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Archivist's Choice
Power
Lauren Algeo (2013)
Genre
Thriller / Mystery
Reading Time
12 Minutes
Key Themes
See below
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A disgraced ex-detective and a troubled teen must confront a family of mind-controlling assassins to avenge a brutal attack and stop a global catastrophe.
Synopsis
In the wake of a devastating mass shooting at Waterloo station, former Detective Inspector Scott Brewer is drawn back into the London underworld. He quickly uncovers a terrifying truth: the attack was orchestrated by 'hikers,' a family of highly skilled assassins possessing the power of mind control. After a personal, near-fatal encounter with one of these supernaturally gifted killers, Brewer dedicates himself to hunting them down. He finds an unlikely ally in Georgie Duncan, a moody and troubled teenager with a mysterious past of her own. Together, they must overcome their differences and race against time to discover a weakness in the seemingly invincible hikers before more innocent lives are lost.
Difficulty
Medium
Pacing
Fast
Mood
Suspenseful, Intense, Gripping, Mysterious
Plot Summary
The Waterloo Massacre
The novel opens with a mass shooting at Waterloo Station, where many commuters are killed in what seems to be a random act of violence. The shooter, a man with an unsettlingly calm manner, appears almost supernatural in his efficiency. This event brings former Detective Inspector Scott Brewer, now living a secluded life, back to London. Haunted by past failures and personal tragedy, Brewer feels compelled to investigate, sensing an inexplicable connection to the brutality. The police investigation initially struggles to find a motive or the shooter, adding to the city's panic. Brewer, using his old contacts and sharp observational skills, starts to notice subtle details that official channels miss.
Brewer's Near-Fatal Encounter
Following a lead, Scott Brewer finds himself in a deserted alleyway, where he confronts one of the perpetrators, a 'hiker.' This encounter quickly turns deadly as Brewer realizes the man can manipulate his perceptions and actions, a form of mind control. Brewer is overwhelmed, his own gun turning against him under the hiker's influence. He is severely injured but survives, though the experience leaves him deeply traumatized and aware of the extraordinary threat he faces. This near-death experience strengthens his resolve, making his investigation a personal vendetta against these seemingly invincible assassins. He now understands this is no ordinary criminal enterprise.
Introducing Georgie Duncan
While recovering and secretly continuing his investigation, Scott Brewer meets Georgie Duncan, a moody and rebellious teenager. Georgie lives a solitary life, shaped by a difficult past involving foster care and unexplained incidents. She has an unusual sensitivity to her surroundings and a strong, almost supernatural, intuition. Initially wary and distrustful of Brewer, Georgie is drawn into his world after witnessing a peculiar event related to the hikers. Her sharp observations and unconventional perspective are valuable, though her defensive nature and independent streak often clash with Brewer's more methodical approach. Their alliance begins out of necessity, not mutual respect.
The Nature of the Hikers Revealed
As Brewer and Georgie investigate further, they uncover the truth about the 'hikers.' They are not just hired assassins but a family, a secret organization that has existed for generations, perfecting their unique form of mind control. Their power allows them to subtly influence thoughts, plant suggestions, and even directly control individuals' actions, making them almost untraceable and seemingly unstoppable. Their motives are mysterious, often appearing as random acts of violence, but Brewer suspects a deeper, more sinister agenda. They discover that the hikers operate in small, close-knit units, making them incredibly difficult to infiltrate or eliminate.
First Attempts and Failures
Armed with their new knowledge, Brewer and Georgie try to form a strategy to counter the hikers. Their initial efforts fail. The hikers' mind control abilities are more potent and adaptable than anticipated, turning their own plans against them. They narrowly escape several traps set by the hikers, who seem to anticipate their every move. These failures are demoralizing, showing the immense power difference and the impossibility of fighting an enemy that can manipulate reality itself. Georgie's unique perceptions, however, sometimes offer brief insights into the hikers' methods, giving them a slight, but insufficient, advantage.
A Glimmer of Hope: The Resonance
During a particularly intense encounter, Georgie experiences a strange phenomenon: a momentary disruption in the hikers' mind control, a 'resonance' that causes them pain and momentarily breaks their concentration. This accidental discovery is important. It suggests that despite their apparent invincibility, the hikers have a weakness. Georgie realizes that certain frequencies or emotional states might interfere with their abilities, pointing to a potential vulnerability. This breakthrough revitalizes Brewer's hope, shifting their focus from brute force to understanding and exploiting this newly discovered chink in the hikers' armor. They begin to experiment with ways to amplify or trigger this resonance.
Training and Trust
Recognizing Georgie's unique connection to the hikers' weakness, Brewer begins to train her, not in combat, but in understanding and using her own mental resilience. He teaches her to shield her mind, to recognize the subtle signs of influence, and to focus her emotional energy. During this intense period, a fragile trust begins to form between the unlikely pair. Brewer, initially dismissive of Georgie's rebellious nature, starts to respect her intuition and courage. Georgie, in turn, begins to see past Brewer's gruff exterior, recognizing his dedication and the pain he carries. Their bond is crucial for their survival and their mission.
The London Cell
Through diligent investigation and Georgie's unique insights, they locate a specific cell of hikers operating in London, responsible for the Waterloo massacre and other unexplained incidents. This cell, led by a particularly cunning and powerful hiker, becomes their primary target. They discover the hikers are not simply random killers but are systematically eliminating individuals who might have a latent resistance to their powers or those who pose a threat to their secret existence. The stakes escalate as Brewer and Georgie realize the hikers know about their pursuit and are actively hunting them in return.
The Confrontation at the Hideout
Armed with a basic understanding of the 'resonance' and their combined skills, Brewer and Georgie launch a daring assault on the hikers' London hideout. The confrontation is brutal and intense, testing their limits. The hikers use their full mental powers, attempting to turn the environment and even Brewer's own mind against him. Georgie, however, manages to channel the resonance, causing momentary disarray among the hikers, creating opportunities for Brewer to act. They face multiple members of the family, each with varying degrees of power, making the fight a desperate struggle for survival against overwhelming odds.
Sacrifice and Victory
In a climactic struggle, Brewer and Georgie defeat the London cell of hikers, but not without significant personal cost. The leader of the cell is incredibly resilient, pushing them to their absolute limits. Brewer makes a selfless act of sacrifice, creating a crucial distraction that allows Georgie to unleash a powerful wave of resonance, incapacitating the remaining hikers. While they achieve a victory, the battle leaves them physically and emotionally scarred. They realize this is just one cell, and the larger organization of hikers still exists, but they have proven that the seemingly invincible can be defeated, offering a fragile hope for the future.
Aftermath and Lingering Threat
In the immediate aftermath, Brewer and Georgie deal with the consequences of their actions. The official explanation for the events is a convoluted cover-up, but they know the truth. They are both changed by the ordeal, their bond solidified through shared trauma. While the London cell is neutralized, the lingering threat of the wider hiker family remains. They understand that their fight is far from over, and they have merely won a single battle in a much larger, global war. The novel concludes with them contemplating their next steps, knowing they are now targets, but also possessing the knowledge and resolve to continue their mission.
Principal Figures
Scott Brewer
The Protagonist
Brewer transforms from a reclusive, guilt-ridden ex-cop into a determined, albeit weary, leader in the fight against an extraordinary threat, learning to trust and rely on others.
Georgie Duncan
The Protagonist
Georgie evolves from an isolated, defensive teenager into a courageous and vital participant in the fight, learning to control her abilities and forge meaningful connections.
The Hikers (Family)
The Antagonist
As a collective, their arc is one of being challenged and partially defeated for the first time in generations, revealing their vulnerability despite their overwhelming power.
The London Cell Leader
The Antagonist
The London Cell Leader's arc is defined by their initial dominance and eventual, hard-fought defeat, demonstrating the limits of their power when confronted by an unexpected resistance.
Detective Inspector Davies
The Supporting
Davies remains largely static in his role, serving as a foil to Brewer's independent investigation and highlighting the inadequacy of conventional methods against the hikers.
Dr. Eleanor Vance
The Supporting
Dr. Vance's arc shows her growing frustration and intellectual struggle to apply conventional psychology to an unconventional, ultimately unknowable, threat.
Themes & Insights
The Nature of Power
This theme explores power in its various forms: the destructive, manipulative power of the hikers through mind control, the institutional power of law enforcement, and the personal power of resilience, intuition, and will. The novel questions how power is used, its corrupting influence, and the struggle to resist or overcome it. It highlights that true power is not just about control, but also about the strength to stand against it, even when seemingly outmatched. The hikers' power is absolute, but the protagonists find power in their unique weaknesses and their refusal to yield.
“They didn't just kill; they owned you, body and soul, before the bullet ever touched your skin. That's true power, Scott. And that's what we're fighting.”
Redemption and Trauma
Redemption is central to Scott Brewer's character, as he seeks to make amends for past failures and find meaning in his life after personal tragedy. Both Brewer and Georgie carry significant emotional trauma from their pasts. Their journey together is not just about fighting an external enemy, but also about confronting their inner demons and finding a path towards healing. Their shared experiences and growing bond become a source of mutual support, offering a chance for emotional recovery and the possibility of a future beyond their individual pain.
“Every step you take, every choice you make, it's either a step towards the light or deeper into the dark. You get to decide, Brewer, not them.”
Trust and Connection
In a world where minds can be manipulated and trust is dangerous, the fragile yet powerful bond between Scott Brewer and Georgie Duncan is a crucial theme. Both characters are initially isolated and distrustful, but their survival depends on learning to rely on each other. Their evolving relationship shows how genuine human connection, built on shared purpose and vulnerability, can be a potent weapon against forces that seek to divide and control. It highlights the idea that even against overwhelming odds, shared human experience and loyalty can create an unbreakable strength.
“He'd learned to read her silences, and she, in turn, understood the weight behind his gruff commands. They were two broken pieces, fitting together to make something whole.”
The Seen and Unseen
This theme explores the contrast between what is visible and what lies hidden. The hikers' power operates subtly, manipulating perceptions and actions without leaving obvious physical traces, making their crimes baffling to conventional investigators. The novel explores the idea that the most dangerous threats are often those that cannot be easily perceived or understood by the senses alone. It challenges characters (and readers) to look beyond the obvious, to trust intuition, and to acknowledge that reality might be far stranger and more complex than it appears, blurring the lines between the mundane and the supernatural.
“They weren't ghosts, but they left no more trace than one. Their weapon wasn't a gun; it was the space between your thoughts.”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
Mind Control (The Hikers' Power)
The central supernatural ability that drives the conflict.
The hikers' ability to exert mind control is the primary plot device, serving as the central conflict engine. It renders conventional law enforcement useless and forces Brewer and Georgie to seek unconventional solutions. This power is meticulously detailed, from subtle suggestions to direct manipulation of actions, creating a formidable and terrifying antagonist. It constantly raises the stakes, as any character could potentially be compromised, and it highlights the vulnerability of the human mind. The discovery of its limitations, particularly through Georgie's 'resonance,' becomes the key to overcoming it.
The 'Resonance'
Georgie's unique ability to disrupt the hikers' mind control.
The 'resonance' is a crucial plot device, serving as the unexpected weakness in the hikers' seemingly invincible power. It is initially discovered by accident and provides the protagonists with their only viable method of defense and attack. This device allows Georgie to play an active and indispensable role in the fight, moving beyond being merely a sidekick. It introduces a specific, albeit difficult, 'how-to' for combating the hikers, giving the narrative a tangible goal beyond simply surviving. Its development and application are central to the climax and the subsequent victory.
The Unreliable Witness/Perception
The manipulation of reality and perception through mind control.
This device is prevalent through the hikers' mind control, making characters (and readers) question what is real. Scenes often involve characters experiencing altered perceptions, hallucinations, or being forced to act against their will. This creates intense suspense and paranoia, as trust becomes a dangerous commodity. It also highlights the psychological horror of the hikers' abilities, making the threat far more insidious than mere physical violence. Brewer's initial encounter is a prime example, where his own weapon turns against him, blurring the lines of control and agency.
The 'Family' as Antagonist
The antagonist is a secretive, generational organization, not a single villain.
Instead of a single arch-nemesis, the antagonists are a multi-generational 'family' of hikers. This device broadens the scope of the threat, suggesting a deep-rooted, systemic evil rather than an isolated incident. It implies a vast network, making their defeat more challenging and the victory against one cell feel significant but not final. This structure also allows for different 'generations' or 'members' of the family to exhibit varying degrees of power or strategic acumen, adding complexity to the antagonist's portrayal and ensuring the threat is ongoing even after the immediate conflict.
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"Power" is a thrilling mystery novel centered around a mass shooting at Waterloo station. Former Detective Inspector Scott Brewer is drawn back into the investigation, uncovering a conspiracy involving a family of assassins known as the hikers, who possess the uncanny ability of mind control.
