had blown my mind with Proximity, therefore the only emotion surging through me when I began reading was excitement!
With a snap of his finger, the author had me back to what may be our future. I was welcomed by the UK being watched by a strict governmental system WHICH STILL TELLS YOU WHAT YOU CAN EAT. I am sorry but this particular point scared me to death in the first book, and even though I know it would not have changed, I still cringed when a character was denied what they were craving. iMe doesn’t just act like a boring mom who doesn’t want you to eat too much sugar. It defines your environment – how others see you, what you must do to fit the requirements to be a model inhabitant, everything! You watched 24/7. This has changed the way people live, but also how the police works. But it hasn’t changed cops who were there before iMe was implemented…
Meet Clive. Clive is a character who has a special place in my heart. Old school and depressive, he longs for the days when inspectors were out in the streets chasing the bad guys. Now, it is all about cyber-crimes and drones. No more gut instincts, no investigations as we know it. Clive watches life pass by in the PCU offices. PCU stands for Proximity Crime Unit. It’s basically Clive’s closet. Everyone is supposed to spend some time in the unit before moving to ‘real work.’
Now you have the big picture. I could spend three pages describing the amazing work behing the world-building done by Jem Tugwell. How everything he added to our future perfectly and scarily fits what we know. How when you close your eyes, you can see the drones. How with your eyes open, you can catch a glimpse of your iBuddy ready to give you a message. Technology has a way to seep into our life without us realizing, or resisting it. Well, is it really technology itself, or the people behind it? 😉
If Proximity was a cracking read and a beautifully unique novel bringing the foundation of a society led by powerful men and their machines, No Signal digs deeper.
Players from Europe are sent to The Forbidden Island, known to us as the UK. Why? How? Again Jem Tugwell takes simple things and efficiently turns them into big steps. We don’t even think when we travel. We show our passport and climb into a train, a plane, or a car. You don’t get to set foot on the Forbidden Island so easily. Everyone is being watched, tourists don’t escape the rule. But one thing that technology doesn’t have is the resources from old school days…
I can’t say how much I enjoyed the little details sprinkled in the novel, as weapons in a war between the past and the future. We evolve but our motivations remain the same – money, fame, love. We can check the weather from our bed, but we can’t escape illness, no matter how good the monitoring we’re under is. Clive is again the dinosaur standing alone against a machine that is stronger, more powerful, and ready to do anything.
But since iMe was created, the UK has almost become lazy. Certain to be safe and unbreakable, the system is running, getting improvements along the way without any big changes. Politics talk and argue, but it’s all air. Ring a bell? Realism till the end!
So when the foreigners mentioned earlier manage to slip through the net and begin their game, the world shakes. The fortress is not as safe as it seemed. And once again, Clive comes in handy, with his brain who doesn’t need to be told what to do. Thankfully, Zoe, who previously worked with him, is not far. Neither is young Ava, currently the only other member of the PCU team…
With a mystery on their hand, the police must act fast, but events unfold, and everything gets muddy. Politics are louder than ever, a new church is making religious waves, and Clive is being denied chocolate.
So, after all this. What did I think of the book? What did I like? What didn’t work for me?
Clive is my favorite thing in this series. Still fighting, although even he has to acknowledge that iMe is doing his health some good. On the other side, he is losing his love, Zoe’s mother, to this religious tribe. The way he cares for people, his ‘ancient’ views on what is, what was, and what’s wrong with his surroundings make for such thought-provoking material!
You can’t have a proper hero without sidekicks. Zoe and Ava are splendid, full of life, and balance Clive’s old ways with their freshness. They moved me with their own issues, their needs and hopes. Most of all, they kept my faith in humankind alive. Young but not devoid of opinion and ready to have a clear look on any matter, they prove there might be a right equilibrium between before and after technology brought the UK to the next level.
I found it very clever from the author to have this government-religion-politics triangle at the heart of an explosive and dangerous case. Death doesn’t have the same meaning for everyone and some (many!) use it at their advantage. You can count on those in power to have an agenda and use all they can grab to make their point.
Tension is all around, coming from different angles, but it is not the sole foundation of the book. There is a deeper exploration of our society and the relationships we have. Clive brings a whole range of emotions to the story, without soaking the pages with whining and endless ‘it was better before.’ Pain also visits and it stings, it left me speechless, horrified, heart-broken. Yes, No Signal is a piano on which our fingers are led to play a perfect melody.
I don’t think there is one thing I disliked in this novel. One thing I would say is it was difficult to part with this world. The ending surprised me. Of course, I knew the author would not have his creation destroyed and the country back to something resembling what we know as normal. I had no good idea on how to conclude the novel and tie all the knots. Am I satisfied with my goodbye to Clive and the iMe world? In a way, yes. There is no way back, but there is hope. However, after all this fight and all the turmoil of the chapters I’d just been through, I somehow yearned for something… Except I don’t know what! I guess I’m clingy and it takes time to accept open endings!
No Signal is an outstanding piece of writing. More than just another dystopian novel, it is a perfect example of how important limits are. I had the best time reading it and recommend both Proximity and No Signal to everyone who is looking for a gateway to the future.
Did my hand tremble in trepidation when I picked No Signal, the second book in the iMe series?
Not at all. Jem Tugwell had blown my mind with Proximity, therefore the only emotion surging through me when I began reading was excitement!
With a snap of his finger, the author had me back to what may be our future. I was welcomed by the UK being watched by a strict governmental system WHICH STILL TELLS YOU WHAT YOU CAN EAT. I am sorry but this particular point scared me to death in the first book, and even though I know it would not have changed, I still cringed when a character was denied what they were craving. iMe doesn’t just act like a boring mom who doesn’t want you to eat too much sugar. It defines your environment – how others see you, what you must do to fit the requirements to be a model inhabitant, everything! You watched 24/7. This has changed the way people live, but also how the police works. But it hasn’t changed cops who were there before iMe was implemented…
Meet Clive. Clive is a character who has a special place in my heart. Old school and depressive, he longs for the days when inspectors were out in the streets chasing the bad guys. Now, it is all about cyber-crimes and drones. No more gut instincts, no investigations as we know it. Clive watches life pass by in the PCU offices. PCU stands for Proximity Crime Unit. It’s basically Clive’s closet. Everyone is supposed to spend some time in the unit before moving to ‘real work.’
Now you have the big picture. I could spend three pages describing the amazing work behing the world-building done by Jem Tugwell. How everything he added to our future perfectly and scarily fits what we know. How when you close your eyes, you can see the drones. How with your eyes open, you can catch a glimpse of your iBuddy ready to give you a message. Technology has a way to seep into our life without us realizing, or resisting it. Well, is it really technology itself, or the people behind it? 😉
If Proximity was a cracking read and a beautifully unique novel bringing the foundation of a society led by powerful men and their machines, No Signal digs deeper.
Players from Europe are sent to The Forbidden Island, known to us as the UK. Why? How? Again Jem Tugwell takes simple things and efficiently turns them into big steps. We don’t even think when we travel. We show our passport and climb into a train, a plane, or a car. You don’t get to set foot on the Forbidden Island so easily. Everyone is being watched, tourists don’t escape the rule. But one thing that technology doesn’t have is the resources from old school days…
I can’t say how much I enjoyed the little details sprinkled in the novel, as weapons in a war between the past and the future. We evolve but our motivations remain the same – money, fame, love. We can check the weather from our bed, but we can’t escape illness, no matter how good the monitoring we’re under is. Clive is again the dinosaur standing alone against a machine that is stronger, more powerful, and ready to do anything.
But since iMe was created, the UK has almost become lazy. Certain to be safe and unbreakable, the system is running, getting improvements along the way without any big changes. Politics talk and argue, but it’s all air. Ring a bell? Realism till the end!
So when the foreigners mentioned earlier manage to slip through the net and begin their game, the world shakes. The fortress is not as safe as it seemed. And once again, Clive comes in handy, with his brain who doesn’t need to be told what to do. Thankfully, Zoe, who previously worked with him, is not far. Neither is young Ava, currently the only other member of the PCU team…
With a mystery on their hand, the police must act fast, but events unfold, and everything gets muddy. Politics are louder than ever, a new church is making religious waves, and Clive is being denied chocolate.
So, after all this. What did I think of the book? What did I like? What didn’t work for me?
Clive is my favorite thing in this series. Still fighting, although even he has to acknowledge that iMe is doing his health some good. On the other side, he is losing his love, Zoe’s mother, to this religious tribe. The way he cares for people, his ‘ancient’ views on what is, what was, and what’s wrong with his surroundings make for such thought-provoking material!
You can’t have a proper hero without sidekicks. Zoe and Ava are splendid, full of life, and balance Clive’s old ways with their freshness. They moved me with their own issues, their needs and hopes. Most of all, they kept my faith in humankind alive. Young but not devoid of opinion and ready to have a clear look on any matter, they prove there might be a right equilibrium between before and after technology brought the UK to the next level.
I found it very clever from the author to have this government-religion-politics triangle at the heart of an explosive and dangerous case. Death doesn’t have the same meaning for everyone and some (many!) use it at their advantage. You can count on those in power to have an agenda and use all they can grab to make their point.
Tension is all around, coming from different angles, but it is not the sole foundation of the book. There is a deeper exploration of our society and the relationships we have. Clive brings a whole range of emotions to the story, without soaking the pages with whining and endless ‘it was better before.’ Pain also visits and it stings, it left me speechless, horrified, heart-broken. Yes, No Signal is a piano on which our fingers are led to play a perfect melody.
I don’t think there is one thing I disliked in this novel. One thing I would say is it was difficult to part with this world. The ending surprised me. Of course, I knew the author would not have his creation destroyed and the country back to something resembling what we know as normal. I had no good idea on how to conclude the novel and tie all the knots. Am I satisfied with my goodbye to Clive and the iMe world? In a way, yes. There is no way back, but there is hope. However, after all this fight and all the turmoil of the chapters I’d just been through, I somehow yearned for something… Except I don’t know what! I guess I’m clingy and it takes time to accept open endings!
No Signal is an outstanding piece of writing. More than just another dystopian novel, it is a perfect example of how important limits are. I had the best time reading it and recommend both Proximity and No Signal to everyone who is looking for a gateway to the future.
June 9, 2020
*** Note : Many thanks to publisher for providing e-copy of this book as a part of blog tour, in exchange for an honest review. ***
No Signal was another mind blowing book in iMe series. It was about advances and drawbacks of technologies, government control and its impact on common people, political games, eco-socialism, terrorism, greed, fame, and power.
Writing was engaging, easy to follow and captivating. The world, like previous book, was impressive. In this book more pros and cons of iMe were explored which was broadened by inclusion of environmental conditions, terrorism, politics, gaming, and power. No Signal was multiple third person perspective, set in UK.
Overall, No signal was brilliant, thought provoking, and impressive sci-fi thriller with realistic characters and intimidating world. For fans of dystopia and sci-fi, just grab this book. But read this in order.
.
.
Read full review on my #Bookblog #Booksteacupnreviews by following the link - https://booksteacupnreviews.com/2020/...
No Signal was another mind blowing book in iMe series. It was about advances and drawbacks of technologies, government control and its impact on common people, political games, eco-socialism, terrorism, greed, fame, and power.
Writing was engaging, easy to follow and captivating. The world, like previous book, was impressive. In this book more pros and cons of iMe were explored which was broadened by inclusion of environmental conditions, terrorism, politics, gaming, and power. No Signal was multiple third person perspective, set in UK.
Overall, No signal was brilliant, thought provoking, and impressive sci-fi thriller with realistic characters and intimidating world. For fans of dystopia and sci-fi, just grab this book. But read this in order.
.
.
Read full review on my #Bookblog #Booksteacupnreviews by following the link - https://booksteacupnreviews.com/2020/...
February 17, 2020
Read the first book in the series and I think this is even better. Can't wait for a third one!
Continuation of the characters was done really well and the plot kept me guessing. Read it in a couple of days as I couldn't put it down!
Continuation of the characters was done really well and the plot kept me guessing. Read it in a couple of days as I couldn't put it down!
January 27, 2020
As an avid user of an Apple Watch, I can very easily empathize with the people of Jem Tugwell's No Signal - their every need met through their iMe, their every move and action measured and stacked against a model citizen. Tugwell builds a future that feels more like looking around the next curve, rather than straining to catch a glimpse through fog. This nearness ramps up the realism, creating a setting for a story that feels like it could be a news article from a few years from now. His characters feel real, with their struggles sometimes outweighing their better natures, and the actions they take make sense (to them). Easily read as a stand alone novel (I haven't read the first in the series, Proximity), Tugwell does a nice job crafting a pleasant story- while he moves to tackle issues currently facing society, those issues (privacy vs control, government overreach, technology in every-day life, religious overbearance) serve more as the backdrop for our actors, rather than the focus of the story. As part of a series, No Signal sets up a sequel nicely, with many loose ends ready to be knotted and woven together. I'll definitely keep my eyes out for the next one.
March 19, 2020
This second book in the series did not disappoint, though Clive's apparently deteriorating relationship with his girlfriend has left me curious about the trigger for their troubles. I suspect it is more than routine apathy and hope it will be revealed in book three. The plot for this book was clever, unique and really intriguing. I am hooked on this series and am very much looking forward to the next book where I hope Clive will triumph over all attempts to coerce him into accepting his life being controlled by the implanted iMe.
I was given an ARC of this book by the publisher on Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
I was given an ARC of this book by the publisher on Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
Read
April 18, 2020DNF
Unfortunately, I was under the impression that this was going to be a crime thriller but seemed to be more like a sci-fi thriller which is definitely not for me. So I’ve not left a star rating as it wouldn’t be fair for me to do so when I didn’t get passed the half way mark.
Others with interests in the genre will like it but unfortunately not for me.
Unfortunately, I was under the impression that this was going to be a crime thriller but seemed to be more like a sci-fi thriller which is definitely not for me. So I’ve not left a star rating as it wouldn’t be fair for me to do so when I didn’t get passed the half way mark.
Others with interests in the genre will like it but unfortunately not for me.
May 18, 2020
Although I did not read the first book, it was fairly easy to pick up on No Signal. The characters and world-building is superb. It feels like a fully realized future that one could live in. A timely commentary for our lives. An enjoyable read for those looking for a sci-fi thriller.
June 1, 2020
If I had to describe No Signal in two words they'd be: FLIPPING AWESOME! I've always said that I don't read science fiction but if this is an example of the genre then consider me converted. I haven't read Proximity, the first book in the iMe series, and I didn't feel at a disadvantage at all so you can definitely read No Signal as a standalone but I do really want to read Proximity now too.
In a future UK, everyone is fitted with an iMe - a device that not only tracks a person's location but, among many other things, monitors their health and wellbeing. You have no secrets from the powers that be therefore crime is virtually non-existent. You can't even eat a bar of chocolate without it being deducted from your allocated 'Freedom Units' and this is a big issue for the main character, Detective Inspector and chocaholic Clive Lussac. I thought I liked chocolate but I think Clive would actually die for a bar of chocolate, especially one that he can eat off the radar. It always amazes me that no matter how complex and secure you think a system is, there's always someone who finds a way to get around it.
Gamers from all over the world have been invited to compete for a place in the ultimate augmented reality game on the 'Forbidden Island', also known as UK. Ten have been chosen but only four can compete. I've never been into games but I really enjoyed reading about the very inventive and imaginative tasks that the players had to undertake. The final four comprises players from France, South Africa, America and Italy, who fly to the UK and are fitted with a compulsory iTourist that tracks their every movement. The first task in the game is to disable the tracking device and then for each of them to make their way unaided to a particular location. The first person to reach their location wins the game but disabling the iTourist sends out an alert that sees Clive and his team reverting to good old-fashioned police work to track them down.
The intelligent plot of No Signal is absolutely fantastic; it had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. It's set in a dystopian future but it's so scarily realistic when you think about the current trend for fitness trackers that monitor our health; it's almost like fitness trackers are phase one and phase two will see a fitness tracker getting implanted in our necks. I don't think people would even have a problem with that but it would certainly take Big Brother up to the next level. Speaking of which, I couldn't help but compare No Signal to Orwell's 1984: both books depict a scarily realistic future and 70 years later we are seeing some of Orwell's predictions come true. As with 1984, I can see No Signal becoming a classic and when the first tracker gets implanted, I'll say I read that in Jem Tugwell's book!
No Signal is an instant classic; it's an absolutely outstanding dystopian crime thriller with an inventive and intelligent plot. It's fast-paced, gripping and scarily realistic; I really can't recommend it highly enough. They'll be talking about this book in years to come, so make sure you grab a copy now!
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
In a future UK, everyone is fitted with an iMe - a device that not only tracks a person's location but, among many other things, monitors their health and wellbeing. You have no secrets from the powers that be therefore crime is virtually non-existent. You can't even eat a bar of chocolate without it being deducted from your allocated 'Freedom Units' and this is a big issue for the main character, Detective Inspector and chocaholic Clive Lussac. I thought I liked chocolate but I think Clive would actually die for a bar of chocolate, especially one that he can eat off the radar. It always amazes me that no matter how complex and secure you think a system is, there's always someone who finds a way to get around it.
Gamers from all over the world have been invited to compete for a place in the ultimate augmented reality game on the 'Forbidden Island', also known as UK. Ten have been chosen but only four can compete. I've never been into games but I really enjoyed reading about the very inventive and imaginative tasks that the players had to undertake. The final four comprises players from France, South Africa, America and Italy, who fly to the UK and are fitted with a compulsory iTourist that tracks their every movement. The first task in the game is to disable the tracking device and then for each of them to make their way unaided to a particular location. The first person to reach their location wins the game but disabling the iTourist sends out an alert that sees Clive and his team reverting to good old-fashioned police work to track them down.
The intelligent plot of No Signal is absolutely fantastic; it had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. It's set in a dystopian future but it's so scarily realistic when you think about the current trend for fitness trackers that monitor our health; it's almost like fitness trackers are phase one and phase two will see a fitness tracker getting implanted in our necks. I don't think people would even have a problem with that but it would certainly take Big Brother up to the next level. Speaking of which, I couldn't help but compare No Signal to Orwell's 1984: both books depict a scarily realistic future and 70 years later we are seeing some of Orwell's predictions come true. As with 1984, I can see No Signal becoming a classic and when the first tracker gets implanted, I'll say I read that in Jem Tugwell's book!
No Signal is an instant classic; it's an absolutely outstanding dystopian crime thriller with an inventive and intelligent plot. It's fast-paced, gripping and scarily realistic; I really can't recommend it highly enough. They'll be talking about this book in years to come, so make sure you grab a copy now!
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
June 26, 2020
Review: https://klling.wordpress.com/2020/06/...
No Signal is the sequel of Proximity, the second book in the iMe series. While the first book was set on creating a technothriller set in a futuristic dystopia where technology has now become the tool that governs every single person’s life to every single detail to create a crime free and healthy society through their technology iMe and set a very solid foundation for this world building. No Signal had a kick-off point in this established world that took a different path. This time, its not about a crime set in one city using the technology and the different ways its governed from police to citizens to all the red tape involved but it takes the angle of a further technology called iTourist that sees a person who creates this augmented reality game that leads the four remaining challengers from around the world to enter into this controlled world to race for a big prize at the finish line. Other than the technology and crime-solving elements, this story also has dives into a little bit of this dystopian future’s politics.
No Signal is divided chapter to chapter from a few different point of view. Its a lot of characters to maneuver at first as it bounces between last book’s main character police detective Clive Lussac, “game master” Serge and the four challengers. This is a great structure to approach this story as it gives a good overlap from one location to the next while also being able to keep the book paced incredibly well and really action-packed and also to connect better with each of these characters. The connection from the first book actually is only through Clive Lussac and his character still maintains a lot of the traits from the first one that makes him notice the things and plays along the more experienced cop role as he leads another younger partner after his partner in the last one has moved to another department. If there was anything, it felt a little unnecessary to put in his personal life drama. It connects to the first one and maybe makes him more human but the story stood well enough on its own focusing on the thriller on hand.
One of the most outstanding parts of this series is definitely the use of its technology. The technology itself has so much detail from how it evolves and what it is capable of doing. iMe still plays a lot as it controls the citizens in this space whereas the rest of the world seems to not be controlled like this future UK. As it brings people from outside of this country inside, the technology behind iTourist is really only an introduction but it adds another element when the scenario changes as they find a way to complete their challenge without this country’s monitoring. Every point of No Signal is done with a lot of thought in its execution and how each plot point should land and give it further intrigue and thrills. For a sequel, it keeps the same intensity as its first book and dives deeper into this world. Honestly, I can’t wait to see where else this world can go to hopefully a next novel.
Score: 4.5 out of 5
No Signal is the sequel of Proximity, the second book in the iMe series. While the first book was set on creating a technothriller set in a futuristic dystopia where technology has now become the tool that governs every single person’s life to every single detail to create a crime free and healthy society through their technology iMe and set a very solid foundation for this world building. No Signal had a kick-off point in this established world that took a different path. This time, its not about a crime set in one city using the technology and the different ways its governed from police to citizens to all the red tape involved but it takes the angle of a further technology called iTourist that sees a person who creates this augmented reality game that leads the four remaining challengers from around the world to enter into this controlled world to race for a big prize at the finish line. Other than the technology and crime-solving elements, this story also has dives into a little bit of this dystopian future’s politics.
No Signal is divided chapter to chapter from a few different point of view. Its a lot of characters to maneuver at first as it bounces between last book’s main character police detective Clive Lussac, “game master” Serge and the four challengers. This is a great structure to approach this story as it gives a good overlap from one location to the next while also being able to keep the book paced incredibly well and really action-packed and also to connect better with each of these characters. The connection from the first book actually is only through Clive Lussac and his character still maintains a lot of the traits from the first one that makes him notice the things and plays along the more experienced cop role as he leads another younger partner after his partner in the last one has moved to another department. If there was anything, it felt a little unnecessary to put in his personal life drama. It connects to the first one and maybe makes him more human but the story stood well enough on its own focusing on the thriller on hand.
One of the most outstanding parts of this series is definitely the use of its technology. The technology itself has so much detail from how it evolves and what it is capable of doing. iMe still plays a lot as it controls the citizens in this space whereas the rest of the world seems to not be controlled like this future UK. As it brings people from outside of this country inside, the technology behind iTourist is really only an introduction but it adds another element when the scenario changes as they find a way to complete their challenge without this country’s monitoring. Every point of No Signal is done with a lot of thought in its execution and how each plot point should land and give it further intrigue and thrills. For a sequel, it keeps the same intensity as its first book and dives deeper into this world. Honestly, I can’t wait to see where else this world can go to hopefully a next novel.
Score: 4.5 out of 5
June 29, 2020
Having read Proximity a while ago, I was biting at the reigns to get back and see how DI Clive Lussac was fairing. Set in the future the world is very different from how it is now but some find the changes that have taken place hard to live with. Everything is controlled by the government who know where you go, who you see, what you do and your full medical history via the iMe which is embedded under the skin. Even the foods that you are allowed, to maintain a healthy body and exercise are personally planned for each person. Any breaches are costly. Lucas, in the last book, had been put on a strict diet as he loomed towards diabetes but he had found a way to cheat for him and his partner. A day in the life of a detective normally entailed sitting at a desk and taking the odd call that reported a problem. If a crime was committed the suspects could be swiftly identified and tracked down, some crooks never learnt!
This story centres around the hype of a new game that required physical skills and intelligence. The top ten out of all the players had been chosen and were to face each other for the final four places and the cash prizes for them all that would be life-changing. Serge is the man with all the tasks that each of them has to complete with huge cash prizes there for them all to win.
This is another belting story from this author. It is fast-paced, shocking, funny and has such a real feel with it that this could be how it will be in a few years down the line for us all. I love Lussac he is a brilliant character that seems to remember what life was like before and struggles with the changes. His sweet tooth could be the death of him as the boredom of almost not existence crime forces him and others behind a desk, with the only excitement being who can answer the phone first.
This is a brilliant story which I didn’t work out until things happened. It has everything, loveable characters, action and full-throttle pace. Although it is set in the future this one is a very believable one, just take a step back and see what you have already, we aren’t that far from this. So looking forward to the third book. Superb!
I wish to thank the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
This story centres around the hype of a new game that required physical skills and intelligence. The top ten out of all the players had been chosen and were to face each other for the final four places and the cash prizes for them all that would be life-changing. Serge is the man with all the tasks that each of them has to complete with huge cash prizes there for them all to win.
This is another belting story from this author. It is fast-paced, shocking, funny and has such a real feel with it that this could be how it will be in a few years down the line for us all. I love Lussac he is a brilliant character that seems to remember what life was like before and struggles with the changes. His sweet tooth could be the death of him as the boredom of almost not existence crime forces him and others behind a desk, with the only excitement being who can answer the phone first.
This is a brilliant story which I didn’t work out until things happened. It has everything, loveable characters, action and full-throttle pace. Although it is set in the future this one is a very believable one, just take a step back and see what you have already, we aren’t that far from this. So looking forward to the third book. Superb!
I wish to thank the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
April 27, 2020
Very exciting near future thriller
Set in the very near future an Augmented Reality game is being set up, with big prizes. 10 contestants are being sought to take part in the preliminary knock out game, of which 4 will move onto the true game where they will need skill, ingenuity and determination to succeed.
In the UK personal technology has reached the point where everyone has a device embedded in them to help them with everyday tasks. Some see this as progression, others as infringement of personal liberties. Clive, a bored policeman, dislikes his embedded device. It doesn’t let him eat what he wants, and as everyone can be traced via the device, it has made his job of tracking down criminals very boring. Until, that is, 4 tourists enter the UK, and achieve the impossible by going off grid.
This thriller has suspense, loads of action, great characters and a storyline that made me realise just how close we are to this sort of technology.
This is the second book in the iMe series. Both read well as stand alone books, but I recommend reading them both.
5*s from me for this exciting thriller that adds to a great story by using technology that seems only a short step away from where we are now. This, and Jem Tugwell’s previous book Proximity, give plenty of material to discuss with friends about how technology might progress in the very near future, and whether this is a positive step or a very frightening one.
Set in the very near future an Augmented Reality game is being set up, with big prizes. 10 contestants are being sought to take part in the preliminary knock out game, of which 4 will move onto the true game where they will need skill, ingenuity and determination to succeed.
In the UK personal technology has reached the point where everyone has a device embedded in them to help them with everyday tasks. Some see this as progression, others as infringement of personal liberties. Clive, a bored policeman, dislikes his embedded device. It doesn’t let him eat what he wants, and as everyone can be traced via the device, it has made his job of tracking down criminals very boring. Until, that is, 4 tourists enter the UK, and achieve the impossible by going off grid.
This thriller has suspense, loads of action, great characters and a storyline that made me realise just how close we are to this sort of technology.
This is the second book in the iMe series. Both read well as stand alone books, but I recommend reading them both.
5*s from me for this exciting thriller that adds to a great story by using technology that seems only a short step away from where we are now. This, and Jem Tugwell’s previous book Proximity, give plenty of material to discuss with friends about how technology might progress in the very near future, and whether this is a positive step or a very frightening one.
June 3, 2020
I received a copy of this for review from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I absolutely love the terrifying, but totally realistic, near-future setting of this series. It’s set in the UK where everyone uses compulsory embedded technology enabling complete monitoring of the population. It results in some pretty boring and dull police work, until four tourists disappear from the system.
In this second novel we have a game at the centre of the story, which is definitely a big plus for me. I loved the way it was all set up, and if felt really cleverly done.
I really like how technology is used through the story, and it’s great to see our main character Clive question it even as he’s using it ti help solve crimes.
This is a fantastic sci-fi mystery, which can be read as a standalone. Although I highly recommend the first book Proximity as well!
I absolutely love the terrifying, but totally realistic, near-future setting of this series. It’s set in the UK where everyone uses compulsory embedded technology enabling complete monitoring of the population. It results in some pretty boring and dull police work, until four tourists disappear from the system.
In this second novel we have a game at the centre of the story, which is definitely a big plus for me. I loved the way it was all set up, and if felt really cleverly done.
I really like how technology is used through the story, and it’s great to see our main character Clive question it even as he’s using it ti help solve crimes.
This is a fantastic sci-fi mystery, which can be read as a standalone. Although I highly recommend the first book Proximity as well!
August 18, 2020
Great book, full of suspense, great characters and action. Very clever world building. Loved it!
June 17, 2020
Proximity trod a balanced line between a futuristic, stylised dystopia and a starkly realist, only just, future in the UK. A society functioning on its embedded technology the novel focused on the implications of that technology on the police force as well as everyday lives. The main characters, Clive Lussac and Zoe Jordan presented as one of crime fiction’s unique and original duos, opposites in almost all respects apart from their desire for justice and truth.
No Signal is the much anticipated follow up to Proximity and we are reacquainted with Clive and Zoe. Both a little older with some career progression for Zoe which means Clive has a new partner, Ava Miller, who he appears to mentor and nurture. But have no fear, Zoe is very much here! She’s just working for a different department.
Proximity had me open mouthed at times as it was both a crime story and an exploration of how technology could potentially, not just dominate our lives, for it seems to do that now anyway, but control them with the opened ended consideration for the reader of whether that was a good or bad thing. With those protocols already set in place No Signal began with a now familiar landscape.
I am treading carefully because I don’t want to give anything away for readers. No Signal takes another aspect of our digital lives, our leisure digital lives perhaps it would be clearer to say, and exploits that to an explosive and ultimate conclusion beyond what we could probably imagine! Let's just say it's a gamechanger. And it's about besting the system. But it's also within the context of the Proximity landscape and, as might be natural in the midst of a pandemic, lockdown situation my thoughts turned to tracking and tracing!
It’s mesmerising as you follow the strands of this audacious venture that takes you the length and breadth of the United Kingdom. Of course it is a criminal venture and once more the balance between old and new policing methods is brought to the forefront as we accompany Clive, Ava and Zoe in a thrilling, white knuckle ride of a tale that will have you hanging on for dear life, and disbelief. If Proximity was a runaway train No Signal is the ultimate theme park white knuckle ride you'd queue hours for.
The characterisations are sustained. Zoe, transferred to the Cyber Crime section, ever restless for action, again impresses as the perfect foil for Clive. She seems to know just how to cope with him. Clive is still grappling with his demons and with those younger than himself in positions of seniority. He is still squirming beneath the controlling system he is forced to conform to. There was a sense of ‘us ‘ and ‘them’ within the police and with the additional personnel who play the major roles in the events that thwart the intentions and determinations of Clive and his gang. Faintly topical? The story is mainly told from his perspective. The villains are subtly villainous and some are hidden among the cast of characters. Will you spot who they are, I wonder?
Whilst Proximity encourages us to consider the implications of our digital world and the pros and cons of a society under continual surveillance and control, No Signal leans more towards a gripping narrative and plot driven tale. No less enjoyable because all of those considerations from Proximity are in place as you read, punctuated, and embedded as it were, within the narrative of No Signal. It's a worthy sequel. I'm hoping that in true dystopian fiction fashion (now there's a tongue twister for you) there'll be a third story? Please?
iMe. iLike. 😉
No Signal is the much anticipated follow up to Proximity and we are reacquainted with Clive and Zoe. Both a little older with some career progression for Zoe which means Clive has a new partner, Ava Miller, who he appears to mentor and nurture. But have no fear, Zoe is very much here! She’s just working for a different department.
Proximity had me open mouthed at times as it was both a crime story and an exploration of how technology could potentially, not just dominate our lives, for it seems to do that now anyway, but control them with the opened ended consideration for the reader of whether that was a good or bad thing. With those protocols already set in place No Signal began with a now familiar landscape.
I am treading carefully because I don’t want to give anything away for readers. No Signal takes another aspect of our digital lives, our leisure digital lives perhaps it would be clearer to say, and exploits that to an explosive and ultimate conclusion beyond what we could probably imagine! Let's just say it's a gamechanger. And it's about besting the system. But it's also within the context of the Proximity landscape and, as might be natural in the midst of a pandemic, lockdown situation my thoughts turned to tracking and tracing!
It’s mesmerising as you follow the strands of this audacious venture that takes you the length and breadth of the United Kingdom. Of course it is a criminal venture and once more the balance between old and new policing methods is brought to the forefront as we accompany Clive, Ava and Zoe in a thrilling, white knuckle ride of a tale that will have you hanging on for dear life, and disbelief. If Proximity was a runaway train No Signal is the ultimate theme park white knuckle ride you'd queue hours for.
The characterisations are sustained. Zoe, transferred to the Cyber Crime section, ever restless for action, again impresses as the perfect foil for Clive. She seems to know just how to cope with him. Clive is still grappling with his demons and with those younger than himself in positions of seniority. He is still squirming beneath the controlling system he is forced to conform to. There was a sense of ‘us ‘ and ‘them’ within the police and with the additional personnel who play the major roles in the events that thwart the intentions and determinations of Clive and his gang. Faintly topical? The story is mainly told from his perspective. The villains are subtly villainous and some are hidden among the cast of characters. Will you spot who they are, I wonder?
Whilst Proximity encourages us to consider the implications of our digital world and the pros and cons of a society under continual surveillance and control, No Signal leans more towards a gripping narrative and plot driven tale. No less enjoyable because all of those considerations from Proximity are in place as you read, punctuated, and embedded as it were, within the narrative of No Signal. It's a worthy sequel. I'm hoping that in true dystopian fiction fashion (now there's a tongue twister for you) there'll be a third story? Please?
iMe. iLike. 😉
May 30, 2020
Ten players have entered the game and are eager to get a chance to go to The Forbidden Island – but what exactly is the cost of getting there?
Having been really intrigued by the blurb of No Signal, I requested it and then realised with some trepidation it was the second book in the IMe series. Although you don’t quite get as much backstory into Detective Clive’s life, which I assume is explored in the first book, on the whole it didn’t really matter that I hadn’t read Proximity. The crux of the plot is new to the series and the world building is so detailed and well done that I didn’t feel out of my depth as a new reader. I really enjoyed the premise of the book – the idea of a watch that tracks not only your health but is also the main way to pay and get around in the UK is seemingly quite close to reality (she says with a Fitbit watch on her arm). The main plot of a game with 10 competitors fighting to get to ‘The Forbidden Island’ was also engaging and I liked the insight into the 4 main players and their backstories.
I really enjoyed the character of Clive – an old school detective with a sweet tooth and diabetes who just wants to enjoy his life and have some chocolate. However, with the governmental tracker on his arm giving him lifestyle tips, making him change what is in his fridge and scheduling him appointments with experts who look down on him, he is understandably frustrated at the system. It’s a great premise and shows just how important free will is, even if that can be detrimental to our health. I must admit I didn’t really empathise or understand Clive’s relationship with his ex (work) partner’s mother. It didn’t seem to add anything to the story and she was a bit of a non-character in the end. I also would have liked a bit more insight into Ava’s character although that may have been explored better in the previous book. There is a good setup to the next book and I will try to pick it up when it’s available, as well as perhaps get round to reading Proximity at some point when my TBR is a little less overbearing.
Overall, No Signal explores a thought-provoking premise and is a well-constructed read with detailed world-building. Thank you to NetGalley & Serpentine Books for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews check out www.kindig.co.uk
Having been really intrigued by the blurb of No Signal, I requested it and then realised with some trepidation it was the second book in the IMe series. Although you don’t quite get as much backstory into Detective Clive’s life, which I assume is explored in the first book, on the whole it didn’t really matter that I hadn’t read Proximity. The crux of the plot is new to the series and the world building is so detailed and well done that I didn’t feel out of my depth as a new reader. I really enjoyed the premise of the book – the idea of a watch that tracks not only your health but is also the main way to pay and get around in the UK is seemingly quite close to reality (she says with a Fitbit watch on her arm). The main plot of a game with 10 competitors fighting to get to ‘The Forbidden Island’ was also engaging and I liked the insight into the 4 main players and their backstories.
I really enjoyed the character of Clive – an old school detective with a sweet tooth and diabetes who just wants to enjoy his life and have some chocolate. However, with the governmental tracker on his arm giving him lifestyle tips, making him change what is in his fridge and scheduling him appointments with experts who look down on him, he is understandably frustrated at the system. It’s a great premise and shows just how important free will is, even if that can be detrimental to our health. I must admit I didn’t really empathise or understand Clive’s relationship with his ex (work) partner’s mother. It didn’t seem to add anything to the story and she was a bit of a non-character in the end. I also would have liked a bit more insight into Ava’s character although that may have been explored better in the previous book. There is a good setup to the next book and I will try to pick it up when it’s available, as well as perhaps get round to reading Proximity at some point when my TBR is a little less overbearing.
Overall, No Signal explores a thought-provoking premise and is a well-constructed read with detailed world-building. Thank you to NetGalley & Serpentine Books for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews check out www.kindig.co.uk
May 25, 2020
This is the follow up to Proximity which I do recommend that you read first to get the full picture of the world in which the series is set and the technology that is introduced therein and continued in this book.
This book is based around an Augmented Reality game. Many try to enter, only the best ten are selected from around the world. Then, in a series of challenges, the ten is whittled down to the most elite four. They are then sent to the UK, initially as tourists. Then they go dark. If you've read Proximity then you'll know that everyone is connected and monitored so going dark is a big thing. Losing four people in swift succession piques the interest of DI Clive Lussac who also has his own health and personal issues to contend with. As the case continues he struggles to keep on top of things, especially when others in the police don't listen to his theories. It soon transpires that there is a very nefarious reason for what is happening, can Lussac get ahead of the action and stop the very worst from happening?
As with Proximity this book is action packed all the way through with new technology matching the intrigue and suspense it delivers. I already connected with Lussac in book one and have sympathy for what he has to contend with along the way. He has a new partner in this book to also get to grips with but also reconnects with an old colleague from the first book.
The story and technology contained within the book is quite scary. Government controlling everyone's movements and many other things including diet and exercise. It's incredibly plausible and there are shadows with what is going on in the world today with Lockdown and the threat of the Nanny State coming in when we do reach the new normal that the current government is whispering about. But it's for your own good they say...
As a series book there are things that are left open at the end, obviously to continue on to the next one. Not that I wasn't satisfied at the end of this episode, I was. A book that I am really looking forward to getting my hands on. Hopefully not too long a wait. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
This book is based around an Augmented Reality game. Many try to enter, only the best ten are selected from around the world. Then, in a series of challenges, the ten is whittled down to the most elite four. They are then sent to the UK, initially as tourists. Then they go dark. If you've read Proximity then you'll know that everyone is connected and monitored so going dark is a big thing. Losing four people in swift succession piques the interest of DI Clive Lussac who also has his own health and personal issues to contend with. As the case continues he struggles to keep on top of things, especially when others in the police don't listen to his theories. It soon transpires that there is a very nefarious reason for what is happening, can Lussac get ahead of the action and stop the very worst from happening?
As with Proximity this book is action packed all the way through with new technology matching the intrigue and suspense it delivers. I already connected with Lussac in book one and have sympathy for what he has to contend with along the way. He has a new partner in this book to also get to grips with but also reconnects with an old colleague from the first book.
The story and technology contained within the book is quite scary. Government controlling everyone's movements and many other things including diet and exercise. It's incredibly plausible and there are shadows with what is going on in the world today with Lockdown and the threat of the Nanny State coming in when we do reach the new normal that the current government is whispering about. But it's for your own good they say...
As a series book there are things that are left open at the end, obviously to continue on to the next one. Not that I wasn't satisfied at the end of this episode, I was. A book that I am really looking forward to getting my hands on. Hopefully not too long a wait. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
June 4, 2020
DI Clive Lussac is back in book 2 and he's still fighting the new system on his own terms. Holed away in another workless day in the Proximity Crime Unit (PCI) with his new junior high-energy sidekick DC Ava Miller. iMe is a government device embedded under the skin that tracks everything. Where you are, what you eat, when you exercise...meaning "a detective's work has all but disappeared". Until Clive and Ava receive urgent messages stating that four iTourists have unauthorized disconnects from the system. Meaning the indestructible temporary bracelets foreigners get while visiting the UK have somehow stopped working. Let's just say without giving spoilers that it's part of a clever and deadly augmented reality game with four contestants who are competing for money and prizes. In typical, Lussac style, he uses his experience and out-of-date detective skills to find the bad guys without getting credit for it.
I really like the diverse characters in this book. Clive's relationship with Ava is like a proud papa getting his junior partner to open up and become more confident. And his continued relationship with his former partner Zoe is still strong considering her mother has broken up with Clive. Along with turning 50, losing his girlfriend, and being ill, Clive is understandably more depressive in this book, but I still enjoy his sharp wit and ability to overcome his dislike for the new technology he has to learn to keep up with the times.
Overall, I enjoyed book 2 of the series which covers everything from cyber terrorists, political activism, religious activism to depression, grief, and bullying. It's a thrill ride from the first page with a fascinating take on the future. If you enjoy techno-thrillers with seasoned detectives and non-stop action, give this book a try.
Thank you to Mr. Tugwell and Serpentine Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
I really like the diverse characters in this book. Clive's relationship with Ava is like a proud papa getting his junior partner to open up and become more confident. And his continued relationship with his former partner Zoe is still strong considering her mother has broken up with Clive. Along with turning 50, losing his girlfriend, and being ill, Clive is understandably more depressive in this book, but I still enjoy his sharp wit and ability to overcome his dislike for the new technology he has to learn to keep up with the times.
Overall, I enjoyed book 2 of the series which covers everything from cyber terrorists, political activism, religious activism to depression, grief, and bullying. It's a thrill ride from the first page with a fascinating take on the future. If you enjoy techno-thrillers with seasoned detectives and non-stop action, give this book a try.
Thank you to Mr. Tugwell and Serpentine Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
September 10, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed the second book in the series and I am looking forward to the 3rd as everything starts ramping up to chaos at the end setting up an interesting launch point for the series to continue.
As a sci-fi fan and someone who likes to keep track of the advancements of technology, it has been interesting delving further into the dystopian future that Jem has been building. It is easy to feel immersed and relate to the main character, Clive, as everything feels like it could happen over the next decade by building upon the current state of the world.
The book starts out exploring more of the day-to-day struggles that Clive experiences and his relationship with his new colleague, Ava. While this made it feel like a slightly slower start, although this could also be due to my on-off reading for the past year due to university, it helps set up the events that will take place and flesh out the world and immerse you more into the story.
Once I had time to properly read it, my attention was caught and I thoroughly enjoyed each chapter where the stakes continued to rise and multiple surprises were thrown in adding to building tension.
I am looking forward to the next one in the series
As a sci-fi fan and someone who likes to keep track of the advancements of technology, it has been interesting delving further into the dystopian future that Jem has been building. It is easy to feel immersed and relate to the main character, Clive, as everything feels like it could happen over the next decade by building upon the current state of the world.
The book starts out exploring more of the day-to-day struggles that Clive experiences and his relationship with his new colleague, Ava. While this made it feel like a slightly slower start, although this could also be due to my on-off reading for the past year due to university, it helps set up the events that will take place and flesh out the world and immerse you more into the story.
Once I had time to properly read it, my attention was caught and I thoroughly enjoyed each chapter where the stakes continued to rise and multiple surprises were thrown in adding to building tension.
I am looking forward to the next one in the series
February 29, 2020
I am an avid Fitbit, Apple Watch user, and I am one of those that finds it creepy to see things I’ve said pop up on a Facebook timeline. Do I believe in Government conspiracies? Is it through the technology we have grown so comfortable in using?
This novel, although I haven’t read the first, touches on the crimes of the government and their ability to overstep into our privacy and take those rights away from every day citizens. It creeped me out, and made me really consider how much technology I really own.
It wasn’t the best story I’ve ever read, but the story was fun. Exciting. Thrilling. It was about IMe’s and meeting people’s needs with them.
The characters are well written and brought to life beneath the pages. I enjoyed reading it this evening. Although, the ending was a bit ambiguous, this tells the reader to be ready for book three in the series. I will be ready to take a look when the time comes.
3.5 stars
*Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This novel, although I haven’t read the first, touches on the crimes of the government and their ability to overstep into our privacy and take those rights away from every day citizens. It creeped me out, and made me really consider how much technology I really own.
It wasn’t the best story I’ve ever read, but the story was fun. Exciting. Thrilling. It was about IMe’s and meeting people’s needs with them.
The characters are well written and brought to life beneath the pages. I enjoyed reading it this evening. Although, the ending was a bit ambiguous, this tells the reader to be ready for book three in the series. I will be ready to take a look when the time comes.
3.5 stars
*Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 16, 2020
Overall I was disappointed with this book. The story is based on futuristic technology that is embedded into the characters. Although about big issues such as privacy and the government having access to all the details I found the details a bit too far fetched and distracting from the storyline. I haven’t read the first book in the series and perhaps this affected my enjoyment of the book as this was second in the series.
February 26, 2020
No Signal by Jem Tugwell is the second book in the iMe series, I admit I haven't read the first one but you can definitely understand the storyline without having done so. With iMe peoples every need are met, their every move and action measured and stacked against a model citizen. Tugwell builds a future that feels more like looking at a new article from a few years from now. Very surreal and the characters are brilliantly written
December 11, 2020
The story premise is quite interesting, and quite a lot of the book is decently paced and kept my interest. But the prose is clunky far too often, and the story needed a much stronger pulling together at the end. The other problem is that the villanous side are barely there, and while this might make a point, in fact a story aiming to be a thriller needs both sides to be properly drawn: this book doesn't have this. The author needs a more assertive editor.
June 2, 2020
Another really enjoyable read in the iMe series. “No Signal” is fast-paced and action packed story featuring futuristic technology which I can only hope doesn’t become a reality! I’d definitely recommend giving this series a try!
My full review: https://whatrebeccasread.wordpress.co...
My full review: https://whatrebeccasread.wordpress.co...
June 5, 2020
No Signal is chilling. A brilliant follow up to book 1, this will keep you captivated and wondering just how far off this kind of world is. Technology has already started to take over our lives, and with current events it's fairly plausible that governments will soon use technology to track everything. A true page turner, there's never a dull moment. A great way to escape for awhile.
August 17, 2020
#No Signal #Netgalley
I didn’t really enjoy this book at all, in parts I found it confusing . I definitely understood thre storyline, it’s more the way it was written. When I requested this to read from Netgalley l, it looked and read interesting. I couldn’t believe how suddenly it turned to scfi. It just didn���t fit not to me it didn’t do no it was definitely not my cup of tea.
I didn’t really enjoy this book at all, in parts I found it confusing . I definitely understood thre storyline, it’s more the way it was written. When I requested this to read from Netgalley l, it looked and read interesting. I couldn’t believe how suddenly it turned to scfi. It just didn���t fit not to me it didn’t do no it was definitely not my cup of tea.
January 4, 2021
A Very Good Story
This one picks up where book one left off. (Proximity). It is the people like Clive struggling to keep up with the new surveillance state technology against the people that want to use it for their own agenda.
This one picks up where book one left off. (Proximity). It is the people like Clive struggling to keep up with the new surveillance state technology against the people that want to use it for their own agenda.
March 24, 2020
Just as good as the first book, full review to come later when I join the blog tour.
April 24, 2020
I loved the scifi mystery elements in the story, this was a really good read that had what I was looking for in a technothriller and it had me on the edge of my seat from the beginning to the end.
April 18, 2021
Excellent book - much like ‘The Empire Strikes Back’, it’s even better than the original - all the moreso for having less gore – with ingeniously delivered political debate.
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