Review: Double Jeopardy By Alan Bayles

Blurb:

Called to the scene of a grisly double murder in a northern English village, Detective Inspector Dave Barnes thinks he's seen everything—until the threads of his investigation unwind an otherworldly secret.

As the Inspector and his team delve deeper into the case, a former history professor, with a personal interest in the crime, steps forward to provide bizarre clues that seem too impossible to be true. And, as Professor Claire Tulley shares her discoveries dating back to a failed military experiment 90 years earlier, DI Barnes realises that he's embroiled in a cover-up that reaches the highest levels of the government and beyond.

On a parallel Earth, Colonel David Barnes observes his doppelgänger with contempt as the detective edges closer to learning the truth about alternate worlds and the multi-dimensional portals that link them. But, as the Colonel seeks to assume control, he will do whatever it takes to overcome those in his way, even if that means assassinating the man reflected in the mirror.

With the fate of his Earth at stake, and realizing that not everyone around him is who they appear to be, Detective Inspector Barnes and his team must battle for their survival. But how can he win the fight when his own reflection is plotting against him?

Review:

A crime investigation that unexpectedly unveils a conspiracy from a different world. Wonderful. 

Another fun, fast-paced adventure—except this time a blend of sci-fi and horror. Dark sci-fi is very close to my heart, so when I saw the intriguing premise of Double Jeopardy teased in the author’s posts on Threads, I knew I had to try this book out. And what a thrilling ride it has been!

‘Because, as humans are fond of saying, I am a sucker for a good drama!’

An arrogant scientist, in his hubris, opens a portal into another universe. Not quite prepared for what awaits on the other side. Is this trope done too many times? Maybe. Will I ever get tired of it? Of course not. And, even if you have come across similar themes in Star Trek etc. take my word for it—the author’s twisted take makes this book quite a unique experience.

Detective Barnes is your tired, seasoned professional investigator looking into mysterious crimes. Not only are the circumstances baffling, pressure is mounting from his superiors to quickly close the cases—through whatever means necessary. The clues just don’t add up, until an incredibly resourceful history professor shows up and presents a research that turns Barnes’s world upside down. 

The story moves fast, and we discover the multi-decade conspiracy to take over our world at a dizzying pace. Action is aplenty right from the opening pages, and I was at the edge of my seat at all times.

‘Time has no meaning in the void’

With the other side employing doppelgängers who can travel through mirrors, and strange genetically mutated beasts, for a while it appears that all the odds are stacked against our ragtag team of investigators. 

You can no longer trust your own colleagues. Heck—you can no longer trust your own reflection. But as the story progresses, we find an unexpected ally—a name familiar to every thriller enthusiast. Yes, the book is set in UK. Yes, you guessed it right. 

‘Can somebody tell me what in the name of Zeus’s beard is going on?’

Will that be enough though to turn the tide against Rome? On the other side, the empire still stands strong, and boasts technology far more advanced than ours.

One thing that had been nagging on me for a while as I read the book, was how black-and-white the good and the bad side were. But all of that changes when the last leg of the conspiracy unfolds, and the distinction between who is the victim and who is the perpetrator dissolves. 

This is the kind of book that you’d read first and foremost for the plot and creative world building—and I thoroughly loved those. There is some vivid violence, and some depictions of slavery, but overall, it was not very gore-y. And certainly not grimdark.

There were some aspects of the presentation that didn’t resonate that well with me, and some attempts at humor that didn’t quite land. But all in all, this was a fantastic experience, and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.