5* "
This is definitely a story in which you have to suspend disbelief. However, once you do so, you are treated to an exuberant police procedural romp through a futuristic world with fascinating characters, not all of whom are human.I really like the character of Shaymie who comes across as well-rounded. He’s good at his job but a little put-upon which is hardly surprising given his narcissistic superior and his glory-seeking assistant. There are some strong female characters and it’s funny when Shaymie misinterprets the role of the husband of one of them. I’m glad to see that, despite all the technological advances, human nature retains its weaknesses.We’re also given some non-human points of view including that of a sabre-toothed ostrich and a velociraptor. The dialogue – both internal and external – is well-done and believable.I enjoyed being thrown into the world of Searcy. The science is impeccable and fully believable. I particularly liked the Vestmentor. It’s hard to tell how far into the future it is, yet it’s far enough that the menu for gender allows seventeen options and rogue elements have infiltrated human appearance. It’s hard to pinpoint the location of this world but from the surnames and place names it seems to fall somewhere between Ireland and Scandinavia.The drawings add an extra dimension. I’m not sure how they work if it’s bought as an e-book, but in the physical book they work well. At first they seem like flat sketches but after a while they seem to become more three-dimensional and enhance the reading experience.Overall, I really enjoyed Final Diagnosis. However, it’s a short book and I was just settling down to like Shaymie and his world when it stopped abruptly. More, please!" Nicola on Amazon.co.uk
5* "really enjoyed this novelette. In roughly 20K Words Peter Garrett takes you on a strange mystery tour, investigating the dead of a doctor in a future version of Ireland.There’s a good amount of solid medical knowledge, which doesn’t surprise given that Garrett’s bio mentions he’s a Doctor Without Frontiers.Overall it was a very entertaining, quick paced journey, augmented by the atmospheric illustrations of Simon Walpole, in chalkboard style." Trixter76 on Amazon.co.uk
5* "I thoroughly enjoyed this novella. It is highly imaginative, very amusing and involves an intriguing plot. The illustrations convey the other-worldliness of the story which, although complex, is well written and easy to read. Peter Garrett is an author whose work I look forward to reading." Col. E. wobbles on Amazon.co.uk
4* - "I would describe this book as brilliantly bonkers. I haven’t ready any other science fiction but imagine that this is at the tongue-in-cheek end of the genre because of its humorous tendencies and the illustrations throughout. (I particularly liked the sabre-toothed ostrich.) Although I’m not a sci-fi reader, I was able to follow the story because at its heart is a police procedural, featuring the murder of a psychiatrist. Prime suspect is his last patient, a young man with no past. But forensic experts are at a loss to explain the presence of feathers and bird saliva at the murder scene. Set in Northern Ireland in the near future, the novel features some futuristic medical technology and some beautiful descriptions of the landscape. This is a light read that should appeal to a variety of readers be they sci-fi, crime or comedy fans." By Rachel on Amazon.co.uk
