The Stars Turned Inside Out is an engaging and well written standalone thriller/SF/mystery by Nova Jacobs. Released 19th March 2024 by Simon & Schuster on their Atria imprint, it's 320 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback due out mid-Feb 2025 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
This is a science rich but entirely accessible mystery set in and around CERN (European theoretical physics lab in Switzerland where the Large Hadron Collider resides). The actual theoretical physics involved is not at all too much for general readers to process, however, the dual timeline, uneven pacing, and almost clinical descriptions might be a little more problematic.
It's a mystery, and the plot is so well engineered and set up and resolved so cleverly, that readers who enjoy cerebral puzzle mysteries will likely love it. There are integral touches of magical realism which was an interesting choice for a book about physicists, but not a deal-breaker. Generally fair play, full of a generous helping of philosophy, religious musings, society, climate, and the nature of the universe and our place in it, albeit unevenly paced.
Four stars. It would be a good selection for public library acquisition, science fiction fans, and possibly a book club discussion or buddy read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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