Review: Futuristic Thriller
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 9, 2014
This is a crime novel set in the not too distant future. London has been chosen as  the prototype city for the launch of Portal, a computerised system that totally controls and records every facet of daily life. Everyone has a personal terminal that responds only to their biometric imprint, through which all transactions occur, not only banking, shopping, chatting to friends, keeping an inventory of kitchen supplies and automatically replenishing stocks and live feeds of news events but it can also be used to send out your own live feeds of what is happening to you at any moment and also what you are feeling at any time. London has also almost been totally covered by sensor strips that can record profiles of those who pass by so that everyone's movements are known and recorded by Portal. Cars can be driven automatically by Portal's system finding the best routes and reducing traffic gridlock in the city. The police can also use Portal to identify people at crime scenes so one very positive outcome has been a huge reduction in crime as there is no point carrying out a burglary or murder if the police not only know who did it but can track where you are. Despite the loss of some personal freedom, the residents of London enjoy the benefits of Portal, not only almost non-existent crime but also increased employment and personal happiness. The mega-company Portal is now the largest employer in the city and is poised to launch the system in other cities around the world.Louisa Bennett is a policewoman coping with being a single mother of two, following the recent divorce from her philandering husband. At the start of the novel she is involved in staking out a potential drug runner who has previously managed to evade Portal and give police the slip. Somehow this time he manages to change his profile once again and take on that of someone else. The police know they much find out how he is able to do this before it becomes a major problem for them. Louisa also becomes embroiled in a murder case where the bruised and battered body of a young girl with a huge hole in her neck is found on the railway line in one of the few areas of the city not covered by Portal sensor strips. As she investigates what could have happened to end this young girl's life she finds sinister links leading back to Portal itself and her own life is threatened.Lots of action as Louisa races to find the connections between her case and Portal and work out who she can truly trust. Very enjoyable.