THE SUBJUGATE

As a sci-fi whodunnit, The Subjugate is more Mid-stunner Murders than Airlock Holmes. In a near-future America, following some technological Black Monday, there’s a murder in a small religious community that’s turned its back on technology. A teenage girl is raped and killed, the word “PURE” carved into her body.

Two reluctantly paired-up cops from the city – emotionally stunted militant atheist Salvi and alcoholic, possibly girlfriend-killing Mitch – are sent to investigate. Suspicion immediately falls on the “inmates” at a nearby scientific complex, where convicted murderers and rapists undergo experimental treatment to readjust them into balanced, functioning members of society.

The SF here is merely set dressing. The book never explores its concepts, and the story could easily be rewritten with an Amish community and a mental asylum. Considering that convicts are being robbed of their will, the ethics of their treatment is only ever discussed superficially (wouldn’t Amnesty International be protesting?).

Bridgeman is more interested in the relationship between her lead cops (both have secret pasts!) and the creaking murder mystery. The latter works well, but is hampered by heaps of infodumping, Salvi’s constant second-guessing internal dialogue and some predictable twists. It’s passable, lightweight fluff, but there’s nothing new to see here. Move along. Dave Golder