Ms. Lawson’s novel occurs in the not too distant future, and is a chilling projection of a controlling government that has used the excuse of terrorism to clamp down on the population. And the screws are applied via the conveniences we now take for granted: cell phones and debit cards for starters. Cell phones still function as phones and computers, but have the added ability to be used for broadcasting governmental orders. The government has also outlawed cash in favor of debit cards, allowing purchases to be monitored. But in Ms. Lawson’s version of the future, very few people shop. Or go out. Or work. Or drive. The benevolent government provides everything: food, shelter, clothing, entertainment. All designed to keep the population subdued and compliant. It certainly made me wonder...
When Counteract opens, the government claims that terrorists have poisoned the atmosphere. The government, of course, can provide the antidote. There’s havoc as people rush to distribution centers to get their vial. Just three drops a day, "…a small price to pay for safety." Three drops a day is all it takes….You’ll have to read the book to find out more about the nature of those three tiny drops; that ever-so-small dose.
What I particularly liked about Counteract was the journey of the two main characters, strangers when the book opens: Tommy and Careen. At the beginning of the book, they were both model citizens; Tommy, recovering from a devastating car accident, and Careen, a student. Both participated in society and followed the program. They didn't know each other, and met seemingly by accident, drawn together.
Over the course of the book, they changed as they discovered the truth. They questioned what they saw and they acted on their discoveries, learning much more than they bargained for.
The book is a fast read; you won't want to put it down. The writing is clean and quick; the images vivid. Favorite sentence (in the context of what was lost as the government took over): "Parents forgot to teach their children to be brave."
Counteract is the first book in The Resistance Series. We’ll have to wait until book 2, Resist, to find out what happens to Tommy and Careen.
If you like a gripping dystopian thriller, then you don't want to miss Book One of the Resistance Trilogy by Tracy Lawson. Counteract is a great read, and its main characters, Tommy and Careen, are easy to like. What puts this above many other dystopian thrillers is that the events Lawson portrays could easily happen to us. The fear she weaves throughout is palpable and makes the reader wonder....what if?
The author has a clean, clear writing style that makes this an easy-to-read novel. And while she does an excellent job of wrapping up the first story, there's plenty of cliffhanger left to make you long for the story to continue.
Just how much power will the government have over us when 2034 arrives? Will we have any personal freedoms left at all? The scenario proposed by this novel could be exactly what we're facing. I just hope I'm as courageous as Careen when the time comes.
I'm ready for the sequel!
