I found Fireflies and Zeroes by Liz Larson on Reedsy Discover. Since I like a good mystery/thriller, and I love music, a novel about one member of a popular pop-punk band disappearing just as they were about to make a comeback seemed like just the ticket.
I’ll start with what I loved about this novel. First, Larson’s writing is technically very good. Tight, fluid, and easy to follow. I threw this thing back in just three days of light reading. Additionally, her character development is aces. I quickly got to know and care about all the characters in this book. Having spent a lot of time around musicians, I felt that she captured the dynamics of ‘band intrigue’ really well.
The other thing I loved about Fireflies and Zeroes is how Larson wove in elements of social justice without tiptoeing around these subjects or becoming too preachy. Racism, sexism, sexuality…these were all a natural part of the story, and totally believable in the contexts in which they were written.
That said, I disagree with the Reedsy reviewer about the mystery/thriller aspects of the story. There were too many convenient things that happened to make this novel truly suspenseful. For example, the entire thing hinged on the fact that there were two other people who looked so similar to the missing bandmate that even his lifelong best friend couldn’t tell the difference. It was hard to buy, but I can suspend my belief for a decent story, and I did.
It felt like the book was actually about the band’s relationships, with the plot serving only as scaffolding, rather than folding everything together. Part of this perception might just be a matter of expectation. I went into this looking for something juicy and suspenseful, and came out with a sweet, character-driven story about love, friendship, and community that carried the weak points of the plot.
Anyway, I enjoyed it! It just didn’t quite scratch the specific itch I’d picked it up for.
Reading the acknowledgements, I discovered this is Larson’s first novel. I think she’s got a bright future as a novelist ahead of her, and I do recommend this book for anyone who likes the kind of action you might find in a WB series. Again, no shade. It’s just not what I would have picked up if I’d known in advance.
What I loved:
- Great character development with lots of delicious angst between bandmates.
- Beautiful ending that made my heart happy.
- Incorporation of social justice themes that were organic and natural to the plot.
- The description of the show toward the end was written so well. That was my favorite part of the entire novel.
What I found challenging:
- The crime aspect felt a little light and underdeveloped.
- There were too many convenient plot devices, undercutting the suspense.
Find Liz Larson online:
Find Liz Larson on Social Media:
- Instagram: @LizLarsonWrites
- Facebook: /LizLarsonWrites
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