Double Jeopardy by Alan Bayles
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 realising 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
‘Double Jeopardy’ is a brilliant multi-genre thriller that was a real page-turner! It’s a combination of sci-fi and crime fiction and it was a brilliant mix. I was engrossed from the start and was fully invested in the characters. If you are a fan of sci-fi and have watched the Loki series you will pick up the ideas in this book very quickly and run with them. But if you are new to the genre it has been explained plainly and clearly so the ideas and concepts are easy to understand.
When the bodies of a father and son are found, DI Dave Barnes and his team are called to investigate. What they find is a confusing scene and as they investigate further the answers that they find are totally mind-shattering. When Professor Claire Tulley gets in touch offering to give them some answers that's when things begin to get even weirder. Answers are hard to come by but they traverse decades and begin with the failed experiment during the Second World War.
There is a pretty extensive cast of characters but once you get a grip on them you soon take them into your hearts. Well, the good guys at least! Dave, Claire, Wendy and Andy form a brilliant investigative force - they never give up on trying to find answers even when they terrify them. Especially Claire! But they are also nuanced characters and I couldn't help feeling empathy for even some of the bad guys as they are a reflection of their society and culture.
As the narrative progresses it moves into more of the sci-fi aspects and although these concepts have been explored before in the genre the author does present them in a unique and exciting way. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!
Let me know if you pick this one up!
