jasmyn9 's review for:

Inside the Masque by R.T.W. Lipkin
4.0

I really loved this book. It was a mix of sci-fi, psychological thriller, suspense, and police procedural mystery. They different aspects wound around each other very nicely, with none really outshining the others overall.

It did take a few pages longer to completely get into the story though. There are lots of characters from the get-go, and the technology of the masques and their various add-ons was something you started to understand as you went through the story instead of right away.

I found the whole concept of the masques fascinating. Changing who you were on a whim and a few credits (if you had them). Masques were a way to set apart the rich from the poor, the Legacies from the Unders. The ultimate status symbol - and a key piece of evidence in the murder of a high-profile tech company owner.

The investigation leads you into a mix of stories including a divorced police detective, twin masque designers, and Legacies that feel they are above the very law itself. There's even a side story that's a touch of romance with a paranormal-ish element. I'd really like to see more of where that one went.

The mystery remained unsolved until that one key piece of evidence was finally found - and I really liked it that way. I was guessing right along with the detective, and I followed every single one of his thoughts and swore he'd figured it out - until things changed. A great story that I think many will fall in love with.

​**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**