Stonefish by Scott R. Jones #BookReview

A missing the mogul…

…a jaded reporter…

…a damaged AI returned from a horrifying reality…

…and something lurking in the woods.

When journalist Den Secord is tasked with locating enigmatic the guru Gregor Makarios, he soon finds his understanding of reality under threat. At the edge of the world, surrounded by primeval forests, in the paradisaical environs of Gregor’s hi-tech hermitage, Den learns of the true nature of our Universe.

Title: Stonefish | Author: Scott R. Jones | Publisher: Word Horde| Pub. Date:25 February 2020 | Pages: 321 | ISBN: 978-939905-56-7| Genre: Science Fiction/Horror | Language: English | Source: Received a free ARC I Unstarred Review

Stonefish Review

This story twists together science fiction and cosmic horror as Journalist Den Secord investigates the disappearance of tech wizard Gregor Makarios. This book has interesting elements, such as Bigfoot sightings and to-smart-for-their-own-good- artificial intelligence; however, it did not captivate me as I hoped.

I haven’t read a lot of climate change fiction (cli-fi), so I was excited to dig into Stonefish. While labeled as science fiction/ horror, this story contains strong environmental themes. The setting fascinated me, especially when Gregor’s living situation is introduced, but most of the novel sunk into philosophical topics.

This novel is broken up into four parts, and I believe some of the sections stayed focused on the characters’ existential thoughts rather than pushing forward the story. Some readers will enjoy this element. There are interesting discussions to be sparked from the in-depth discussions among characters. I found it a tad tedious.

However, I enjoyed the characters. Gregor came to life with his mad scientist vibe, and his relationship with Li’l Dougie, the AI. There are monsters in the woods stalking Den, which adds a fun element of tension as the story progresses. When everything is revealed, it’s nothing as Den imagines, which makes for an interesting conclusion.

Still, I had a difficult time maintaining focus as the story entered section three. This is when Den conducts interviews with various characters. It seemed to slow the pace, despite delving into each cast member’s life with greater detail. I was hooked on the setting and the world around Den. Focusing on the character’s personalities and lives for a long portion of the story took me out of the plot. This doesn’t mean others won’t enjoy the Stonefish. While the structure didn’t fit me, it may fit many other readers. I suggest trying it out for yourself.

---

You can find this book at many retailers via clicking on the appropriate link on Goodreads; however, in the spirit of supporting literacy programs, we would like to point out that you may be able to purchase this book through BetterWorldBooks.