The Essence by Dave Hutchinson (book review)
‘The Essence’ by Dave Hutchinson is an altered reality Science Fiction, which explores how we humans decide what is authentic and what is fantasy through the medium of ‘trying to solve’ a mystery.
Mike Brookes is in hospital, recovering from a mental breakdown after his wife has died. Up until then, his job was being an economic analyst for a little-known branch of MI6. Which is why he ended up in a comfortable hospital for service or ex-service people. He is gradually introduced into society, first with a few outings to the local shops and moving along until he can take day trips to nearby London. After six months of treatment, he returns home.
The first few days is catching up with household chores, talking to a neighbour and being introduced to his social worker, Jo. Nothing out of the ordinary. Martine from his work rings up and asks him to come in for a chat. Of course, he worries about what it means for his future. But it turns out that Martine wants him to go over to Amsterdam to find out why the Dutch economists under Theo van Hoebeek have stopped co-operating and passing their data to London. His mission is to find out what has gone wrong and return home soonest.
It turns out that the Dutch have detected a breach in UK security. They show him the proof. Mike says he will take their concerns back to London. On his way to his hotel, he walks into a bar and gets kidnapped.
His captors want to find out what he knows about the Essence. Mike knows nothing. However, there are gaps in his memory that he puts down to what hospitalised him in the first place. So he may have known something at one time.
Mike gets rescued by a rival group to his kidnappers. Further adventures follow to find out why he was kidnapped in the first place, what the ‘conspirasphere’ comprises and what the Essence is and does.
We are kept in Mike’s point of view throughout. His recovery from mental illness and the consequential gaining of confidence as he achieves more of a normal life are well depicted. Yet, despite Mike having unusual employment, there are hints that something does not stack up.
It is when things that cannot be explained by the laws of science start happening that the novel takes a turn towards the weird. This is self-coherent, but never fully explained. What happens in the novel just is. It is left to us to accept the story for what it is or think of being ridiculous fantasy in the backdrop of our own current world.
‘The Essence’ leaves us asking more questions about ourselves than it answers. If this is the kind of thought-provoking novel that ticks your boxes, then it is for you. Otherwise, it is frustrating
Rosie Oliver
March 2026
(pub: NewCon Press, 2025. 274 page small enlarged paperback. Price: £13.99 (UK). ISBN: 978-1-91773-514-8)
check out website: www.newconpress.co.uk/info/book.asp?id=271&referer=Catalogue