Nikki Owen

I didn't think this book was going to be my cup of tea, but I zipped right through it once I got started. Dr. Maria Martinez has been convicted of murdering a priest and is in a prison in the UK. She has Asperger's which complicates her personal situation, which I can't even begin to explain as it's so convoluted. As she struggles with paranoia and delusions while trying to figure out who she can and can't trust, the story gets more and more confusing until I became just as frustrated as she was. It was really quite intriguing, and the ending sets up nicely for the second installment of the trilogy.… (mais)

I received this novel as an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have a neighbour who loves conspiracy theories. Whenever he gets the chance, he talks to me about the latest conspiracy theory he has heard about. What's more, he strongly believes in each one. At one point in time, I would have laughed it off. However, ever since it became known that the NSA spies on people using technology, I've had to change my mind. When I read the premise of this book, it reminded me of my neighbour and I knew I had to read it. I'm surprised by how quickly I finished the novel, which is a testament to its addictive nature.

Dr. Maria Martinez is a brilliant plastic surgeon who has Asperger's Syndrome. She has a very high IQ, an eidetic memory, and an incredible ability to decipher codes and patterns. She is also convicted of killing a priest. In an English prison, she is far away from her home and family in Salamanca, Spain. Although DNA evidence places Maria at the scene of the crime, she maintains that she is innocent. Amidst accusations that she is lying, Maria begins to remember things.... a strange room, strange people, being tested upon....but she still does not recollect ever committing murder. As Maria begins to put the pieces together, she starts to suspect that she may be at the heart of a conspiracy involving MI5, and a project known as Callidus. Who can she trust? Who are her friends and who are "handlers" that are watching her every move? Maria must find out what her role is in Project Callidus - before it is too late!

At first, I found myself a bit confused when reading this novel. It was hard for me to keep track of what exactly was happening. But very quickly, I got accustomed to the style of the author and the way that the story jumps back and forth in time. Maria's character is extremely unique and the author has done a very good job in portraying the various behavioural and analytical aspects that come with a diagnosis of Asperger's. The more I read, the more I liked Maria, and the more confused I got with what was the actual truth (which is the whole point of the story)! By the end of the novel, I was on tenterhooks and I just HAD to know what was going to happen next. I don't think I have ever been this sad to have a novel finish! I hope the author is going to release the sequel to this novel soon because I just HAVE to know what happens to Dr. Maria Martinez! For those of you that like action-packed conspiracy novels with lots of murder and mystery, this is the story for you! It was just released on September 6th, so don't waste any time in getting your hands on it!… (mais)

Subject 375 was previously published in the UK as The Spider in the Corner of the Room.
It's an intriguing story about Maria who is a plastic surgeon with Asperger's Syndrome who moved from Spain to the UK where she has now been convicted of killing a Catholic priest.
Told from Maria's first person perspective, the story flits back and forth, through "therapy" sessions and recurring memories, as Maria is trying to work out how she ended up in jail. Did she really kill the priest? Maria doesn't know. All the people around her seem to be giving her conflicting messages and she is confused as to whom she can trust.
I think this will appeal to readers who enjoy a good conspiracy thriller. It reminded me of the British TV series Spooks. I thought Maria was an interesting character and the author did a very convincing job of portraying her, but I found it difficult to completely engage with the wider story. It became more interesting towards the end, but as this is part one of a trilogy, it just ended as I was finally starting to become more invested.
I received a copy from Blackstone Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.… (mais)