The Mirage

Rollback, Book 2

De: Michael C. Grumley

Narrado por: Scott Brick

Mike Mansfield is back, trying to help a grieving family make sense of a terrible tragedy. However, to his surprise, the details of the event don’t entirely make sense, not from the family, the police, nor the official report. Something about the story doesn’t fit, but Mansfield has no idea what it is. All he knows is that someone is watching him, very carefully.

As he and his invisibles begin piecing the puzzle together, they realize the original facts of what happened are nothing of the sort. The story itself was never meant to be anything but a mirage. To tie things up quickly and prevent people from looking too closely. Even worse, no one ever expected someone like Mansfield to show up and accidentally step into the middle of it.

Something is bubbling beneath the surface, and it has been for a long time. Something big but completely unnoticed. And for those orchestrating it, Mike Mansfield is the last person they would ever want involved. Because most people don’t know what Mansfield is capable of… until it’s too late.

©2025 Michael C. Grumley (P)2025 Recorded Books

Great Story tackling Contemporary Issues

Another good read from Grumley, but still not as good as his Echo series. If you're coming at this blindly, you'll be totally lost. Unlike his other series, Grumley give no recap to bring you in. You can read Rollback or take in this quick primer. Dave Bruni is a millionaire genius who creates a technology that compiles surveillance video from every camera in the world and can composite a rollback video of virtually any world event given enough time. He makes a squad called The Invisibles to use this technology to bear against organized human trafficking, especially children. He recruited Mike Mansfield, a former agent with a troubling past and vendetta against child predators to lead the team. With that in your pocket your ready to enjoy Mirage without any confusion.

Another winner

I love Michael's books, and Scott Brick makes them even better. This series is darker and more brutal, but it still gets 5 🌟.

Finally, justice is served!

This is the second book in this series, and I truly hope Michael Grumley has several more planned. When was the last time you saw some scumbag “get away with it”? Doesn’t matter what “it” was. Not here.
Very well thought out and planned, intriguing and thought provoking.
Additionally, Scott Brick delivers another great read.

Aching resolution

It is a precious few who have not known the lost of a loved one and the ache that follows when things just don't add up. Life shifts into neutral. When hope arrives, piece by piece, slowly bringing the full truth into light, mourning can continue and life can slowly return. A highly relatable story, with endearing, dedicated, and imperfect team of heroes grabbing the quicksilver made of pieces of the past to salvage and protect what is left of the future.

A tech and targeted vigilantism thriller!

As always, the author has combined compelling near future tech with an interesting storyline. On this outing, the tech is AI combined with online storage of all of our photos. The vigilantism is targeted at a group that most people could excuse the approach: child traffickers and abuse. I also enjoyed the San Francisco Bay area locations of which I am extremely familiar. I am looking forward to the next novel!