Title: Delete
Author: Karl Olsberg
Publisher: Manilla (Bonnier Zaffre)
Publication date: October 25th 2016
Format: eARC
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For role-playing gamers like Mina and Thomas, reality can blur when you spend too much time online. But when Thomas disappears, not only from the virtual world but also from real life, Mina sets out to search for him. When she discovers that other Berliners have gone missing, all of them participants in the same game, she worries that she will be next. Chief Inspector Eisenberg heads up a team that is supposed to track and prevent potential terrorists. But identifying suspects via pattern recognition doesn’t help – you can’t arrest someone before a crime has been committed. Faced with uniting a brilliant but unruly team made up of hackers and coders, Eisenberg is drawn into the puzzle of the missing gamers – all of whom had the same in-game experience immediately before they disappeared.
Will Eisenberg and his team be able to unravel the truth from the fiction before it’s too late?
I was the first surprised by the effect this synopsis had on me. I am not a gamer and I had never read anything set in Germany. I don’t know anything about codes and hackers, and I am too down-to-earth to believe in far-fetched theories. Yet, I loved Delete. Where’s the glitch?
Like many other people, I loved The Matrix. Not for their clothes, although they were pretty cool, but for the what-if theory of a reality behind ours. I love playing God with my Sims. Do they know they are only dots on a computer screen? Do they notice when I trap their grandparents in the pool to kill them? Well, Mina did notice when Thomas disappeared from their online game, causing her to ask questions around. I do know how fast relations strike up online. You easily get used to talking or playing with certain people and you consider them as friends, even though you would probably not tell them. So Mina’s concern talked to me right away. But how do you make people take you seriously when you report an online disappearance? While I was debating what would Mina’s options be, a sci-fi theory crept up on me. Other weird disappearances occurred in the online game, making Mina wonder if the reality she comes back to when she logs out isn’t just another simulation.
Now, stay with me. I can hear you say this is not for you just like I said it was not for me. But have you ever really given it a thought? Because believe me, it you give Delete a shot, you’ll start wondering too. I am not talking about all populations suddenly screaming at the top of their lungs that the world isn’t real and that we are all living a lie. I would have closed the book shut if I had been thrown into a hard sci-fi story telling me nothing is real because I am not ready for this. Here, I am discussing a disturbing idea offered to you in a very convincing way through a story that will make you question if the computer you are reading this review on is a real computer. Weirdly enough, it worked for me. I was so engrossed in everything that was happening that I stopped questioning reality to focus on everything else, accepting that some people believe in life being a giant simulation. It helped that the author justifies all the elements with evidence, I was never lost in the hows and whys, you get all the information you need to make your own opinion on the theory.
Human beings are good at integrating inexplicable things into their world view.
Oh and don’t worry if you think your lack of knowledge will hamper your enjoyment of the story. I know nothing about programming or computer. I panicked when I had to add pages to my blog earlier this week, that tells you just how uncomfortable I am with technology. Yet I never felt at a loss while reading Delete. I got immersed into the story thanks to human feelings, and I was convinced by geeky but easy explanations of the unknown world of online-gaming and all the complicated things that make the 21st century what it is.
On the other side, you have a police department. A very special one with big brains and fast fingers supposed to prevent crime before they happen. Yes, you read that right. Another theory you are not ready for. Eisenberg, the poor man newly in charge of this unit doesn’t believe in it either. But what if he could turn this department into something more? Like a super-team able to connect the dots on the online disappearance of young people?
People would rather look at cute cats on Youtube or watch other people playing computer games in ‘let’s play’ videos instead of engaging with what they call reality — to say nothing of what lies behind it.
Because the story is told through a split narration that fits perfectly, everything makes sense. What glues it all together are the characters, diverse and real, so very real. Mina’s determination to find out the truth is raw and palpable. Eisenberg’s struggles are a real and human as that cup of tea near you and his new assignment another trick of life to make you really earn your salary and your sleep at night. His team is talented but flawed, I couldn’t help but fall for those weird geek policemen, all here for different reasons, all essential to the world, real or not! Glimpses of their lives help you connect to them throughout the book, adding humanity to a cold game of cat and mouse. I would not have enjoyed Delete as much without its unusual casting of protagonists.
But here’s so much more than just a couple of crazy theories and nice geeks to Delete. You are in for a full investigation, the thrill of the chase, hidden bad guys, questionings and police tape. The steady pace that turns into a frantic race against time will make sure you don’t even feel the need to check your phone.
This book masterfully plays with what makes our century special, with the changes in our behavior and the way we interact with each other and see the world. The easy and clear writing leaves room for interpretation and serves as a guide through a real exploration of what is real and just how far things can go. Don’t worry about reality, it is a character in itself in Delete. Don’t worry about theories, the investigation takes care of them.
Take the world, online and not, add a relentless pace and a frantic search for people, good or bad, and indulge in a gripping thriller that will make you think and turn pages faster than you can click on an Amazon deal link.
I would like to thank Carmen Jimenez for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What a great concept. I love when genres blend like this. Happy you enjoyed Delete and great review 🙂
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It was a surprising and fantastic read 🙂 I love being pushed in the unknown and faced with new things. Delete was a real discovery!
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This sounds like an amazing book!!!
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It is! I couldn’t put it down! It mixes so many things brilliantly!
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Great review, sounds like a really interesting read.😀
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It’s a fascinating read that opened my eyes on a couple of things I had never thought about. It also made me realize my tastes in reading have changed 🙂
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Sounds like an interesting read. I have read several books revolving around going into computer games etc … and loved every one. I like the sound of crime prevention, very much like the film ‘Minority Report’.
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I must admit I have never watched Minority Report! 🙂 The subject is not something I’m too familiar about but now I feel like discovering more of it through books.
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Great review! This book sounds right up my street – definitely adding it to my TBR 🙂
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It’s a book worth adding to your TBR 🙂 I was blown away by how the author masterfully created such a strong storyline served with great characters.
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That’s so good to know – so often books that have awesome concepts are let down by bland characters, I’m glad to know this one is strong in both 🙂
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You reviews are always so good with making me feel like I NEED to read all the books you read! 😀 This one is especially interesting though… ! 🙂 Totes checking this out! 🙂
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I’d love to hear your thoughts on this one, it took me by surprise!! 😀 I was so sure I’d never like it, now I know my tastes in reading have evolved!
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I think it’s awesome when the tastes in reading get challenged and positively tweaked… so much wonderful out there to discover yet 🙂 And hells yes, this books sounds right down my alley so I shall get my mitts on it! 😉
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Didn’t know this one! I’m not a gamer either, but Matrix is awesome haha And playing god with The Sims? I remember leaving them to die… I was so cruel! I would left them on the upper floor without a ladder…XD
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Hahaha, I see we share a sadistic side as well as a love for creepiness xD
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I am a gamer, well when able (ironically I play RPGs) so this hooked me right away. I think I will be adding it to the list for sure. Of course, it could end up giving me nightmares..
I think I have to address the more important issue here Donna.. you trap the Sim’s grandparents in the pool so they die?! no words..
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I played a bit online years ago with friends but I was never good at it xD What? You don’t want to realize you’ve been living a lie? :p
What? Sim grandparents are useless! They need naps and wake up at 3am, they loiter in the house with no purpose and they only want to go to the spa or fishing! :p
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Hah! You are killing me right now.. the truth comes out 😛 I hardly game of any sort due to my constant vertigo. The movement makes me sick. I get about 15 minutes in and have to go puke. That makes for an attractive gamer bawhaha. Was that too much info?
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That must be terrible 😦 I need The Sims when everything else fails or I go bonkers but these days I haven’t been able to play because of my eyes. Never too much info xD Never with me, never from you 😀
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I just made it 10 minutes into Diablo this morning haha. I swear. But I am a persistant little gamer and reader 😉 Maybe Sims would be less movement.. and I can take it out on them when I am sick bawhahaha.
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I never look at the sims anyway, I just click on actions all the time so it might be okay for you 😀 When I’m having a bad day, those poor sims suffer. A lot :p
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Bawhaha… The Evil Adorable Waffle Lover ❤
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well now I want to read this…. added to the TBR… great review!
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I hope you enjoy it! It’s a great choice to forget what happens around and get immersed in an intense book!
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What an interesting sounding book! Your review is fantastic:)
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Thanks so much, Renee! This book was a complete discovery, I’m glad I stepped out of my comfort zone again 🙂
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Sounds intriguing! Maybe not quite my usual story, but one I’ll definitely have to learn more about, and maybe pick up. Eventually. (Largely because heck yes Matrix—I was obsessed when it came out, not gonna lie—and the premise also vaaaguely reminds me of .hack//sign, which I desperately need to rewatch.) Thanks for pointing it out! =)
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I surprised myself when I agreed to review Delete, it does not sound like anything you’d find on my book shelves, and yet it’s a new favorite of mine!
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I’m glad you gave it a chance, then!
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Ouuuhh fantastic review! The whole prevent crime before they happen is straight out of Minority Report. This does have a pretty compelling plot. Oh, and you really do some fishy things in Sims. 😛
– Lashaan
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I love making experiments on my Sims *evil laugh* I’ve never watched Minority Report! But I love that angle I find it so interesting.
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