Alt Truths

There Are Two Sides to Every Story. Even Genocide.

De: Alec Birri

Narrado por: Jonathan Keeble

What if you knew an entire race of people was being systematically slaughtered but had to cover it up?

Fake news. Alternative facts. Truth, lies, damn lies, and statistics. Just who are we to believe? In this near-future dystopian thriller, that will be the United Nations Police “moderators”.

Thirty-year-old UNPOL officer Richard Warren has been embedded with the BBC, and not seeing eye-to-eye with journalist Sarah Dyer is just the start of his problems. News of an Ebola pandemic is being withheld, and when it’s discovered Sarah’s artistic savant brother is involved, Richard’s determination to get to the truth takes an unexpected turn. But what if the truth must never be known?

And Richard thought Sarah was a challenge. The very concept of right and wrong is about to be tested and in a way that’s going to make fake news look like quality journalism.

©2018 Nick Smith Author (P)2019 Nick Smith Author

Interesting, though provocative, and very creative

Interesting, thought provoking, and very creative. Really enjoyed the book. This book with a touch of work would make for a great Black Mirror style movie. This story has it all: magic, witches, nanotech, AI, gene editing, bio-warfare, and media/opinion manipulation. This is the first book I have read by Alec Birri, but I enjoyed it enough to add the first book of his other series to my list.

Disclaimer: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

ALT Truths

The Story:
Birri is back with yet another story that will get you thinking, and wondering if this is really what is in store for us all in the future. Richard Warren & Sarah Dyer are out unwitting main characters in this book, and the first part of the book sees the relationship between the two build up. This story is full of so many plots and twists featuring bio warfare, and the political agenda for world peace. What I love most about Birri’s books is the sense of realness about it, how you can actually envision this world turing out this way – maybe it all ready is happening but the sheeple just can’t see discern it from all the fake new…. Definitely a book to get you thinking.

The Narrator:
Jonathan Keeble is back and once again a tremendous job of bringing Birri’s characters to life. I am do glad he was narrating this book as it is in keeping with the Condition Series. His ability to discern the characters was yet again flawless and the accents were on point. Once again the recording was crisp and clear, with no background or white noise, and the narration flowed seamlessly.

I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Alec Birri. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

Satisfying and thought provoking story

ALT TRUTHS is the fourth book I have read by the talented Alec Birri, but it’s the first of his books that I have read in print. I enjoyed The Condition Trilogy with my ears and was barely recovered from fan-girling over the amazing narration by Jonathan Keeble when the audio book of ALT TRUTHS published. JOY! Listening to ALT TRUTHS is just as satisfying as reading it.

Told in short, highly interesting chapters, ALT TRUTHS keeps the reader engaged and the story moving along at a fast clip. The character building happens quickly, too, so readers not only meet the main cast of characters, they also see them fleshed-out early on. This is not to say that Birri gives away the goods. Many of the characters are not exactly the what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of people, so there are plenty of times that readers will be taken aback.

“Stop apologizing. Americans are so annoying like that.”

It is those “WHOA” moments that really force the page-turning pace to increase and induce some philosophical deep thinking for readers. Birri’s novel explores the what-ifs of savants, science, germ warfare, political agendas, and even mind control all in a very near future scenario (just barely futuristic given it’s only the 46th United States president in office, at times making it difficult to discern that the book is dystopian). Honestly, I had some trouble reconciling that some of the elements were feasible. Perhaps feasible is the wrong word – possible? Yes. Probable that soon? Doubtful to me. Sadly, fake news and bad cell signals are still a thing in the future, but there wasn’t a mention of selfies, so small victories there.

Birri’s writing is very good, and he does an excellent job with his descriptions of setting, allowing readers to visualize everything from the defunct amusement park and its West World-ish (original) occupants to the re-purposed military compounds and their hidden agendas. For those who are squeamish, look-out. Birri also masterfully and vividly describes the devastating and deadly effects of a virus that is ravaging the world. ICK! (But, ooooooh, so cool/gross/fascinating!)

ALT TRUTHS is divided into two parts, and it’s almost like they are two separate books. Where part one gives us realistic characters and a realistic world, part two dives deeply into the sci-fi realm and went a bit too out-there for me with the droids and the robots and the transcendental trips. Strangely enough, within the advanced technology, global crises, and conspiracies happening, ALT TRUTHS manages to infuse the strength of family bonds, romance, humor, and even witchcraft into this crumbling world. And it works! Admittedly, these elements work better in part one than part two, but the second half of the book does circle back around and grounds itself by the end for a satisfying and thought-provoking story.

ABOUT THE NARRATION: Jonathan Keeble could read a recipe card and I’d be hooked. In ALT TRUTHS, his performance of all the characters – male and female, young and old – is stellar. There is never confusion over who is speaking because Keeble manages to differentiate them so that each has a unique sound and cadence. However, for me, there’s nothing more delightful than an international accent, and sadly, there’s a lot less of that in ALT TRUTHS since so many important characters are American. I am less enamored of Keeble’s American accent, particularly Richard’s, which is supposed to be southern. (As a Texan, every time I heard “ma’am” mispronounced, it took me right out of the story.) I eventually acclimated to the peculiarities of the American accents, and Keeble knocks it out of the park with the others, so my fan-girl status is still firmly in place.

Thank you to the author and Audiobookworm for providing me an eBook and audio download in exchange for my honest opinion – the only kind I give.

Still not sure

Narration was excellent. One of the best performances I’ve ever heard. Jonathan Keeble will be on my search list!
As for the story, I’m a bit undecided. Can’t say I’ve felt this way before. Some of it skipped around for lack of a better way of describing what I mean. It was interesting. I liked the way different religions and beliefs were talked about. I’m just on the fence about the overall story. Parts were really good. The writing was good. I love alternate timelines and universes and dystopian future fiction. This could possibly fall under all three. Still it wasn’t bad, wasn’t great, was just middle of the road for me. Maybe because I don’t feel it all came together in a cohesive way in the end. I’d still give this author another try. I was entertained.

I was voluntarily provided this review copy at no charge by the author, publisher and or narrator.

Best sick day I have had in a while.

Not feeling well enough to go to work yesterday, and feeling far to blah to do anything more energetic then Laying in bed and feeling like crap,May seen like a poor plan listening to a new audio book.
However This book was a perfect way to take my mind off my troubles.
I genuinely suck at trying to say why a book is great, without giving away spoilers.

This book had interesting people , that were believable and easy to relate to.
and anyone who has listened to an audio book should be able to tell that Jonathan Keeble, is one of the greats.

The story was just gripping, and made me think about politics in a new way.

I have received a free copy of this book and am writing this review voluntarily.
But i would gladly spent an audible credit,on the next book Mr. Birri writes.