The Speed of Sound

Speed of Sound Thrillers, Book 1

By: Eric Bernt

Narrated by: Christopher Lane

Length: 10 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

In this propulsive thriller, one of the most ingenious young men in the world has also become the most dangerous…or has he?

Harmony House is more than a “special place for special people.” It’s a think tank where high-functioning autistic savants harness their unique abilities for the benefit of society. Resident Eddie Parks’s contribution is nothing less than extraordinary: an “echo box” that can re-create never-recorded sounds using acoustic archeology.

All Eddie wants is to hear his late mother’s voice. But what he’s created is inadvertently posing a threat to national security.

To Harmony House’s shadowy government backers and radical extremists, the echo box is the ultimate intelligence asset - an end to the very concept of secrecy. Now for Eddie and the compassionate Dr. Skylar Drummond, the true nature of the institution is becoming chillingly clear.

As ruthless competing enemies close in on Eddie and his miraculous machine, Skylar risks all to take him on the run. Because once that prize is won, Eddie Parks will no longer be considered a “special person” but a dangerous redundancy. An inconvenient echo that must be silenced.

©2018 Eric Bernt (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Interesting...

First be warned, this is book one in a two book series. I didn't realize this when I purchased the book but I would have bought it anyway. The ending is rather abrupt and leaves some questions unanswered. There is resolution to the main plot.
The publisher's summary gives a very good description so I won't review the plot. This is very well written however I do think the black op agencies were a little overwhelming. There were a few and that got a little jumbled. Some were a little more barbaric and the bodies stack up.
What I did like was the portrayal of Eddie and his autistic tendencies. My favorite situation is when he buys a pretzel from a vender for $2, it's the first time in his life he has ever bought and paid for anything. He's 27 years old.
Christopher Lane, as expected does a fantastic job narrating.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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Non-stop Action, Definitely Speed of Sound!

This was a great read from start to finish and I can't wait for the follow up that is due to arrive in 2019. This book was an Amazon suggestion for me. The plot description sounded interesting but when I read that the author was also a writer for Z Nation, I was sold! I think that Z Nation is an under- appreciated series when it comes to story structure.
I will be suggesting this book to my friends and family.

Entertainig story, good narrator, week science

If this is one of those days when you have a long commute ahead and you can´t find a book you like ..this is the story for you. An entertaining and simple story with a cliché-built genious autistic character that changes science while being chased by the usual villains that moonlight as secret service agents. Christopher Lane does a superb work as the narrator and it is thanks to him that I did not request a refund. If you like your science fiction books to have credible scientific bases...go back to Asimov.

Pleasantly surprised

I had binged on three books by Jerry Merritt and was looking for a new book to listen to during my 7 hour drive home from Lake Tahoe to Los Angeles. I saw I had heard of the science of acoustic archeology years before in, of all things, a sermon. To my delight I noticed Christopher Lane was the books Narrator - one of my favorite narrators who impressed me greatly with his performance in “The Gift of Time”. Familiar with Autism through a friend whose child has autism, I was endeared with Eddies Parks character. I routed for him and got upset when he was misunderstood. The characterizations and story building is done really well. It’s a thrill ride. Shady characters, altruistic bystanders and a strong supporting female lead. A fast read that was quite exciting and fun.

Top ten contender!

Loved reading The Speed of Sound and to discover a fabulous New author! I truly hope this Series flourishes. Superbly narrated by Christopher Lane.

Speed of Sound.a

I truly enjoyed this book. Very well written . The Audible was just as great. this book will be absolutely recommended to all my friends and people I meet and talk about books and authors. Thank you.

Bravo ..

I didn't want to have it end! I am, as is my grandson, on the spectrum.. And am happy to read something that I can understand. Next please☺

Absolutely brilliant story of Neurodiversity

I enjoyed the valuable history immersed throughout the book. eg, the AHF. It was a wonderful thriller, suspense and funny story. It gave me a better appreciation for my son who has Aspergers is going into his senior year in high school, applying for a number of colleges for next year.

A Well Written Thriller Sure To Please

I have a rather eclectic taste in books. I’m down for anything–Sci-Fi, Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopian, Chick Lit, Memoirs, Historical Fiction, you name it, I’ll read it, so long as it’s a good story. Recently, I’ve been on a historical fiction kick, reading The Alice Network and Fortunate Ones and listening to The Address, The Lilac Girls, and All the Light We Cannot See. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed each of these pieces but oh man was I in need of a palate cleanser. I was looking for something…a little less historic. Brian suggested I check out The Speed of Sound and I was definitely not disappointed. My biggest gripe? The Speed of Sound is the first book in a series and the second book, The Sound of Echoes, isn’t due to be released until June of next year!

The Speed of Sound is a thriller centered upon an extraordinary young man, Eddie Park, who resides at Harmony House, a “special place for special people.” We quickly learn that Harmony House is funded by a governmental or quasi-governmental organization looking to control the intellectual property and technological developments created by the special people who live there, primarily highly-functioning autistic savants like Eddie, in the interest of national security. When Eddie’s creation, the “echo box,” successfully utilizes “acoustic archeology” to re-create sound waves, Eddie is ecstatic, hoping to use the box to hear his late mother sing. He demonstrates the box for Dr. Skylar Drummond, playing a rather compromising conversation involving the director of Harmony House. Dr. Drummond quickly realizes the box and its ability to recreate any conversation could have powerful and potentially dangerous consequences. She worries that Eddie and his echo box may be in imminent danger and the real story begins, as the pair embarks on a risky game of “tag,” trying to outrun and outsmart the “mystery man” and others anxious to get their hands on the Echo Box.

I was extremely impressed by every aspect of The Speed of Sound but was most captivated by Bernt’s portrayal of Eddie. As an undergraduate, I had the pleasure of knowing two remarkable young people much like Eddie and was happy to see Bernt present Eddie not as a strange and limited person but as a unique, talented individual with the power to change the world, hindered only by his inability to effectively communicate with those around him. Similarly, I found Dr. Drummond immediately likable. Driven by a deep-seeded and personal desire to serve the Autistic community, Dr. Drummond’s compassion and dedication to helping Eddie achieve his goals are almost palpable. The suburb characterization in this piece is enhanced by a phenomenal narrator, Christopher Lane. Lane’s voice was an excellent match for the Speed of Sound’s third person, omniscient point of view. His voice was the perfect embodiment of “the wizard behind the curtain,” an all-knowing narrator capable of telling us exactly what each character was thinking and feeling. His voice drew me in and wouldn’t let me go.

With a technological advancement capable of changing the world, a young, likable, main character, a few creepy, mysterious “bad guys,” a few altruistic “good guys,” and a fabulous narrator, The Speed of Sound is a well written and well-narrated thriller sure to please. As the first in a series, the only disappointment you’re likely to face is a bit of a cliffhanger at the end and the suspense and anticipation you’ll be forced to endure while you await the release of book two, The Sound of Echoes.

It's all in the character development

The story starts out slowly, but he patient. Being a lover of science fiction, I kept looking for the science. It does appear in its own good time. Then, the characters started gently amusing me, especially Eddie. Read the book and you will see what I mean. I stayed for Eddy.

great story and reading

loved the story line. full of details you could almost be there. almost believable.
would recommend to anyone

Absolutely Tremendous! loved it.

Beautifully narrated. wonderful characters. Interesting and unique story. This science fiction thriller is well worth a punt. Its certainly up there with some of the best I've read. But the ending, did shock me a bit, fairly abrupt and left wide open for the readers imagination. And unfortunately I just can imagine what it could of been, so it actually left me pretty tortured.