ORACLE: A Story From The Reels by Brian B. Ewing is the first book in a series that focuses on Tom Sisto, an introvert with a tragic past gifted with a psychic power to experience first-person memories of victims and evil-doers alike. These visions come to him in a manner akin to an old-school projector; this is why he has named them “The Reels.” Sisto is a consultant with his local police, helping them with often violent cases. Not everyone on the force is a fan, let alone a believer in his abilities, but this dismissive ignorance is the least of his concerns. A sadistically creative serial killer has begun to leave a trail of blood and gore behind them–a trail that just might lead directly back to Sisto’s traumatic past.
Oracle reads like a well-paced, cleverly constructed story arc from an engaging TV crime procedural. Ewing clearly loves the Thriller Genre and has a talent for writing in this graphic format. The psychic aspect of the narrative never comes off as corny or unnecessary to the story. “The Reels” are another character, so to speak, and are handled thoughtfully and strategically. This novel reads modern and accessible, but there are still fun Pop Culture references from across the years to add humanity, relatability, and humour to his cast of unique, delightful, and sometimes dangerous characters. Ewing skillfully provides delectable detail, enabling and enhancing the reader’s ability to mentally formulate visual aesthetics on a cinematic scope for what’s happening on the page. The scenes of brutality and the aftermath are an experience unto themselves. That said, this is a thriller, not a horror novel; it has just enough action and visceral carnage to add textual excitement without ever crossing into gruesome spectacle. (Not that there’s anything wrong with gruesome spectacle, but I digress… LOL.)
One element of Ewing’s writing proficiency with character development that struck me as powerful was his ability to show Sisto’s capacity for emotional detachment. On occasion throughout the novel, Sisto’s (possibly subconscious) drive to compartmentalize his emotions, even his awareness of events around him, specifically difficult, often horrific occurrences, is both maddening and understandable. It’s his survival technique, a need to submerge into the minutiae of day-to-day normalcy, so he doesn’t crumble. Everyone processes trauma differently, as they say. Sisto’s capability to suppress his link to “The Reels” when things become too emotionally challenging is also fascinating. The relationship Sisto has with “The Reels” feels organic, as if these powers have a consciousness, perhaps even an awareness of Sisto; the visions seem purposely (often timely) directed. This dichotomy between engaging in mundanity versus the dizzying experiences of “The Reels” and their “directed intent” adds to Sisto’s complexity as a fundamentally regular guy forced to live in a world of extraordinary experiences and circumstances.
Oracle: A Story From The Reels is a well-crafted Urban Thriller with sensational cover art that’s a must-read. It’s a deft, entertaining story with enough grit, tension, mayhem, and emotional resonance to keep you interested until the end. I didn’t want to put it down! An edifying delight from Brian B. Ewing, and I’m looking forward to reading more from him.
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