I started Golden State with high expectations since I had read Ben H. Winters' earlier book "Underground Airlines" and loved it. Based on the book jacket's description, I had though this would also be an alternate reality/alternate history type book, but I was wrong. Once you get into the book, you discover that it is set far in the future, though the feel of this futuristic society is very basic. There isn't much talk about computers, cars drive on roads, the style of dress is the same though those who work in this weird version of the FBI wear little cameras strapped to their heads.
The premise is that the world was partially destroyed due to war and it was decided in this futuristic version of Los Angeles (only known as "The Golden State) that lying was the crux of all trouble in the world. Think of Fahrenheit 451 and their belief in that book that reading was the problem. An elite force of folks who have a special gift to be able to ferret out liars due to their physical reactions when someone is lying around them, goes around looking for liars. When a man dies under suspicious circumstances, it is the main character's job to figure out what happened. Meanwhile, he stumbles across a bigger conspiracy.
The book definitely held my attention, though I'm not a fan of murder mysteries. The larger speculative fiction plot was what I was most interested in. The twist at the end was very good and I definitely recommend the book. Ben H. Winters has a fan in this reader.
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