Review: Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a very interesting tale of alternate realities existing at the same time with infinite possibilities available. The book follows Jason Dessen as he travels through these realities as he desperately tries to reunite with his wife and son. Jason goes out one evening to celebrate the success of an old friend, only to find himself being kidnapped, by himself and sent to another version of his hometown of Chicago. Jason 2, made all the choices Jason didn't and became a successful astrophysicist, and Daniela, his wife became a famous artist and she did not have a child with Jason in alternate Chicago. Jason 2 after all of his success in discovering "dark matter" and successfully being able to travel through alternate dimensions, has decided to oust Jason because he has the family that Jason 2 gave up. Daniela and Charlie notice differences with Jason 2 around, but they can't put their finger on it. In alternate Chicago, Jason struggles to figure out what is going on. At first he thinks he's losing his mind, then he plays along as if he has amnesia, then he learns what Jason 2 has built and why he took over his life. Desperate to get back to Daniela and Charlie, Jason escapes into the box that Jason 2 built and must learn to navigate the alternate realities in order to get back to his family. Jason encounters many hardships, several hellish worlds, and a few versions of himself on his journey to get back to those he loves. To say more would spoil the thrills and twists that happen throughout the book.

I enjoyed the audio version.  The entire time I was listening to it, I was reminded of the TV series Fringe.  I loved that show and it had an element of alternate reality travel to it, plus I really loved the main character Walter.  I miss that show.  I kept seeing Jason as Walter even though he wasn't that old.  There was a lot of scientific information presented in the book which I enjoyed. The twists and turns kept me engaged, and while alternate realities isn't really a new concept, Crouch did a great job with his presentation.

This book takes care of advanced reading prompt to read a best seller from 2016.  I had been wanting to read Dark Matter since it came out, I had heard nothing but great things about it.