I like the way Pargin writes and this is a great example. Very fun.
I enjoyed the gambit pileup at the climax and the characters are very well rounded.
The relationship between the main characters developed satisfyingly, as did their arcs
Incisive commentary on society and clear evidence of the author's life experience
Interesting to see a book written with such a tight grasp on internet culture and its effects on the real world

What’s in the box?! No I’m not just quoting the movie Seven but I have to say I was saying and thinking this a lot while reading. Now I obviously will not be spoiling it but I have to say I’m Starting to Worry about This Black Box of Doom was everything I didn’t know I needed in a novel. I adored this book. I literally devoured it in a couple of days, reading on commutes to work, on lunch breaks and at night. I think the main thing I enjoyed was how it was set and cemented in our present. We have numerous cultural and nerdy references throughout including but not limited to cults, reddit and incels.

Now it might be the millennial in me but I loved that and it made me even more engaged. The plot itself is interesting enough to keep me but having moments and things referenced to base this in ‘the real world’ was the icing on the cake. It’s extremely readable not only in style but in tone as well. Smart, funny and also makes you think, not just what’s in the box, but more than that.

I for one will definitely be getting a physical copy and recommending to anyone who listens.

As always thank you to Titan Books and Netgalley for my e-arc. My review is always honest and truthful.

The premise at the heart of the novel is intriguing. I mean, what is in this box? So there's an urgency to find out more and so the novel rattles along at a fair old pace. It's very much a tale of it's time, with references to reddit investigations, area 52, cult tales, incels and much much more. And it sustained my interest for the vast majority of its pages. I thought it petered out a bit towards the end but I was impressed with how fresh and contemporary the book was. It's the type of book I can see getting a lot of positive praise on TikTok and amongst millennial audiences.

I enjoyed this a great deal. It’s fun, funny, smart and very readable. Pargin manages to pull off the trick of taking a dumb (but very enjoyable) caper story and using it to reflect on the modern social media age in a really interesting way. There are a bunch of different threads that get juggled very effectively and come together at the end to make an enormously satisfying conclusion. All in all, a success.

I loved this book! Great characters, a fast-paced race against time, and conspiracies getting out of hand, all accompanied by the acerbic wit and spot-on observations fans of the author will know so well.

While the main story is an entertaining read, there are more layers beneath that will leave you thinking about many issues long after you've finished the book. Highly recommend!

My first time trying this author, and I know I will be going to try out the backlist. At its heart this book is a rally call about the dangers of Social Media, about how quickly the most absurd theory becomes the 'gospel truth'. A darkly humorous thrilling chase across America.
3.5 Stars