Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

The story follows our main protagonist, Teagan Frost, who is an undercover agent working for the government. She is part of a small team of other secret agents who work together on black ops type of jobs. However, Teagan is different from the rest of her crew, she has a superpower, and that power is telekinesis, or PK as she liked to call it. At the beginning of the novel Teagan finds herself accused of a crime she adamantly insists she could not have committed, and with her life on the line, and her own team doubting her validity, the stakes are high to prove her innocence.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley.

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Natalie.

This was a brilliantly amusing read with a fast-paced plot and plenty of twists and turns.
It instantly grabs you from the opening line. With superpowers, undercover agents, murder and mystery this book has it all.

I was so hyped for this book. I mean, look at that title!!

However, when it came down to it, I really struggled. I very nearly DNF'd this book several times, however I kept going in the hope it would pick up but it didn't.

I really disliked the main character Teagan, and I didn't particularly like any of the other characters in the book either. And then I found the pacing of the book to be really slow. I figured it might be because it's the first in a series, the author might be trying to give us lots of in depth info of the background. Let me tell you, it was IN DEPTH.

Overall, I was relatively bored with this book and really gutted that it hadn't lived up to my expectations.

This was such a great, thrilling ride. I really enjoyed it - there was something really original and characterful in the voice and the premise was brilliant.

Not my usual choice of genre to be fair however I totally loved this one, it was a lot of fun. The main character was really funny and witty and made the book what it is, even though it was a funny book it also had a fair amount of action in it too so it held my interest. Will defo read more like this and hope they are as great as this one!

Very interesting and witty book. I had so much fun with this one. I certainly cannot wait for more. Great writing and development.

What an amazing book! It's incredibly funny, but at the same time full of action and plot twists. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the characters and learning more about Taegan's ability. I can't wait to read the sequel!

A decent fast-paced action SF book, with enough LA Noir elements to keep me interested but not overloaded with made up psychobabble.

Fantastic ideas, great use of switched perspectives which catch you off-guard once you've gotten used to the main character. The opening section was definitely my favourite part, which is full of suspense and intrigue about the situation and characters - a little like how Bond films open. This is definitely a story for those who like plot and happenings and those who love a bit of special power / superhero type things - also thrillers. The characters are not good or bad, but a mix (as with real life) and I loved the minor homeless characters, which really feel like something on the author's heart. For me, I wanted to know more about the general characters, and less to-ing and fro-ing action - whilst they are a team, I couldn't quite work out why, apart from that it helps the plot. This is partly answered nearer the end, but not early enough to grip me to them. The story stands well enough on its own, or for fans there is more to come from The Girl.

Now to start Jackson Ford is a pseudonym for a critically acclaimed science fiction author. This is intriguing, I like sci fi and I like little literary mysteries so that and the description (and title) really hooked me in. Tegan Frost our protagonist, and one of the two narrative POV's in this novel, has psychokinetic power. Her character is well developed and I liked her narrative voice. This book is a fun little read, it's fairly fast-paced and generally felt like a good escapist summer read, which was exactly what I was seeking. It has elements of a superhero type story, it incorporates some of those tropes and yet strays more into the sci fi genre with a crime fiction twist. Because the main plot of this novel is set over a period of around 24 hours it does hurtle along at speed, there is humour thrown in along the ride too. This novel is destined to have sequels, and it would be good to hear more about Tegan's backstory in light of what we find out as we read the novel (no spoilers here).
In general for a book that I chose to read purely because of the title, I was pleasantly surprised. Sci fi, a bit of the paranormal, little crime fiction, all mixed together for a fun, energetic novel

I was drawn in by the title, which amused me and instantly grabbed my attention. However, the writing style wasn't quite my style and it took a while for me to get into it. It's a very fast-paced story and at times I felt there were too many things going on, which led to a rushed ending.

This book was an entertaining page-turner that I would highly recommend and sets up the storyline well to be continued in later books in the series. The characters felt so real to me and I loved the way that magical events happen within modern Los Angeles as most fantasies I have read take place in either entirely fictitious worlds or in historical settings. Also, the title was hilarious and fits the book perfectly.

Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK and to NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

For Teagan Frost, sh* just got real.

Teagan Frost is having a hard time keeping it together. Sure, she’s got telekinetic powers — a skill that the government is all too happy to make use of, sending her on secret break-in missions that no ordinary human could carry out. But all she really wants to do is kick back, have a beer, and pretend she’s normal for once.

But then a body turns up at the site of her last job — murdered in a way that only someone like Teagan could have pulled off. She’s got 24 hours to clear her name – and it’s not just her life at stake. If she can’t unravel the conspiracy in time, her hometown of Los Angeles will be in the crosshairs of an underground battle that’s on the brink of exploding . . .

There has been a trend over the last couple of years when it comes to book titles, you may have spotted it. In fact, this phenomenon has become so common I have given it a name, I call it The Person With The Thing effect. Don’t believe me? There are plenty of examples – The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, The Boy on The Bridge, The Girl on The Train and The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making to name but a few. I’ll admit that last one comes close to being the best example so far, but with the arrival of The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t With Her Mind by Jackson Ford, I feel we have reached peak book title. Is it possible to top this tremendous name? I suspect not. Setting aside this potentially controversial statement the biggest question that remains is does said book deliver on the promise that the title suggests? Good news my bookish chums, it does and then some.

Teagan Frost is a psychokinetic; by sheer force of will alone she can move non-organic material. Part blessing, part curse, this unique ability finds her part of a clandestine group working for the US government in Los Angeles. I was immediately won over by her character. Teagan is a little bit snarky and brittle, a little bit broken, but also doggedly determined to live her life by her rules. I think it is fair to say Teagan is a bit all over the place. She is a jumble of conflicting emotions. Part of her wants to be left alone but she also has a profound desire to belong to something greater than herself. This depth of uncertainty makes her character feel polished, nuanced and human. We’ve all been in similar situations at one time or another, unsure of just where it is we fit. Ok, perhaps not the bit about having the ability to move sh*t with our minds, but you get the gist. The author does an expert job of revealing the different component parts of Teagan’s character. We discover our protagonist’s hopes and dreams, strengths and weaknesses in a very natural fashion. Nothing feels like it has been shoehorned in. Later in the narrative there are also a handful of chapters that offer some additional insight into Teagan’s backstory. There are still some important gaps though. I think we can safely assume these are going to be explored in the future.

The team who assist Teagan are an eclectic bunch. They have been brought together by a shadowy government operative and most of them have had no choice in the matter. There are tensions within the team that are barely contained. Put it this way, things get fraught.

For me the standout character is Annie Cruz. To suggest Annie is not a fan of Teagan may be the biggest understatement I make this year. It probably doesn’t help that when the book begins they are both falling out of a skyscraper due to one of Teagan’s bright ideas. That sort of trauma is bound to rub someone up the wrong way. Watching how their relationship evolves is one of the book’s many highlights.

The internet reliably informs me that Jackson Ford is a pseudonym for a critically acclaimed science fiction author. Consider me suitably intrigued. I’m sure in the fullness of time some clever so-and-so will let us know exactly who that is. Part of me wants to write down who I think it is now, and then when all is revealed I can open an envelope and reveal I had correctly guessed all along like a suitably smug magician. Then again, perhaps not.

The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t With Her Mind is a great deal of fun. It acts as the perfect introduction to the characters and the story has enough twists and turns to keep you on your toes. In fact, plot wise, I think I was visualising something akin to the Ant-Man movies. You know the sort of thing, a bit tongue in check in places but with some dark moments scattered throughout for good measure. There is so much potential for further stories in the Teagan Frost universe. This could easily spiral into something much, much larger. It’s almost as if multiple superheroes and interconnected stories could be a thing? Maybe that will catch on? Perhaps we’ll be lucky enough to get a movie version of the book. That would be all kinds of awesome. Until then, I will just have to content myself with the books. I can’t wait to find out what happens next. There is a nice little moment in the final chapter that made me particularly hungry for more.

In a small break from tradition, mostly due to my own indecision, I have two musical recommendations to accompany The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t With Her Mind. While reading the novel I found myself flip-flopping between X-Men: Dark Phoenix by Hans Zimmer and the soundtrack to Runaways by Siddhartha Khosla. Both do a grand job of capturing a heroic vibe that complements the book perfectly.

The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t With Her Mind is published by Orbit and is available now. Highly recommended. A sequel, Random Sh*t Flying Through The Air*, is set to follow.

*With a title like that the second book also promises something quite special and, let’s be honest here, I think we can all admit we’ve had nights out like this.

Look at that title, look at that cover - this is a book that is crying out for attention ... so why did it try and drown me in words in the middle?!

Teagan Frost may be the only person in the world with psychokenesis (PK), which makes her a prime suspect when a man is found murdered in a way that only a PK could have done. Even worse, it's the same location as her last job - did she mention that she works for the government? And now the government, or someone, is out to get her and her team. She's got just 24 hours - make that 22 - to clear her name.

This book was a genuine 3.5 stars for me, and I don't know whether to round up or round down. Despite the hype, I got bogged down in the middle and nearly couldn't find my way out.

The start is so strong - Teagan and team-mate Annie falling through a window 50 storeys up and then a freeze-frame moment as Teagan reflects on how they got to this point.

I think that was what the main problem was for me. This would be a great movie. And it was written like a movie. It just didn't translate as well into a book.

Teagan is a snarky young woman who just wants to open her own restaurant, kick back at home with a few beers, maybe live a more normal life - and this is emphasised over and over again. That and the limits of her PK powers - no organic material, nothing beyond a 10 feet radius, nothing above a certain weight. Yes thankyou, we got the message already.

The characters are also a little bare-bones. Annie was the most interesting and most-fleshed out - she had backstory, family, motivations, fears and realistic reactions - but the whole team is written around the events that have happened in their lives, rather than their personalities.

I grew to like them as a group, but what really put me off was the pacing. You move from fast action sequence back to slow reflection and discussion about how much sh*t they were all in, with no real progress each time the conversation happened. That was what really pulled down the middle of this novel.

The ending, however, was great! It was fast, unclear how it would finish (although I'm afraid I called the twist a mile off) and explosive.

And then immediately ruined by a whole chapter where Teagan narrates 'what happened next'. It was too much to summarise in one chapter, but also too much to write about after such a meaty novel. There was no good way of rounding it off.

However, beyond the end of the actual action-based story, is another ending, and that was so much better - issues that aren't resolved and new revelations. That gives me hope that the next book will be more consistently strong throughout.

This is what made this book so hard for me to rate - I loved the concept, I have faith that book two will be even better, it would look great on screen, but it all got a bit quagmire-y in the middle.

I totally requested this book based on the title alone and I was not disappointed at all!
A funny, well written mystery story with great twists and an exciting edgy read.

Teagan a girl who really can move sh*t with her mind is my kind of girl.

Highly recommend,
Read read read

It was a fast and enjoyable read. I loved Teagan, a well written and quirky character, and appreciated the entire cast of characters as they're fleshed out and well developed.
I liked the plot, it made me laugh and kept me hooked till the last page.
I hope this is the start of a series and look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

You may be shocked to hear that the title of this book was what first grabbed my attention, given how understated and innocuous it is.

There’s a real sense of fun about this book. It throws you right into the action as soon as it opens, with the team in the middle of a heist. You get to see the characters under stress and with their relationships strained from the get-go, which allows you to get a great sense of their dynamics but also what the status quo is – who is friends with who, and what the pressure points are. It’s also a great way to establish the limits of Teagan’s powers. She can only move things that are inorganic, within 10 feet of her, and which weigh less than 300lbs. Using her powers exhausts her, so when a miscalculation on the heist forces her to push them to the very limit, she’s tapped out as the story begins – which makes for a very interesting dynamic, and means she discovers more about herself and her abilities because circumstances force her to strain beyond her means. It’s also interesting that a team has been built around her, but she is not the focal point – if anything, she’s viewed as a liability, the handicap from making the team as effective as they could be, even though no-one else wants to be there either.

It’s not often you find a story which starts with the protagonist already at the end of her reserves, and for me it really added to the dynamic. That, and the fact that the main plot takes place over a period of less than 24 hours, makes for an extremely fact-paced and gripping read. There are very few moments when the characters get to stop and rest, and those are generally short-lived when they happen.

This isn’t a fantasy book – it’s science fantasy perhaps more along the lines Dark Angel. We’re drip-fed information through Teagan’s narrative and it becomes clear that the reason she has these powers is because of her parents and the genetic experiments they conducted on her – although no-one can say why making these changes to her DNA has given her these powers, and she has baffled any other scientists who have tried to explain it. She’s also convinced, completely and utterly, that she is the only person with powers in the world. Evidently the plot suggests otherwise.

There are two voices in this timeline – Teagan’s, which is first person and full of her stubborn, persistent personality; and Jake, who she is trying to find, even though she has no idea he exists. His narrative is third person, and very introspective – he is a philosopher and a historian, and you get the impression he is not naturally a violent person, but he is lonely and increasingly desperate. Whilst Teagan’s story is a murder mystery thriller, Jake’s is a tragedy of almost Shakespearean quality. He begins with no ill intentions, but things escalate beyond his control. Ford does an excellent job of making him a very sympathetic character, and as the book charges on, you find yourself hoping that Teagan will find him soon and perhaps things might have a chance of ending well.

The narrative absolutely bombs along, because it is set over such a short time frame. It’s a brave storytelling choice, restricting the bulk of the action to a single day, and whilst that could make things seem rushed, the two contrasting narratives of Teagan and Jake balance each other out to keep the pace steady. In fact, at points perhaps it felt the opposite – there were scenes which felt a little slow, but I think this is mostly because the urgency throughout means that any scene that isn’t just them collapsing with exhaustion is a waste of precious time. Whilst that can be frustrating as a reader, it also perhaps speaks to how gripping the plot is.

Teagan as a protagonist is unusual, in that she isn’t a teenager – she’s 21. But her life was so sheltered and disconnected from the rest of the world, she seems like a teenager. Part of that might also be that her life is in the hands of someone else, and she feels like nothing she does really matters because her time and very existence are all potentially limited anyway; but we also see her dreams for a future that is entirely her own, where she runs her own restaurant, and those moments really soften her and help round her out as a character.

It becomes clear that this is the first in a series, and I think the sequels will really help develop the world, but also allow us to see Teagan grow and develop in light of the backstory which is revealed during this novel. There is a lot of ground to cover, backstory-wise, between Teagan, her crew, and Jake. It never feels exposition-heavy, although some of Jake’s reminiscing can be a bit longer than perhaps grips the interest, and the biggest twists and reveals are saved for when they will be the most effective. They pack a punch.

I’m looking forward to the next in the series and seeing where Ford takes the story from here.

Briefly:

A fast-paced, but still fun science fantasy story, with elements of murder mystery and conspiracy thriller all piled up inside it. A variety of narrative techniques mixes up the pace and makes it a very easy read.
Teagan is probably not a character for everyone – she has a bold personality, and it informs her narrative voice. It took me a while to settle into her, but once I did I enjoyed the rhythms and style, although some of the pop culture references felt a little forced or jarring at times.
It’s a great use of restricted timeframe to build the story structure, and I’m looking forward to seeing what techniques Ford uses in future books. Whether he chooses to keep the same structure to show us the world in small flashes or try experimenting with something new to allow himself time to expand things at a leisurely pace.
Rating: 4/5 – a great first start to a series, which promises to have a lot in common with Dark Angel, a series I absolutely loved.

A fast paced, quirky fantasy adventure about a woman with psychokinetic powers (hence the title of the book) who is 'recruited' by a USA government group to thwart bad guys, and...well, some crazy sh*t happens. The book is perhaps a few pages too long, and the story is a little drawn out in places, but it's a heck of a lot of fun and has huge sequel potential.