In Killfile by Christopher Farnsworth, the main character can read minds and after a career in the military and the CIA is now a private consultant to the very rich. What could possibly go wrong?

A backlist title published in 2017 it was a pleasure to finally pick this up after purchasing a copy back in 2018. My initial curiosity surrounded how the author would communicate the mind reading skill to the reader. Secondly, how convincing (or not) this might be. I was pleasantly surprised to read a convincing account of mind reading and how it might impact a person with this ability.

"I know what you're thinking. Most of the time, it's not impressive. Trust me." Page 1

Our character goes by the name of John Smith (of course he does), and he often sheds light on the complex nature of his gift. He knows if a person means him harm and can take action beforehand. There are also unintended consequences of being able to read minds, as this quote early on in the book demonstrates:

"One of the many other downsides to being a telepath: knowing instantly and with certainty when you've acted like an asshole. I broke into her private life to score a cheap point, which is a lot worse than the countless guys who snuck a look down her blouse when they thought she wouldn't notice." Page 43

Smith is hired by Everett Sloan to get close to his billionaire rival in attempts to right a wrong, but not all is as it seems. Sloan can't read minds, but he has plenty of resources at his command, as does Sloan's rival, and the action is non stop.

Killfile by Christopher Farnsworth is a satisfying thriller with a refreshingly different angle I hadn't pursued since reading the Shadows series by Kay Hooper featuring a team of FBI Agents made up of psychics and those with special abilities.

Overall, a good read! ( )

Fast, action-packed thriller. John Smith has a special gift in that he can access and influence peoples' thoughts. Having quit the military, he is now an expensive private contractor. Billionaire software genius Everett Sloan hires Smith to recover an algorithm he allegedly stole and to "scrub every trace of it from Eli Preston's head." He is joined on his assignment by a beautiful and resourceful woman, Kelsey Foster. Mysteriously, Preston discovers Smith's identity, igniting trouble. My issues with this book are: (1) Smith's backstory is not well-integrated with the main story, and (2) Kelsey's character seems forced. ( )

Quick fun read, it always quite making sense, even if you go with the whole special psychic premise. Just enough science in it to make it almost plausible. ( )

Would make an amazing movie.... prepping for the 2nd in the series! ( )

Mind reading is impossible: just a clever trick like ventriloquism or levitation. But what if you could really read minds – and not only read them, but manipulate them too?

John Smith is an actual mind reader, highly paid for his services by the few in the know. When a billionaire software designer asks him to take back an algorithm stolen by another designer, and scrub every trace of it from the thief’s brain, John agrees.

He soon finds out nothing is ever as simple as it seems and he has made himself an implacable enemy. No suspension of disbelief is needed because Kill File is completely believable, and very enjoyable. ( )