THE MIRROR MAN

Manas’ thriller centers on a man with an innate supernatural ability to experience other people’s worst moments and how he’s drawn into a complicated plot.

When Julian Black touches someone, he’s transported into their minds and able to know and feel their most painful past experiences. As a result, Julian is a bit of a recluse; he doesn’t want to touch people accidentally, so he simply avoids everyone he possibly can. However, he eventually becomes involved with a young detective who enlists his help. As he and his abilities become more well known, he’s kidnapped by Sebastian Blaine, a thief from his past who possesses capabilities that allow him to erase memories. This person demands that Julian help him illegally access a classified government secret. Julian must either do as he says or pit his abilities against him—and see who emerges triumphant. This book blends many genres and handles each of them well, with superhuman skills alongside heist and thriller aspects; the latter, in particular, are sure to keep readers engaged with Julian’s fate. Manas generates an insistent sense of momentum that makes the reading experience tense and enjoyable, to the degree that it manages to accommodate some overly detailed visual descriptions of settings, characters, and even clothing: “He went to the closet and threw on a navy, long-sleeved polo shirt and natural linen trousers, along with a pair of cognac suede loafers.” Once the story gets going, however, this meticulousness allows for some highly visual scenes. The well-developed characters and their intriguing powers help set this thriller apart from the pack, and seasoned fans of the genre will enjoy that it feels comfortably familiar yet also distinctive.

A stylish and engaging crime tale.