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.

This book was lauded on release, and I was excited to read it. In the wake of the tragedy at the Capitol in January 2021, this was a ripe moment for a deeper look into the Q phenomenon. At the outset, we come across the significant limitation - writing a historical investigative narrative about a predominantly digital experience, especially as many vital sources were tweets, many of them are now deleted. The story has to be put together from the digital crumbs that remain.

The author seeks to place the Q phenomenon in the proper context. Firstly, it is strangely unique to our time, almost entirely digital, lacking in a set leadership or identifiable figure. Secondly, the context for its success cannot be separated from the failed candidacy of Hilary Clinton, the rise of the Trump Presidency, and the COVID pandemic. Thirdly, the author placed the rise of the Q phenomenon in context to previous movements, of which I was not familiar, online movements fixated with the value of Iraqi currency, and other get rich quick online systems.

However, whilst the Q phenomenon may seem unique at the outset, the author does show us that many of its concerns and anxieties can be traced back to either previous online movements or even earlier conspiracy theories. Perhaps one of the most tantalising parts of the book was the comparison of Q to online reality games, offering the reader the possibility that Q was an online game that moved out of control. The author also considered the possibility that the Q phenomenon might be the work of a hostile government but concludes that this probably was not the case.

Whilst much of the phenomenon is digital, the author is at pains to show us the real-life consequences of the movement, giving us example after example of people who have been caught up in something that approaches a religious fervour, with one member calling out for Q to help him in a manner that previous generations might have called upon Jesus. A fascinating shift in the phenomenon was the move from those primarily interested in apparent leaks of military intelligence to those predominantly concerned about new age, wellness, and the safety of children, ‘social media moms and boomers.’

The book was indeed fascinating, but I have a few reservations. Perhaps some additional time needed to pass before the phenomenon could be seen in full context. On almost every page, some poor person caught up in the phenomenon was ‘awaiting trial.’ The author is a journalist and occasionally lapses into colloquialism that I found rather grating and distracting. I hope that in a few years, we shall have an account that can lead us to some more concrete conclusions of those who were indeed behind the movement - and whether it was something unique to the period or will it have spiritual successors?

I started reading this with an open mind. I soon understood that it is pure propaganda. Blatant lies, half-stories and fear mongering. Utter rubbish.

The book is both marvellous and terrifying.

It delivers an in-depth breakdown on everything you would want to know about Q-Anon, but the result is bleak. I found myself unable to put the book down, whilst wanting to close my eyes at every chapter.

Good work, dark times.

Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc.