Oh my goodness. Reading this book is exhausting!!! Many, many very short chapters about events happening all around the world that turn out to be inter-related. This is like watching a series of the TV show "24" like your parents might do. I ended up having to stop and take a deep breath, I got faster and faster reading as the events came together. Never has a book earned term " a real pageturner" quite like this. It reminded me of reading the adult Tom Clancy books many years ago. Quite simply... brilliant!
The Butterfly Effect is a theory that seemingly tiny things, such as a butterfly flapping its wings, can set in motion a chain of events all around the world, with potetntially huge consequences. It is known as chaos theory. Therefore the book begins in the most gentle possible way, a long description of a butterfly.... which gives no clue whatsoever towards the ride you are about to go on reading this book. One thread is based in a theme park. Reading this book really did feel like that moment on a rollercoaster, right at the top of the first climb....1,2,3.... there's no going back... you're in for a thrilling ride!!! Do be aware. Some of the threads to the story are a little gruesome at times. The book isn't for you if you are squeamish.......... or if you have something to do in the next few hours because you are not going to want to put it down!
How Matt Dickinson (author of the Everest Files trilogy also listed on this site) managed to weave all the story threads together is amazing. Apparently it involved plastering the whole of his office walls with post it notes! I'm so, so glad he did and will be hunting out Speed Freaks and Deep Oblivion, the other books his this series very, very quickly. If I don't turn up to class one day.... its probably because I can't put the book down!!