Review: The Passengers by John Marrs

The Passengers

by John Marrs

Publisher: Berkley

Pages: 352

Format: book

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  You're riding in your self-driving car when suddenly the doors lock, the route changes and you have lost all control. Then, a mysterious voice tells you, "You are going to die." 

Just as self-driving cars become the trusted, safer norm, eight people find themselves in this terrifying situation, including a faded TV star, a pregnant young woman, an abused wife fleeing her husband, an illegal immigrant, a husband and wife, and a suicidal man.

From cameras hidden in their cars, their panic is broadcast to millions of people around the world. But the public will show their true colors when they are asked, "Which of these people should we save?...And who should we kill first?" 

Kritters Thoughts:  Self driving cars are about to become the norm in England and the government has taken measures to have self driving cars make the best decisions for its occupants.  Until one day when someone is able to hack into the system and takes hostage an assortment of passengers and those who thought they were in charge must make some decisions.

This felt on the cusp of a dystopian, but also close to real life and I loved it for this.  I loved how this could be reality in no time and how we all need to question the technology that we allow into our lives and how much it knows.  This book made me question how much my technology knows about me and my patterns and can possibly predict things about me!  I don't know that I could do do a self driving car, the lack of control of a vehicle wouldn't work for me!

The other lesson that was interesting was who gets to make decisions - should those who decide be only ones in power or have money, technology or fate.  This book had a great debate about decision making and I really enjoyed thinking about that after the book.  

The twists were fantastic and perfectly timed.  I loved how the clues were revealed at just the right time and even in the end a twist and a turn to make you question it all!

I loved this book and would love to read more of its kind!


Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Berkley.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.