Constance

Constance, Book 1

By: Matthew FitzSimmons

Narrated by: January LaVoy

A breakthrough in human cloning becomes one woman’s waking nightmare in a mind-bending thriller by the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Gibson Vaughn series.

In the near future, advances in medicine and quantum computing make human cloning a reality. For the wealthy, cheating death is the ultimate luxury. To anticloning militants, it’s an abomination against nature. For young Constance “Con” D’Arcy, who was gifted her own clone by her late aunt, it’s terrifying.

After a routine monthly upload of her consciousness - stored for that inevitable transition - something goes wrong. When Con wakes up in the clinic, it’s eighteen months later. Her recent memories are missing. Her original, she’s told, is dead. If that’s true, what does that make her?

The secrets of Con’s disorienting new life are buried deep. So are those of how and why she died. To uncover the truth, Con is retracing the last days she can recall, crossing paths with a detective who’s just as curious. On the run, she needs someone she can trust. Because only one thing has become clear: Con is being marked for murder - all over again.

©2021 by Planetarium Station, Inc. (P)2021 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. David Bowie interview quoted by permission of ConcertLivewire.com.

Critic reviews

“Maybe what we need most as this bewildering summer winds down is a diverting story about an interesting futuristic topic that injects no new anxiety into our nervous brains…[Constance] shines in its interstitial moments…In between the sleuthing and the schemes for world domination and the eluding of people with guns, we are invited to grapple with genuinely thoughtful questions about the philosophical, legal and ethical implications of cloning and scientific innovation in general…The debates around cloning in Constance echo many of our contemporary preoccupations—skepticism of science, radical mistrust of those with opposing views, conspiracy theories.”—Sarah Lyall, Critic, The New York Times

“Full of technological surprises and ethical dilemmas, this inventive thriller hums with the electric excitement of the best 1950s science fiction.”—Tom Nolan, Critic, The Wall Street Journal

“In this timely thriller, tantalizing clues, complex motives, and shifting views of the truth flow around such issues as the relationship between money and power, the right to life, and the definition of self. FitzSimmons has upped his game with this one.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

very interesting take on cloning

very interesting take on cloning and the impact it could have on the world while keeping it story driven and not to info dump worthy. The way he changes the normal trope of murder mystery upside down is amazing while putting a bit of scifi and real world aspects to the point it's very believable to our society.

Enjoyable

I really enjoyed the writing style and pace of this. Although a ton happens, it never got overly confusing and stayed consistently interesting. It was my first read of FitzSimmons and I guess I’m a fan now. The first book in a series has to be amazing for me to want to continue to the next (if I can live with the ending) but I’m not sure if I’ll grab the second. This was definitely good and I love January LaVoy but I might try another of his first.

Amazing story, concept, and Characters. READ IT!!!

I started listening to Fitzsimmons from his Gibson Vaughn series. I normally do not like a female narrator but the story and concept were intriguing I gave it a try. I am so glad I did. I was glad to see a second book coming early next year. Listen to this!!!!! You will not regret it.

Hard to relate

I liked it'd well enough. I just found myself constantly wondering why everyone was so anticlone. Why would people be so concerned with a physical shell?

Interesting premise

I am a big fan of this author. This is unlike his other work. But not in a bad way a bit science-fiction E, exploring the notion of cloning to me, the plot line is not as intriguing as the concept a few too many.“who done it” twists. But overall, well worth the time.