Title: The Broadcast
Author: Liam Fialkov
Publisher: Independently published
ISBN: 978-1731213402
Pages: 456
Genre: Thriller
Reviewed by: John Murray

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Memory is the reconstruction of our experiences that is stored for later recall, but it is susceptible and malleable. All of which boils down to memory is faulty and despite the trust we put into it, is ultimately flawed. Looking back and remembering also changes those memories. There’s no way to recall events with perfect clarity without recording them externally. Liam Fialkov’s The Broadcast presents an interesting solution: recording the past for an unbiased and factual video.

In the book, a wildly popular television show plays inexplicably captured video of events. At first the show focuses on unsolved crimes and invites the lead officer to watch the video live and agree to be interviewed immediately after. The show eventually shifts from the true crime format to historical record, reaching further and further back in time. The ultimate conflict in the book becomes apparent as the show begins to reach the time of Jesus and the beginning of Christianity.

A subplot follows Sarah and Jonathan’s lives. The hook is they too are obsessed with the show, but darkness begins to seep in around the edges. Sarah endured a traumatic assault leading to an unexpected pregnancy and forced adoption. Over the course of the story, they fall in and out of love and find a connection in helping others. They also discover an ancient ritual site that cements their bond and drives them to continue doing good. Along the way, their marriage grows stronger and deeper.

Despite the promising premise, the book feels like two separate ideas mashed into one. One book follows the technology and the impact on society. The other is a family drama revolving around Jonathan and Sarah as they grow apart in their marriage, find the wrong ways to seek balance, learn how to grow together, and succeed in repairing their relationship before it crumbles. Both are done decently, but weaving them together challenges both.

The past recording technology is fascinating and much detail is given on the historical context about a given event. Professors and other experts explain why the event is important before letting the video unfold. These sections tend to overstay their welcome as the accuracy and content of the videos aren’t as important as how they are recorded.

The family drama is the highlight of the book. Jonathan and Sarah are flawed and damaged people doing their best to be good people. They fail and the damage threatens to pull them apart. For a time, they are less of a married couple as they are two adults who live together. Their shared and solo experience as the story progresses forces them into contemplation and self-improvement. The ending felt satisfying after all the trials and tribulations they endured.

The Broadcast by Liam Fialkov is a unique blend of science-fiction, drama, and philosophy. Despite a few missteps, the book is a promising and engaging read that’ll stick with readers.