Diving into Déjà Vu with Laura Kaye's Mind-Bending Novel

I recently stumbled upon Laura Kaye's works and I'm hooked. Her books are a twisted rollercoaster ride that keeps me on the edge of my seat. I've been buying her novels on autopilot, but unfortunately, I don't get to finish them as quickly as I'd like. The Deja Vu was one of her books that I purchased back in March, but I only just finished reading it.

Compared to her other works, this one seemed a bit dull and heavy to me, and I noticed that some people were comparing it to 1984 and Black Mirror. I tried watching Black Mirror, but I gave up after the 5th episode - I just couldn't imagine living in a world like that.

From the author of paradoxical thrillers The Bell and Memory Trap. Fans of Blake Crouch, 1984 by George Orwell, and The Accident Season by Moïra Fowley-Doyle will love this book.

Price: 348 rub.Place of purchase: Chayka-Gorod

Publisher: Eksmo

Year of publication: 2024

Her new releases all have the same style, and I love it - that was another reason I decided to collect all her books in paperback.

The book design has direct references to the plot, and you can only fully understand and relate them after reading the book. The sandglass is a symbol of the past and future, which can be turned over and a new countdown will begin, and maybe that's the effect of déjà vu.

The hardcover is beautiful, with a high-quality, well-sewn binding. The white pages are translucent, but not dense. However, the book is very pleasant to read, and I love pretty books.

The author's bio on the cover remains a consistent part of the new book's design. I've got to say, the book 'Who am I?' has already been re-released under the title 'The Last Script.'

There are a few more hints about the plot and a reader's review on the cover, comparing the book to the TV series 'Black Mirror.'

Plot

I've experienced déjà vu many times, and it's like reliving a moment that's been stuck in my memory for years. The feelings, emotions - it's like I've been here before. Even smells can trigger déjà vu and a flood of memories from the past.

The author takes this concept and runs with it, adding a dash of science fiction and futuristic tech. A journalist wrote his first obituary 20 years ago, and it was about a professor who had passed away. Fast forward 20 years, and he's reading about the professor's death again - but this time, the circumstances are different. He's convinced he's not losing his mind, so he sets out to investigate. Everyone else seems to think it's no big deal, except for the professor's daughter.

I've gotta say, this one threw me for a loop. But the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. I was watching the local news and saw a report about the death of a famous professor. But here's the thing - I'd already written his obituary and attended his funeral... twenty years ago. I decided to pay my respects by visiting his grave, but instead of finding the old headstone, I stumbled upon a new one in the same spot. The professor's daughter, Anna Clark, gets a mysterious phone call telling her that her dad died in a plane crash. Problem is, she remembers him dying twenty years ago. Anna heads back to her hometown, but soon finds herself being stalked by people who don't want her to uncover the truth...

My TakeI've got to give the author credit - her writing style is super engaging, and her books are always a quick read. This one was no exception - I devoured it in just a couple of evenings, totaling about 5 hours. And while it was good, it wasn't my favorite of hers.

I've always been drawn to the mystery and supernatural elements in her books, but with a grounding in reality that makes the story feel plausible. This time around, she decided to take a different approach - exploring a distant future with sci-fi tech and time travel. I'm not a fan of overtly sci-fi stories.

The book is divided into several sections, each with its own narrator and perspective on the events. The timeline is also clearly marked, making it impossible to get lost in the story - except maybe when it comes to the future characters.

I was really into this book until about halfway through, at which point I knew exactly where it was headed and the whole theme of déjà vu was basically explained. Just a couple of references to human memory and the brain. It's like how easily you can swap out real memories for the ones you want and people will think they're true. The story's pretty dynamic, lots of events happening, and it's all happening pretty fast, so you don't even get a chance to get upset about the next death.

The second half of the book was a bit of a snooze fest for me, but I guess the author was going for a specific vibe, showing us a future world and giving us something to think about. Where everyone makes their own conclusions about how nothing's better than our present day. There are loads of movies that cover the theme of changing the past, like 'The Butterfly Effect', and I'd say this book is similar, how not changing the past would make the future perfect.

As I read on, I was waiting for the author to pull a surprise and turn everything on its head. But the ending was pretty predictable and even a bit abrupt. Still, the book's over, no more to come.

➡ My reviews of Laura Kaye's books:

The Bell - A complex puzzle, a game of the mind, or just life in a different reality?

Trapped - From this train, I'd even jump off if I were dead