Invariant by A.G. Sullivan

A psychological drama with an ominous edge, Invariant by A.G. Sullivan is a cleverly penned plunge into the possibilities of foresight and fate.

Six years after being summoned to a stranger’s deathbed to receive a mysterious message, David Bishop and his partner Hannah find themselves on a bizarre scavenger hunt that threatens to redirect their lives at every turn. Creepy coincidences and scattered clues are forming a prophetic pattern, which leads the pair on a sinister trail of breadcrumbs towards an unknown but predetermined future. When tragedy strikes, the enigmatic mission turns into a life-altering obsession, even though finding the ultimate answer – Who was John Doe? – may force David to cross a lethal line.

Bringing up mind-bending questions of destiny and determinism, while navigating the emotional minefields of grief, guilt, and second chances, this ambitious novel flirts on the fringes of theoretical cognitive science within a well-plotted sci-fi thriller. The puzzle-like nature of the plot makes the book engaging from the start, and the author does an excellent job of holding his cards close to sustain the aura of mystery, weaving through creative explorations of subliminal messaging, mental induction, time loops, past lives, and more.

Though there is occasionally overwritten narration that can slow the pace, the twisting storyline and paradoxical payoff make this a surreal and satisfying escape.