Doppelganger by Shawn Stern is a science fiction novel that combines many elements that are outside of the typical science fiction story. There is a bit of a mystery and a bit of a thriller worked into the story. The science fiction portion is limited to technology and the mind bending experience of the main character.

The prologue starts out in a very science fiction setting:research lab, project P.R.I.M.E., and a dying scientist’s last words to a colleague. The opening chapter becomes the story of Shane Fisher. Shane is stuck in a rut. He works in a chain bookstore and although he loves helping people find books, he really doesn’t like being store manager. He is caught in the trap that so many people now live in. He has a job and makes enough money to survive on as long as he remains living at home with his mother and limits everything he does. Between the commute to and from work he has time to come home, eat, sleep, and not much more. The reader will follow Shane’s day to day activities and interactions and witness the monotony. “Remember Shane, things are never so bad that they can’t get a little bit worse.”

While the reader is getting to know Shane and his co-workers, a bank robbery is being planned at the bank where Shane’s friend Ray works. Cole seems to be the ringleader of the group, strong and sure of himself. He has some hired thugs, a computer expert, and an old man named Fragile. Cole runs his team with military precision. Everything is planned to the minute and along with the money there is an envelope he needs. Everything is set, coordinated, and ready to go when until Shane walks into the bank to meet Ray for lunch. This is where things get strange, very strange. The robbers mistake Shane for Cole; they could be twins. Cole’s precision plans go awry as the other robbers panic when Cole (really Shane) appears in the bank. Shane’s world, too, is about to change in a way he could expect or imagine.


Stern creates believable characters and has a little fun with naming bookstore chains. The science fiction sets the story into motion and drops the reader into the contemporary world and slowly moves back into science fiction. The story despite the huge difference between the prologue and the following chapters comes full circle. The plot is easy to follow and moves at a quick pace. I read the book in one afternoon and had to double check the length. I was surprised Doppelganger is listed as 234 pages on the Kindle it seemed about half that many pages. It is the perfect book for a day at the beach or a rainy afternoon.

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"Doppelgänger is a German term that translates to "double goer," or "double walker."" Even among the billions of people on the earth it is assumed that there is the possibility that there could be walking around another person that looks exactly like you.

Doppelgänger blends some of today's scientific facts with science fiction creating a most intriguing plot. The book leaves it up to you to decide what is fact and what is fiction.

Shane Fisher is the manager of the bookstore just a couple of doors down from the bank. On the day of the robbery at the bank he meets his doppelgänger and his life is changed forever. He is mistaken as one of the gang members and has to behave as one of them in order to save his life.

Fragile, one of the gang members, recognizes that there seems to be something different about Cole (the gang member) and takes him under his wing. Amid a flurry of harrowing action scenes Shane displays abilities that totally surprise himself. Plot twists lead us right up to the surprise ending. The ending is a cliffhanger only it's not a cliffhanger that you would expect.

I loved the blend of science fiction and fantasy. It allowed for unique and thought-provoking look at the world. It also gave a new way to develop the Shane's personality.

If you are a science-fiction fan this book should be right up your alley. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I would highly recommend it. I’m looking forward to reading book 2 of the trilogy. I gave it five stars out of five.

Thank you to the author who provided a copy of this book in exchange for fair and honest review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts or my own.

This review was published on my blog Shelf Full of Books http://kathrynsshelffullofbooks.blogspot.com/2015/02/book-review-doppelganger-by... ( )