Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

 In Chicago a man named Jason Dessen lives with his wife and child. They are happy withj their mildly successful lives - they have regrets but everyopne has regrets. All is good - until one day, when Jason is walking home he is kidnapped by a man in a mask and drugged. When Jason wakes up he is in a new universe living a life he doesn't know. 

That's the basic elevator pitch of this novel. And it's a good pitch, to be sure. It sets up a mystery to be solved and it's a good mystery.

Notice I keep using the word "Good" in that? That's because... this book is good. Not great but certainly not bad. Let's just say it - this book examines the idea of travelling to alternate universes along one mans timeline. Basically Quantum Leap with a bit of Rick and Morty tossed in for good measure.

And most of the book plays out as you'd expect. Of course there are very few ways for that plot to play out since it's been used in everything from Dr Who to the aforementioned Quantum Leap and Rick and Morty. It'sd a well worn trope of a plot. But there are a couple twists tossed into it to make it eminently readable.

But still... the big problem here is Blake Crouch desperatley wants to be Micheal Crchton. And there are worse writers to want to be but... there are better ones too. And this is a basic problem with Crouch as a writer - he's not striving for much more than writing a book that's gonna be optioned for a movie or TV series. Pays the bills I guess bnut certainly isn't producing a bumper crop of memorable novels either.

I'd say read it if you are looking for a fun quick read but it's, at best, a summer beach read.