Killfile: A Novel

Killfile is a perfect example of a great thriller. The characters are interesting and not wholly one-dimensional. The plot has a good balance between action and intelligent thinking and does not depend on a plot twist. There are moments of levity amid the seriousness. The resolution is believable. It is the type of novel you race to finish and close the book with tremendous satisfaction at a well-told and highly entertaining story.

What makes Killfile so good is John Smith. He is more than just the tired and jaded detective. Granted, he is definitely jaded about humanity, given his gift and all of his experiences, but he still hopes for the best. There is also a fragility about him that piques your interest, even though he is also not a show more man you would want to meet on an empty street. There is no doubt that he is lethal and has a different approach to the value of human life than others. This all makes John complex in the best type of way without making the story all about him.

Mr. Farnsworth prevents John from becoming a cliche by the flashbacks that offset some of the chapters. In those scenes, we learn more about John’s past and the situations he has faced solely because of his gift. There is a loose idea of morality floating throughout the story, and these scenes provide insight to the reasons why that is. These scenes provide developmental layers to John that emphasize his fragility as well as the danger he poses to anyone who gets near him. They also allow readers to empathize with John and imagine how they would handle similar morally ambiguous situations.

The story itself, and John’s race for his survival, is action-packed and frightfully clever. There are no plot twists; instead, the story is just a good, old-fashioned battle against good and evil. There are exotic locales and some not-so-futuristic technology, chases, bombs, fight scenes, and more. Killfile is James Bond with a twist and should be on everyone’s must-read list this summer. show less

In Killfile by Christopher Farnsworth, the main character can read minds and after a career in the military and the CIA is now a private consultant to the very rich. What could possibly go wrong?

A backlist title published in 2017 it was a pleasure to finally pick this up after purchasing a copy back in 2018. My initial curiosity surrounded how the author would communicate the mind reading skill to the reader. Secondly, how convincing (or not) this might be. I was pleasantly surprised to read a convincing account of mind reading and how it might impact a person with this ability.

"I know what you're thinking. Most of the time, it's not impressive. Trust me." Page 1

Our character goes by the name of John Smith (of course he does), and he show more often sheds light on the complex nature of his gift. He knows if a person means him harm and can take action beforehand. There are also unintended consequences of being able to read minds, as this quote early on in the book demonstrates:

"One of the many other downsides to being a telepath: knowing instantly and with certainty when you've acted like an asshole. I broke into her private life to score a cheap point, which is a lot worse than the countless guys who snuck a look down her blouse when they thought she wouldn't notice." Page 43

Smith is hired by Everett Sloan to get close to his billionaire rival in attempts to right a wrong, but not all is as it seems. Sloan can't read minds, but he has plenty of resources at his command, as does Sloan's rival, and the action is non stop.

Killfile by Christopher Farnsworth is a satisfying thriller with a refreshingly different angle I hadn't pursued since reading the Shadows series by Kay Hooper featuring a team of FBI Agents made up of psychics and those with special abilities.

Overall, a good read! show less

There are times that I'm glad people can't read my mind: I'd hate to have someone else humming The Proclaimers.

John Smith is a specialist who helps wealthy clients with tricky problems. He has a talent for hostage negotiations, corporate espionage, and gleaning people's deepest secrets thanks to his ability to read minds. Who'd have thought that reading people's minds would turn his latest job into a death sentence.

Killfile is the first novel I've read from Christopher Farnsworth since his excellent Nathaniel Cade series went on hiatus four years ago. I read the Nathaniel Cade series back to back and loved every second of those supernatural thrillers. Killfile was similarly enjoyable with the paranormal thriller element pitched nicely show more into the realms of corporate espionage and CIA interrogation programs.

Also, as a scientific skeptic (i.e. scientist who hears all the kooky claims and demands evidence) it is always fun to read the conspiracy claims in a more rational format. Dusting off MKUltra and utilising it as a plot point in fiction rather than an outlandish conspiracy tickles me in all the right ways.

Chris' novels continue to be highly enjoyable reads. show less

I did enjoy this book. It was fast paced and kind of techno-thriller. If this is a genre category. If not, then it should be.

John and his talent were impressive. He is not a poser but the real deal. The way that he can not only read thoughts but manipulative people's minds was amazing. It is no wonder that Everett wanted to hire John for his services. I do want to comment by saying that I am glad that there was not a strong romantic connection between John and Kelsey. It would have been too predictable and kind of down graded the book overall. This is the type of story that I feel like it works best if the author lets the characters stand on their own followed with a good storyline. Mr. Farnsworth did that with this book. I look show more forward to trying out more work by this author. show less

Mind reading is impossible: just a clever trick like ventriloquism or levitation. But what if you could really read minds – and not only read them, but manipulate them too?

John Smith is an actual mind reader, highly paid for his services by the few in the know. When a billionaire software designer asks him to take back an algorithm stolen by another designer, and scrub every trace of it from the thief’s brain, John agrees.

He soon finds out nothing is ever as simple as it seems and he has made himself an implacable enemy. No suspension of disbelief is needed because Kill File is completely believable, and very enjoyable.

Fast, action-packed thriller. John Smith has a special gift in that he can access and influence peoples' thoughts. Having quit the military, he is now an expensive private contractor. Billionaire software genius Everett Sloan hires Smith to recover an algorithm he allegedly stole and to "scrub every trace of it from Eli Preston's head." He is joined on his assignment by a beautiful and resourceful woman, Kelsey Foster. Mysteriously, Preston discovers Smith's identity, igniting trouble. My issues with this book are: (1) Smith's backstory is not well-integrated with the main story, and (2) Kelsey's character seems forced.

Quick fun read, it always quite making sense, even if you go with the whole special psychic premise. Just enough science in it to make it almost plausible.