4.5 stars.

I am not typically one for a sports kind of novel, but apparently if you mix it with some sci-fi, some mystery, and just a touch of thriller, I'm all in. The Body Scout was a gritty and intriguing read from the get go. It took me a little bit of time to understand the basics of the world-building in this dystopian focusing on body modification and genetic alteration, but once I was buckled in, the ride was a solid one.

Michel's writing is something you would expect in a dark crime novel, a kind of "just the facts, ma'am" approach, but with a nice atmospheric rounding. The world is fantastically constructed and clear, easily having me believe the possibilities of this futuristic world. There is no dawdling in the plot and every scene makes sense to the continuation of the story. The characters are diverse and interesting, with the message of a world where everyone is out for themselves and a buck painted incredibly clearly.

There is a lot of baseball in here, but it worked for me all the same. The mystery, the scheming, and the business/medical/political intrigue took over enough that it really didn't matter that there was a central sports focus. That being said, true baseball fans will definitely get even more satisfaction out of this read. I enjoyed the societal commentary and how the entire economic system has taken over all aspects of life. Sponsorships have run amok. Instead of just the stadiums being named after companies, they have purchased entire teams. These big money players run the world and control day-to-day life. Everything feels like a big commercial. It's grim, but a very appropriate extrapolation of how things could easily progress.

I really had a good time with my read. I could definitely do with more from this world or just more from Michel in general. I enjoyed the writing style and the construction.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *