The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall

"You're going to need a bigger boat".

The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall ****

Fiction suspense, Hardcover 428 pgs.

review published on Amazon in 2007

This is a quirky but fascinating suspense. Eric Sanderson suffers trauma and experiences amnesia afterward. And something keeps wiping his memory of even what he's relearning. While seeing a doctor for it he starts getting letters and packages signed by "the first Eric Sanderson". This former self is giving him clues and directions to his personal past. He is compelled to pursue this but tells no because of how it would be perceived. A wild ride of text/hypertext and a shark with a personal grudge against him ensues. He gets help from some fascinating characters, computers, and a cat with personality along the way. The story is original, if leaning on other writers' works and movie references (guess which one) a little too much. It's headed for cult status according to a number of reviewers and I believe it. The story is by turns frightening, tender and fantasy-driven. It is outside the realm of what I usually read but I'm very glad I did. It's his first novel, though he has published other things. Only 30, he is someone to watch as he grows as a writer.The Canadian edition has a shark cut-out on the sea blue cover with text showing through. Don't miss this one if only for the suspense. Four stars out of five.