“When a homicide detective specializing in the occult investigates a crime scene, he discovers that members of a cult and their intended sacrificial victim have all been burned alive indiscriminately. Could the deaths be part of a suicide pact, or are they the result of a serial killer, a vigilante, a group of fanatics targeting cultists, or is it someone…or something…even worse?”

I don’t often write about books, so please indulge me for a few minutes while I praise the storytelling, writing and awesomeness of Brian F.H. Clement in his first novel, The Final Transmission.

Clement’s story takes place in Toronto and has the familiarity and detail that only someone who lives here could provide. Brian might have been born and raised in British Columbia, but he’s a Torontonian now and it shows. The way that the city’s neighbourhoods, landmarks, people and even weather are described will make you feel like you are there while the story is going on… and as a guy who lives in Toronto, that’s pretty cool to me.

The story itself follows Detective Benoit Michaud as he tries to unravel a mysterious and uber-dangerous double pronged threat to the city and the world. I came into the book familiar with Michaud from Clement’s 2012 film, Project Breakwater, but in The Final Transmission I got to know him better – and I liked it. One of the things that really worked for me was the relationship between Detective Michaud and his civilian research assistant Karen Wendleton. It’s simple and complicated at the same time. It’s flirty and professional. It’s full of mutual respect and admiration. And it’s got the kind of unspoken, and assumed unrequited, love that makes you feel sad for 2 fictional characters in a novel.

Because I don’t generally read a lot of science fiction I was a little worried that I was going to have trouble keeping up with the fantastical elements and twists and turns. But I am happy to report that I did not get bogged down in the science of it all and was able to not only keep up with what was going on, but even guess at what might be coming next.

Side note: I fully admit that I was wrong on a bunch of my guesses about characters and next steps… and that just adds another plus to this book for me – Brian wrote a story that wasn’t so predictable and formulaic that I didn’t actual have to read it to know what was going on.

The lines between who is good and who is bad. Or who is bad and who is worse. Or who to stop and who to let go. Or what should Michaud do next. Or who is involved in all of this… Every single one of them is blurred. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Those secrets and mysteries along the way are what make The Final Transmission worth the read. I want to have to guess at what’s coming. And I did.

The positioning of 1 group of undesirables vs another group of undesirables and 1 group of good guys trying to do what’s best to save everyone also makes for the opportunity to sit back and try to figure out what you would do in Detective Michaud’s position. Good luck trying to figure that out.

Because I know Brian I can tell you that this is the 1st in a series of 3 novels and the writing will soon start on the 2nd.

I can also tell you that he is a talented writer, a passionate film maker, an awesome Blue Jays fan, a tattoo enthusiast, a hard worker and a great friend.

Learn more about The Final Transmission and how you can get your copy from Damnation Books here.

Take 2 minutes to watch the trailer for the book to get a taste of what you’re in for.

This is me tipping my hat to Brian on a job well done with his first novel. I’ve already told him that I can’t wait for the next one. I’m sure I’m not alone.

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Joshua Murray

creator of content, daddy blogger, writer, coffee drinker, fan of the Batman. proud mo bro. prouder dad.