Every so often, you come across a book that changes your, well, life. In a way, Dennis Batchelder's Soul Identity did that for me. I found I loved reading not only the 40 established authors I would follow, but enjoyed reading first novels, discovering new talent that quite possibly are the successful authors of tomorrow - Have come to know a lot of these authors and admire them.
Soul Identity is a wonderfully fun approach to the old adage 'You can't take it with you'. In Soul Identity, you CAN!
Scott Waverly is our hero - he is smart, wise-cracking and reminds me a lot of deMille's John Corey - Scott is contacted by Soul Identity to do some work for them, and they include a strange device to take images of his eyes. Instead of doing what they ask, he takes photos of a bluefish's eyes and sends it! I like this guy!
Waverly's next door neighbor comes to him, upset he has been denied membership into Soul Identity because he only has 1 eye. (The criteria is to take images of the 2 eyes for perfect matches). To help his neighbor and to get more information on Soul Identity, Waverly agrees to help with whatever Soul Identity needs him to do.
Turns out, the eyes ARE truly windows of the soul - The eyes, like fingerprints, are unique. For almost 2600 years Soul Identity has been helping people. In essence, the members of Soul Identity can bank their money/investments etc. for themselves for the next 'go-round...If you believe in reincarnation, that means you CAN take it with you! Having your cake and eating it too -
Waverly's mission at Soul Identity is to see who is stealing clients away from SI. They are saying the officers of SI don't represent what Soul Identity is anymore, and are trying to get hold of the power SI holds. Scott and SI members work to get SI back and to stop the bad guys, who really don't have the public's interests. The group literally goes around the world to work out exactly what is happening!
The premise is interesting, and Dennis Batchelder's style is so easy you get caught up in the chase - A very entertaining book. I know sequels are in the works, and cannot wait to read them.
Very unique premise, nonstop action, and it makes you think. Great reading combinations!
My interview with Dennis Batchelder is on this site.
ellen george
Soul Identity by Dennis Batchelder, ISBN-10: 0979805600, NetLeaves Publishing, review by ellen george
