The Drafter

July 27, 2015
Peri Reed, the heroine of this entertaining but preposterous near-future SF thriller from bestseller Harrison (The Witch with No Name), is a “drafter,” a spy-like operative with the ability to rewrite short moments in time. Peri must rely on an “anchor,” a person who helps her mentally integrate her newly created history without going crazy. Trouble arises when Peri finds she can’t trust her current anchor (and boyfriend). Her personality begins to fragment during a mission to recover a list of corrupt operatives within Opti, the time-altering governmental organization she works for, and she must find a way to reintegrate while on the run. Opti is opposed by the Alliance, former Opti agents who believe Opti has gone rogue. Both organizations—and Peri—cheerily employ any means to achieve what they consider a desirable end, such as using a virus to limit air pollution. Harrison delivers moments of lyrical intensity when the time lines Peri is “drafting” consolidate into a new reality, but the lack of logic and a goofy plot dissipate the tension. Agent: Richard Curtis, Richard Curtis Associates.

In 2030 Detroit, Peri Reed is a time shifter--meaning she can jump briefly back in time--but she forgets the past when she returns to the present. Now she's discovered that her handlers are manipulating her memories. January LaVoy's gritty narration is perfect for this thriller with a futuristic twist. Paranoia, violence, and a convoluted backstory of betrayal drive the story of secret agencies that are fighting for control of timelines. LaVoy delivers the narrative sections of the story with warm tones and varies her portrayals of the characters, using hard-edged tones for Peri, soft Southern accents for Howard and Taf, and deeper tones for Silas. She juggles breathless action, vicious fights, a diverse cast, and secret alliances, drawing listeners into the first installment of Peri Reed's quest of truth and a clean timeline. Listeners may wish to seek out the prequel, SIDESWIPED, first. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine