Character Scan by Douglas Kruger, published by Penguin Random House, is a gripping, dark futuristic thriller that is not necessarily my genre of preference but which nevertheless kept me turning the pages and finishing the novel in record time. After publishing twelve non-fiction books, Kruger switched to fiction, and if Character Scan is anything to go by, he is equally skilled in this genre.
The protagonist, Katrina Hunt, is a young woman with an unusual talent: the ability to detect hidden motives in others. She grows up in a poverty-stricken trailer park in New Mexico, where she has had to fight for survival since early childhood while trying to conceal her unnatural ability to sniff out evil intent. After qualifying as a journalist, she decides to trust her unfailing instinct and turns her talent to reveal moral corruption in positions of privilege and power. Her quest soon leads to those in higher positions, and danger looms.
Meanwhile, a morally ambiguous Scottish scientist working in the unfolding field of genetic profiling has cracked an algorithm that will forever change law enforcement. His new 'scan' will detect a person's genetic propensity for wrongdoing, even before they act. The legal and ethical ramifications are staggering. When his CharacterScan launches and becomes a worldwide success, the plot thickens. A political player aspiring to become the leader of the soon-to-be united Europe seems to be able to beat the scan, placing the world in mortal danger.
Katrina's path inevitably leads to a confrontation with an immense power that escalates the suspense and the pace as she finds herself in a fight for survival and her dedicated pursuit of the truth.
The story plays out in multiple locations around the world, including rainy Edinburgh, sun-scorched Texas and the corridors of power in Washington, DC.
A seamless blend of engaging storytelling and multifaceted character exploration underscores Kruger's ability to craft a suspenseful and thought-provoking narrative masterfully. Original, timely and skilfully penned, Kruger’s Character Scan is a five-star read.
