Martha Mathewson, a professor of psychology, for years belittled her soon to be ex-husband, a revered astrophysicist, over his quiet passion for little green men and the civilizations they come from. When Don Mathewson suddenly dies, she finds out his files have been targeted, and she's in danger. Suddenly, her house is broken into. She has national security operatives on her tail. And to find out why, Martha must stretch herself into Don’s files and tapes, learning about his extensive relationship with extra-terrestrial civilizations and also the fact that for the past 70 years we've been lied to: we've had interstellar visitors.
Martha is inexorably drawn into Don's world, a world which includes shadowy covert operatives. At the same time, she's moved to Tucson, Arizona, her daughter has come to live with her, and a small metal ball discovered in Don’s old oak desk (a ball which emits a bluish halo in the dark, dances to jazz, and communicates telepathically) is talking to her, saying it needs her help.
In this new upended life, she's being forced to abandon old beliefs about the nature of reality while also trying to stay alive. She's opening. Changing. Becoming vulnerable.
This book was very entertaining. I loved the elements of mystery, both terrestrial and otherwise. The story was well written and had interesting characters. The author's depiction of the alluring scenery of the Sonoran desert surrounding Tucson was absolutely lovely! Fusing supernatural elements with government secrecy made for an exciting tale. The frequent use of the present tense was an interesting choice. It was a little unusual but I ended up appreciating the tone it set for each scene. A really enjoyable, powerful read. My only critique is that there were a few questions left unanswered at the end of the story. While I don't think the ending really allows for a sequel, I'd still be interested in reading on to see what happens next and to gain further insight into these unsolved questions.
I have to start by saying that I can so easily picture this story as a movie, even if as a made for tv movie and wish that would happen. I was instantly connecting to Martha and her enormous loss. But the twists and turns the story takes took me completely by surprise. I had to pay such close attention and with every page turn I waited for my many questions to be answered. Like I said, this should be a movie.
INDIE READER REVIEW 4.7 out of 5
Overall, the book is well-written and inventive, with an equilibrium created between Marti's disconsolate personal life and her Harvard-ish discussions about theoretical physics, New Age beliefs, and the controversial claims that ETs are already here and visiting us. Simone weaves a fairly simple but elegant tapestry of events, which all loosely fit together in the end but are all threaded in such a random way that they don't seem be too different from a non-fictional account. The use of the present tense throughout is an interesting choice and lends the narrative an avant-garde flavor, a stylistic maneuver that helps separate the book from more standard fare for novels of this sort.
Since the book dwells mostly on personal and family issues throughout, the pace of the novel is slower, and seldom does it rely on adrenaline to keep readers pulled in. Instead of this, Simone infuses the story with interspersions of philosophy and ET science to help keep the narrative tug in place. Unusual paranormal events are presented with a degree of magical realism such that there is little surprise when characters see a UFO or strange light hovering in the sky, a technique which gives the story an air of intrigue and subtle mystery Verdict: Inventive and well-written, RECONCILIATION: HEAVEN AND EARTH is a fascinating story about theoretical physics, ET phenomena, and New Age beliefs relative to both of the aforementioned.
Reviewed By Christian Sia for Readers’ Favorite 5 out of 5 Stars Reconciliation: Heaven and Earth by Diane de Simone is a great blend of sci-fi and intrigue, a story that explores the nuances of quantum physics and takes readers on a rollicking ride ... Meet seasoned psychologist, Martha Mathewson, who is so sure of her convictions to the point that she makes fun of her husband Don’s fascination for the quantum world. But when Don is murdered, she believes it’s because of his research. Someone is looking for his files. It seems there is more to Don’s files than meets the eye, and moving to Tucson, Arizona doesn’t protect her and her daughter from enemies who will stop at nothing until they get what they want.Martha questions everything she’s ever believed in when a small metal ball found in Don’s old desk begins to speak telepathically to her, and she knows nothing will ever be the same again. Now, she understands that the object comes from the future and is on a mission to protect her, but from what? This is an intelligently plotted and masterfully executed novel with great potential to delight readers, not only those who have a particular interest in quantum physics, but anyone looking for a well-written and engaging story. The characters are strong, well-developed, and utterly compelling and I enjoyed the psychological transformation witnessed in the protagonist. Diane de Simone’s Reconciliation: Heaven and Earth has a strong setting, a fast pace, and twists that will surprise readers. Diane de Simone weaves suspense into her tale in a way only a mistress of the genre could.
