Book Review: ‘Vox’ Is A Great Debut Novel

Imagine in a future time women are set back decades and have their rights taken away from them. A new President and cabinet and Congress made up of mostly men. Women have been told that they cannot speak more than 100 words a day (a few exceptions apply) and have to wear a bracelet that count their words. If they say more than 100 they are zapped. Abortions are illegal. Women working for the most part is banned. Being gay gets you sent away to a working farm. It’s all led by Reverend Carl. A movement was started to overturn this but was squelched. Anyone caught doing anything wrong (and the government always knows) gets you in serious trouble.

For Dr. Jean McClellan having to be basically stuck at home and not being able to talk and work sucks. She fears for the future of her daughter who will not grow up like her brothers. When the President’s brother suffers brain damage she is called upon to help cure him since this was field of expertise. She agrees to help with the cure for a lot of money and for her wristband being taken off her and her daughter. They agree for the duration of the work. She already has the cure but doesn’t reveal it. She wants to string this along for as long as she can.

She is also reunited with her former workers (one of which she had an affair with and still has feelings for). As she’s doing the ‘research’ she discovers that things are not what they seem. Soon she figures out what’s going on and that not everyone is behind this whole woman’s shutdown. So a plan is devised and Jean will have to fight for her life and for those closest to her.

Author Christine Dalcher has written a stunning, haunting debut novel. It’s starts out fast and it ramps up right to its climatic finish. It’s a page-turner that you won’t be able to put down.

You can pick it up in stores on Tuesday, August 21st from Berkley Hardcover.