I was hooked from chapter 1. I haven't read many sci-fis or thrillers in my time, so maybe this is why I found Dark Matter so fresh and so original.

Characters
Jason Dessen is a physicist teaching in a college. He's a well of untapped potential and wasted dreams. His life isn't as fulfilled as he'd probably like, but he loves his family and he's content.

Watching Jason change and grow, but ultimately stay true to the root of his character was such a journey.
He went from a sensible, albeit boring, regular man living a sensible, albeit boring, regular life. During the month that this book takes place in, we witness Jason fear for his life, question his sanity, question his morals, and question his very existence.

His development throughout was so enthralling to watch as I had no idea how he was going to get himself out of this frightening situation.
But he persevered. Say what you will of Jason, he is one determined motherfucker. It was the thought of his family and his love for them which pulled him through these bizarre events.

I sympathised with Jason from the start; from his forgotten dreams never achieved, to the far more serious shit going down in his life. I really felt for the guy, he had a lot to contend with.

Plot
Dark Matter is real science heavy and I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who doesn't enjoy science-related things. It focuses prominently on the concept of parallel realities and the infinite number of worlds, each containing a different version of ourselves. Each and every world is different, be that vastly different, or in only the tiniest way. Every decision we make or don't make breaks off into any number of other realities where we made different decisions. It's really fascinating and I absolutely LOVE this kind of 'unknown' science.

I have my own theories on parallel worlds and how we can view them without even realising, as this is a topic that I'm particularly interested in. Having read this book and considered the idea that the key to accessing these infinite worlds is due to the state of one's consciousness, it reassures me that my own theories don't sound so far-fetched after all.

This is a WTF book that kept me turning the pages. I even spent an entire afternoon reading, even though I had stuff to do. I just couldn't put it down.
It really made me think about all the other infinite versions of myself and their lives. Have they also read this book? Maybe there's a version of me who doesn't like to read. I find that difficult to imagine though. It makes me realise how small and linear our lives are, not just in context to our own single universe, but to all the endless universes out there.

It's mind-blowing stuff when you think about it.

The ending was satisfying, but at the same time, it's not enough for me. I've been on the most absurd journeys with Jason, I can't leave him now. I need to know where he ended up. Is it a good world? Are they happy? I'll never know; but damn what a fantastic way to end the book, leaving me with even more questions.

Setting
Quite outstanding. I've never read anything set in so many worlds, so many realities. It was such an adventure. I had no idea what kind of world Jason would step into next. Each world was vivid and independent of any other. Some felt eerily similar to Jason's world, others were so different it was terrifying. Most of the time I was thinking, 'Get back in the bloody box, Jason, this isn't your world!'

Each new setting was as intense as the last as Jason slowly got closer and closer to home.

Writing Style
Written in First Person Limited and we only ever know as much as Jason knows, which in the beginning is not a lot.

I can't put my finger on it exactly, but the writing itself gave me a sense of real life. Perhaps it was the dialogue? I did notice that the way people spoke felt very natural and real. Nothing felt contrived or forced or cliché. It never felt like things were explained purely for the benefit of the reader, cause frankly, nothing was explained unless Jason himself was able to figure it out; and of course, once Jason discovers the truth, so do we, making the whole read, in general, feel natural.

I liked the way so much of the writing was written on separate lines. Dialogue, of course, always has to have a new line for a new speaker, but it was Jason's internal narration that I really liked. Each new thought getting a new line, whether it was a paragraph, a sentence, or a single word. Something about it felt right and suited the story well. Something almost staccato and concise. I found it so easy to read. I don't know if this is his standard writing style as this is the only book of his I've read, but it really works and adds to the tension perfectly.

I was excited to learn the movie rights were bought long before the book was even finished. Even as I was reading it, I kept thinking how well suited for a movie it would be. It's written in such a way that is set up perfectly for an adaptation.

It's full of plot twists I never saw coming, (though I guessed early on who had abducted Jason) and an ending I wasn't anticipating until that penultimate chapter when the resolution seemed to be the only answer. It really kept me second guessing throughout.

Final Impression
This book is a mind fuck but in the best possible way. I absolutely loved it and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys sci-fi.