How does every great book start? With an introduction to one of the main characters? A tease into the mission ahead? Or a bit of mystery to keep you thinking of what will happen? Well Assignment: Earth by Lynne Armstrong-Jones starts with all three. Just a few pages in and I can tell there is going to be a lot of subtle little mysteries throughout this book.

As the chapters go on the narrative becomes shared between the two main characters. Leaving you to wonder if the will meet or more likely when they will meet, or have they met already in some way. I’ll leave that for you to decide.

One the cheery, focused minded, ready for anything and the other a depressed, feeling sorry for their own situation, who can’t find or do much. Which makes for quite the juxtaposition character telling.

When the do finally meet, DAAAMMMMNNNN its bad, talk about wrong time, wrong place. But its understandable of course, I mean you need to take the opportunity when you get it. And who’d of thought this character had the nerve for it.

‘As I bid him goodnight and step once more toward the door leading to the cold outside, I am startled to see a tall man, standing in the open doorway, now approaching me—

“Kay!” Smiling broadly, he says that he recognizes my voice. This cannot be happening! He must be someone whom I counselled on the telephone crisis line! All that I can think of is that this could cause problems. My heart pounding, I hurry away. We at the telephone line are to keep our identities confidential. In my panic, I have forgotten what I was told to do in this circumstance— By the time I remember, I am nearly at the front door of my building.

My heart aches as I gasp for breath. I feel badly. I feel foolish. I do not know the identity of the man, although I recognized his voice rather vaguely. Now, if he calls me again at the crisis line, I must certainly apologize and explain the importance of maintaining a strictly counsellor-client relationship.’

As I read this book, I found myself thinking about the plot of the book. I think that the author meant to convey that all the bad thoughts we have and the bad actions we do can be caused by an unseen, unknown entity that feeds off the weakened, angry or hurt souls of the world. This entity is like a parasite, feeding off the negative emotions of humans, and manipulating them to do things they would not normally do.

And the only thing that can save us from these evil entities are aliens that have changed their appearance so that people cannot recognize them. To fit in among the people in towns and cities throughout the world and be as one, which brings me to my next point.

These aliens disguised as humans to help the humans from the evil entities, have found out they can help the humans by becoming therapists, so in this world all the bad stuff that happens and all the crime that happens can be put down to the influence of evil aliens and therapists. Are aliens good aliens that hunt the bad aliens?

What can I say about the characters? For the longest time it really is only the two of them. And they are kind of opposites. The kind that shouldn’t really go together but kind of work. But who says opposites don’t attract?

I wish one of them would make up their mind about the other. I do realize there might be things holding them back but they are both adults now with mature minds to boot. and yet a relationship takes time, it shouldn’t be rushed.

What genre does it fit into? Is if a SCI-FI book with with aliens and missions to save humanity? Or is it a romance where two people battle their way towards each other though the red tape of their own making or existence? Both.

The plot is consistent, every scene moves the story along, weather its emotionally or physically. Every thought a character has is precise, with scenes detailed but not drowning in unnecessary over the top detail. So it’s just enough to keep the pages turning at a good speed.

‘When she didn’t say anything, Jared lifted his eyes to study her face. She looked as worried as he felt. The fingers of her left hand made their way to touch Jared’s right. The sensation was one of warmth. Then there was more to it…and suddenly he understood.
She wants to tell me. But for some reason, she can’t.
Jared turned his hand palm-up so their fingers could intertwine.
“Okay,” he whispered, “how in hell do you do that?’

The worry that the story plays through will have you rethinking a few things about old conspiracy theories that people believed a long time ago. And beware of the “nnn-asi-t” (“nasty” as you will see) that are characters that the author place in the story. They may creep into your thoughts.

All in all it is an engaging novel that takes readers on a deep dive into the idea that there is in fact alien life on earth that is hidden from us humans. If you are intrigued by these possibilities and topics, and want to read a book focused on it, “Assignment: Earth” by Lynne Armstrong-Jones is a book you want to grab.

Pros:

• Has a good narrative flow.
• Shows the different emotions of the different characters well.
• The opposite people dynamic is characteristic to this book and it shows. .

Cons:

• I was a little bit confused at some scenes at the beginning of the book and had to reread them to get them clear in my head.

Cover score: 8.0/10

Book score: 7.6/10

Get your book on Amazon

This review was made by Brent Jones