{"id":679,"date":"2011-07-03T17:06:04","date_gmt":"2011-07-03T21:06:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tedkrever.com\/blog\/?page_id=679"},"modified":"2013-01-16T18:48:35","modified_gmt":"2013-01-16T23:48:35","slug":"mindbenders-reviews","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/tedkrever.com\/blog\/my-books\/mindbenders\/mindbenders-reviews\/","title":{"rendered":"Mindbenders’ Reviews"},"content":{"rendered":"
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January 16, 2013,\u00a05 Star Review<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Book:\u00a0 Mindbenders<\/strong>
\nAuthor:\u00a0 Ted Krever<\/strong>
\nGenre:\u00a0 Paranormal (psychic ability), Thriller, Suspense<\/strong>
\nLength:\u00a0 Approximately 275 Pages<\/strong><\/p>\n

I have to say that I’ve always been fascinated by the thought of the Soviet Mind Control program that we heard so much about years ago.\u00a0 I always read books cold, without reading the blurb or reviews first.\u00a0 I like to form my own opinions about them, so needless to say, I was thrilled when I realized MINDBENDERS by TED KREVER covered this intriguing concept.<\/p>\n

This book is full of amazing twists and turns that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, but what I liked most were the characters and the dialog between them that left me breathless at times.\u00a0 I became so invested in them.\u00a0 Gregor, who was an embedded reporter that is suffering from PTSD – Mr. Krever created a dream sequence that left me stunned and feeling as though I were right there with Greg when he was going through this horrifying moment in his life.\u00a0 This was so well written that I felt like I was\u00a0intruding on a very personal and private moment in Greg’s life, to the point I was uncomfortable as if he knew I was eavesdropping on\u00a0him.\u00a0 AMAZING writing.<\/p>\n

The dialog was so spot on in this novel that I actually felt as though I were listening to the conversations between the characters rather than reading them.\u00a0 I LOVE it when that happens.\u00a0 Often times when I pick up a new author to read, it takes awhile to get into the flow of the writer’s words.\u00a0 That was not the case with MINDBENDERS.\u00a0 Mr. Krever’s ability to write the way people actually think in their minds and convey it in such a way that the reader is not just reading, but absorbed into the moment of the book was amazing, and really one of the first times I’ve come across it done so well.<\/p>\n

I am not going to attempt to summarize MINDBENDERS by TED KREVER because so much was happening on every page of the book that there is just no way to do it justice.\u00a0 To put it in the simplest of terms, MINDBENDERS is about good versus evil, people using the power of hope to gain power over people.\u00a0 This is a book that I could talk about for hours.<\/p>\n

I just found out that Mr. Krever is close to releasing MINDBENDERS 2: UNDER THE RADAR, and I can tell you, I will be all over that book.\u00a0 While MINDBENDERS tied everything up nicely at the end of the book, the ending left it wide open for the second book.\u00a0 I can’t wait to read it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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5.0 out of 5 stars\u00a0Down the Rabbit Hole<\/strong>,\u00a0May 23, 2012<\/div>\n
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By\u00a0WisteriaM<\/a><\/div>\n
In his book “Mindbenders”, Ted Krever leads the reader on an antic chase up the Eastern seaboard and across the Atlantic to Europe, never slowing down until the last line. The narrator, Gregor, simultaneously discovers and reveals missing pieces of his own life as a member of a team of CIA-trained “Mindbenders”, while he and his former colleagues concurrently chase and try to elude a rogue faction with similar powers bent on violently overthrowing society.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

In “Mindbenders” I found some echoes of Jonathan Lethem’s book”Motherless Brooklyn”, which also features a man with a hazy and unusual past (and unusual “powers”) on a quest to unravel and stymie a mysterious plot that unfolds through his eyes. I read Lethem’s book in one weekend; Krever’s book held me to my chair for one marathon reading that rang my bells on every level and satisfied my voracious appetite for engaging, believable characterization and fast-moving story.<\/p>\n

There really were American programs to explore the possible uses of “psychic” abilities in covert and illegal tests on humans, using substances and drugs, often without the informed consent of the subjects themselves. Among the subjects were author Ken Kesey and Unabomber Theodore Kaczinski. Kever extrapolates from these programs (most records of which were destroyed by order of then-CIA Director Richard Helms, in the face of a pending investigation) and spins an intriguing tale that explores the question of “what if…the experiments led to real and powerful abilities to monitor, predict and alter the minds of human beings? …what if there were several similar programs incubating around the globe? …what if someone turned these abilities to their own uses without scruple? In these days of global political turmoil these “what-ifs” are all too plausible, something Krever brilliantly explores here.<\/p>\n

I understand there is a sequel in the works to be published later this year. Add my name to that waiting list.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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4.0 out of 5 stars\u00a0A rollicking good read<\/strong>,\u00a03 Mar 2012<\/div>\n
By\u00a0nom de plume \u201cJS\u201d<\/a>\u00a0(London)<\/div>\n
This is a great book, showing promise of good things to read from this writer for years.<\/div>\n

The plot is well constructed, believable, yet brain-stretching, but Krever\u2019s skill is in characterisation. His characters are rounded, and their dialogues (both external and internal) are interesting with a viscerality that is gripping.<\/p>\n

I thoroughly recommend this over much of the tripe that is peddled as e-books!!!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

4.0 Out of 5 Stars -Original Spin<\/strong>,\u00a022 Jan 2012 from Amazon.co.uk<\/div>\n
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By\u00a0R. Hurst \u201cMidNight\u201d<\/a>\u00a0(Galway, Ireland) –<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Greg is a tramatised war veterian who finds himself pulled into a secret battle with only a few powerful individuals on the side of good, fighting a world wide corporation of evil. This is an original take on a familiar phenomenon, it hints at talents which readers of this genre will be accustomed too. The personal struggles in Mindbenders are very real and the writing style is very absolute and de facto. There are twists and turns which keep the reader engaged throughout. I\u2019d really recommend this to anyone who is not sure about the genre of paranormal conspiracies, there is enough realism in this novel to keep even the most sceptical reader entertained. To veterians of the genre it is a refreshing look that will not leave you wanting.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Mind Controlling Conspiracy Thriller <\/strong>by\u00a0<\/span>Danny Norbury<\/a>\u00a0(NJ, USA)<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a04.0 out of 5 stars:<\/span>January 2, 2012<\/div>\n
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Anyone who hasn’t read about the CIA’s experiments with mind control and alternate reality should at least do a couple of quick Wiki-searches on CIA Mind Control. The more you delve into the topic the more you will learn just how seriously our government (and others during the Cold War) took these things. And it’s upon this canvas that Ted Krever paints us this highly readable Conspiracy Thriller.<\/p>\n

The story opens in the Florida everglades with the murder of an ex-CIA spy who was running a sort of group home for mentally affected vets of the Gulf War. Our narrator Greg was one such person. A one time journalist who no longer speaks or remembers due to Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, Greg witnesses the assassination of his mentor first hand. What Greg does not know is why this has happened or why a neighboring man suddenly shows up to rescue him, or why this man seems to be able to speak without using his voice, can render hostiles unconscious with taser like electricity from his hands, or why he can drive with his eyes closed and describe what is about to come way before it happens. Most disconcerting is the fact that Greg’s mentor has placed a list of other defunct agents from the CIA Mindbender programs inside of Greg’s mind that their neighbor Renn can unlock piece by piece. What ensues is an excursion up and down the East Coast rounding up psychic spies of various talents in an effort to save the world from a shadowy group of assassins bent on destroying hope.<\/p>\n

Sounds messy, but the adventure suits Greg as he slowly comes out of his shell and rediscovers the power in words just as he discovers the innate powers within himself. With each page Greg grows more sure footed and, as our narrator, becomes more entertaining. His short, somewhat awkward descriptions that open the book become more verbose and chocked full of literary devices as the book continues. Which is not only a great device, but really helps move the story forward as our team of misfit psychics band together to attempt the impossible.<\/p>\n

Mr. Krever is a skilled writer. What could have been a terrible mess ends up being entertaining and thought provoking. He is tackling some very big subjects while trying to maintain a thriller’s pace and, for the most part, he succeeds. There are times when he attempts to inject the science behind the powers that threatens to tip the balance the wrong way, but he manages to right the ship each time. His small band of psychics each have strong well developed personalities and they stand out as unique characters on the page. Many lesser authors would have focused so much on the powers that they would become the “characters” but Mr. Krever focuses on the person first, their talents second. He avoids the cliches that you expect to happen and churns out a page-turning yarn that will appeal to many.<\/p>\n

This could have easily been a 5 star effort, but in my mind the ending could have been slightly stronger. I also would love to see a suggested reading list in the next Mindbenders (due in 2012) with some of the titles referenced by Mr. Krever. But really, these are very small complaints and I can promise you I will definitely be reading future installments in what I hope is a series.<\/p>\n

Let me close by saying that I picked this title up free for the Kindle during Krever’s December 2011 giveaway. Add to that his e-mail offer that allowed anyone who picked up Mindbenders to receive a free copy of his critically acclaimed 9\/11 short story collection “After” and you have the best deal ever on Amazon! Read Mr. Krever’s Amazon commentary on any book you purchase by him to find free offers, but above all, read Ted Krever, he is a talented author!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The world is not the way we think it is<\/strong>,\u00a0October 15, 2011<\/div>\n
(4.5 out of 5 stars)\u00a0By\u00a0James Tepper<\/a>\u00a0(Boonton Township, NJ United States)<\/div>\n
” Mindbenders”, by author Ted Krever is a highly touted (by Amazon reviewers) indie SF novella (at 229 pages on my Kindle, it’s really a little too short to call it a novel) that lives up to (and or\/exceeds) its hype. I thought all the way through that it was a single, stand-alone piece (and it certainly is stand-alone) but after finishing it I was pleased to find that a sequel is in the works.<\/div>\n

“Mindbenders” is about a group of loosely- (very) knit everyday folks who happen to possess amazing “psychic”powers including telepathy, thought control and psychokinesis. The novel starts when one of them, the sort of guardian of a semi-catatonic severely PSTD’ed vet gets murdered. One of the murdered guy’s psychic buddies, who turns out to be the end result of a long line of Soviet selective breeding program for psychic abilities, shows up and drags our hero, the vet, into an global, international conspiracy of corporate and governmental politics, mind control, murder and intrigue. Several of the characters are drawn clearly (along with their different interesting “gifts”) and the interpersonal relations feel genuine.<\/p>\n

I have been trolling Amazon’s kindle offerings for a while, buying lots of inexpensive (and sometimes not-so-inexpensive) SF and fantasy offerings from indie authors. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. But “Mindbenders” was a big win. Krevel can write, and can plot, and has a great sense of pacing. At 229 pages, you know that there is no filler. In fact, about 3\/4 of the way through I was wondering if he could really pull it all together by the end, but he does, and in grand style. The writing is tight and taught, and there is just enough (good!) science and logic mixed into the paranormal to let one easily suspend disbelief and become totally immersed. Nothing in the plot or writing feels forced and everything flows smoothly. There are none of the typos, formatting errors and other major and minor gaffes that mar so many other indie pubs.<\/p>\n

A great, fast read at a great price. 4.5 stars! I’m looking forward to more from Mr. Krever.<\/p>\n

Highly recommended for all SF fans.<\/p>\n

JM Tepper<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

5.0 out of 5 stars<\/div>\n
Who is controlling whom?<\/strong>,\u00a0September 29, 2011<\/div>\n
By\u00a0mountainmama “Shirley Hicks”<\/a><\/div>\n
When Greg’s guardian is murdered, Max Renn shows up and whisks him into a world of mindbenders. Mind and memory fried by his experiences in the military, Greg has no clue of his own capabilities until Max forces him to use them to keep himself and his newfound friends alive while they try to stop an event that would change the world forever. Greg and Max gather more help as they unravel the mystery locked in Greg’s brain and rush to save hope.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
This is a fast-paced paranormal conspiracy thriller. Mr. Krever has done an exceptional job of creating and portraying the characters and their abilities, and weaving it into a plot that will absolutely enthrall you. His work is fascinating and provocative, leaving you wondering how much we control our own destiny, and how much is controlled by others.Well done, Ted Krever. I’m glad you’ve got a second one coming soon!<\/div>\n
\"5\u00a0Consider My Mind Bent<\/strong>,\u00a0September 12, 2011<\/div>\n
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By\u00a0Steve Madden<\/a>\u00a0(Richland, WA USA)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Ted Krever’s Mindbenders was a wonderful surprise. It took me all of two pages to get into it, and I was hooked through the end. The pacing is spot-on, alternating between exhilarating action and quiet, character-driven moments.<\/p>\n

It’s a great bit of Psi-Fi, made better by the fact it’s both timely and relevant. Many (all?) of the government programs listed are real and the author has adapted their findings seamlessly into his writing. He manages to make the science behind it easily digestible, even going so far as to explain my urge to purchase a new SUV, despite having only three people in my family. Most importantly, he does all this without robbing us of character development.<\/p>\n

If I had to complain about anything, it would be the end. Not that I found the conclusion unsatisfactory, but I wanted to spend more time with the characters. From the looks of it, the author is working on a sequel, so I suppose I’ll just have to be patient. As it is now, Mindbenders is a great book on its own and has the capacity to become a very impressive series.<\/p>\n

Of course, there’s always the chance somebody out there is controlling my mind, compelling me to think this….<\/p>\n

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*****\u00a0<\/strong>Does your mind belong to you?<\/strong>,\u00a0September 10, 2011<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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By\u00a0Nash Black \u201cTroubadour\u201d<\/a>\u00a0(Jamestown, KY)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

MINDBENDERS by Ted Krever will make you wonder if your mind really does belong to you.
\nGregor \u201cGreg\u201d Samsa is living in the Florida Everglades, suffering from a memory loss. His friend, Dave Monaghan, is murdered almost before his very eyes. A strange man, Mr. Dullas, who has visited the camp many times drags Greg from the house moments before it explodes in a ball of flame. Leary of the man who is forcing him to confront memories he has hidden the two begin a search for others like themselves and the killers of their friend.
\nFiction entices the reader to suspend belief, but MINDBENDERS is so plauable it seems possible.
\nFirst rate action\/adventure\/thriller with twists, turns, suprises and a slam-bang conclusion. When you think you have the plot figured out, it throws you a curve of unexpected suspense.
\nNash Black, author of SANDPRINTS OF DEATH<\/p>\n

Mindbenders<\/em><\/strong><\/div>\n
\u00a0Reviewed by RM Holdsworth<\/strong><\/div>\n
They are called Mindbenders – men and women who know your every thought. They\u00a0\u00a0have the power to control your emotions, manipulate your memories, your body and the world around you.\u00a0\u00a0When the possibilities are endless, who will draw the line between what is right and what is unspeakable evil?<\/em><\/div>\n
Greg is a man who can\u2019t remember, cut off from his memories.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0While Greg\u2019s body survived the war inIraq, his mind remains a fractured tangle of the sights and sounds of past battles and lost comrades.<\/em><\/div>\n
Max Renn can never forget.\u00a0\u00a0A human weapon and Cold War\u00a0\u00a0leftover, Renn can read minds, move mountains \u2013 even plant ideas and emotions into another\u2019s head.\u00a0\u00a0What he cannot do is escape the past- no matter how far or how long he may run. To live in Hell is\u00a0<\/em>hearing\u00a0every thought,\u00a0<\/em>feelingevery emotion,\u00a0<\/em>experiencing\u00a0every lived moment and memory\u00a0of every person around you.\u00a0 Max Renn is a\u00a0permanent resident.<\/em><\/div>\n
When Dave Monaghan, caretaker to lost souls and a former director for the\u00a0UScold war mind control project is murdered, the uneasy peace Gregg and Renn had found in Dave\u2019s\u00a0Florida\u00a0everglades safe haven is shattered.\u00a0\u00a0Thrust into a world of international conspiracy and paranormal warfare, Greg and Renn race to gather Dave\u2019s old team of Mindbenders in a fight to stop an insidious evil bent on world domination.\u00a0<\/em><\/div>\n
For Gregg it is about vengeance- vengeance for Dave.\u00a0\u00a0Someone murdered his friend and\u00a0 that Someone was going to pay.<\/em><\/div>\n
For Renn it is about answers.\u00a0\u00a0Who had killed Dave Monaghan and why?\u00a0\u00a0Who were these Others, new Mindbenders with inferior abilities and murderous intentions?\u00a0\u00a0And what did an assassination of the Indian Prime minister, a sabotaged nuclear power plant in\u00a0New York\u00a0and a disgraced international leader have in common?\u00a0\u00a0The mind control program\u00a0is back in play and they are coming for Max Renn.<\/em><\/div>\n
Mindbenders<\/a><\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>is a fast paced thriller with broad audience appeal.\u00a0\u00a0There is a literary hint to Krever\u2019s writing without the pros being over burdened by heavy word choice and turn of phrase.\u00a0\u00a0I enjoyed\u00a0the dark and brooding look back to a time passed.\u00a0 This\u00a0glimpse into the\u00a0era\u00a0\u00a0of spies and intrigue and old-fashioned espionage\u00a0lends a noir overlay to an otherwise\u00a0\u00a0hedonistic, modern thrill ride.\u00a0Krever\u2019s fully developed characters seep quietly into your head and set up house, begging you to read on well into the small and quiet hours of the night.<\/div>\n
The rule to telling a good story, like a good lie, is adding a healthy dose of truth and Mindbenders is no exception.\u00a0\u00a0Krever skillfully balances the ingredients to good story telling- a sprinkle of fact, a body of fiction and viola!\u00a0\u00a0A nightmare of believable proportions.\u00a0\u00a0In this age of hidden terror behind everyday faces,Mindbenders<\/em>\u00a0promises a fantastic paranormal underbelly to a humdrum existence.\u00a0Pick up Krever\u2019s\u00a0Mindbenders<\/em>\u00a0and expand the horizons of the Possible.\u00a0\u00a0After all- the mind is a terrible thing to waste.\u00a0\u00a0If you don\u2019t use it, someone else might.<\/div>\n

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From the Paranormal Romance Guild, August 4, 2011:<\/p>\n

MINDBENDERS<\/em>\u00a0– TED KREVER
\n4 \u00bd****\u2019Stars
\nBook: Mindbenders
\nAuthor: Ted Krever
\nPublisher: Ted Krever
\nGenre: Paranormal Mystery
\nRating: Mature<\/p>\n

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Disabled vet, Greg, lives a quiet life with \u201cUncle Dave\u201d in the swamps of the Florida Everglades, until the night Uncle Dave is shot in the head while in the bath and Greg\u2019s peaceful, quiet world is turned not only upside down, but inside out and front to back. Almost as soon as Uncle Dave is shot, the mysterious Mr. Dulles appears on the back porch, ordering Greg to gather his things and leads him away just as the cabin blows up. Now Greg and Mr. Dulles are running for their lives, trying to figure out why someone killed Uncle Dave, and picking up clues (and more strange people) along the way.<\/p>\n

Greg soon discovers that Mr. Dulles has talents far beyond what can be imagined, no one can be trusted, and the world governments have hidden secrets that even were they to get out, no one would believe them. Can one slightly off center vet, one extremely dangerous man, and their merry band of misfits discover the bigger picture that lies beyond Dave\u2019s death, and do it in time to save not only themselves but the world in the process? Hold on to your seats and prepare yourselves for a ride into the dangerous world of government secrets, smoke and mirrors and conspiracy beyond belief.<\/p>\n

Told in Greg\u2019s point of view,\u00a0Mindbenders<\/em>\u00a0is well written, full of slightly off\/snarky bits of dialogue, more than a little disturbing sights into the power of the mind and a grand suspense thriller all rolled into one. During the course of the book, Greg grows from a damaged man who literally can\u2019t string two words together into the strong, self-confident reporter he once was. Slowly, mysterious Mr. Dulles\u2019 past is revealed and with each step he reveals what he can do with his mind, and frankly it\u2019s a tad bit scary. Along the way, fellow mindbenders are revealed, some good, some bad. To understand the plot of this book think\u00a0Conspiracy Theory<\/em>\u00a0meets\u00a0Men Who Stare at Goats,<\/em>\u00a0sprinkle in a little\u00a0James Bond<\/em>\u00a0spy tactics, add in some\u00a0Matrix\u00a0<\/em>sci-fi and mix with a little Bruce Willis\/Angelina Jolie kick butt scenes. This is political thriller at its best, there are twists and turns, traitors, and always something else hidden behind door number two. There is a great cast of characters, good guys and bad guys, and some who you just aren\u2019t sure what they are.<\/p>\n

I enjoyed the heck out of this book, from the moment I picked it up I could not put it down. It\u2019s not your typical spy thriller; it will make you think good and hard. While I did enjoy it, I have to admit that I was a little over-whelmed with the science bits. I\u2019ve never been good with physics and neutrons and protons and such, there are a bunch of those here. The science aside, this was a book that met all my criteria for a good read \u2013 good character building, some action so you don\u2019t get bored, a plot to make you think, a few laughs, a good villain and even an ending that will make you say \u201chmmmm\u201d. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a political thriller that while it takes itself seriously, doesn\u2019t take itself too serious.<\/p>\n

Review by Penelope Adams<\/p>\n

Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild<\/p>\n

~~~~<\/p>\n

Julie Dawson<\/a>‘s review on Goodreads,\u00a0Aug 25, 11:\u00a0\"4<\/p>\n

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Ted Krever\u2019s Mindbenders is a brilliantly paced paranormal conspiracy thriller with an entertaining cast of characters and a plot that will keep you jumping from clue to clue to determine what is really happening. Former Soviet agent Max Renn was part of a secret mind control program that was dismantled during the collapse of the Soviet Union. Two decades later, his semi-tranquil life in the Florida everglades is thrown into turmoil when unknown entities kill his friend and force him to reassemble his pal\u2019s old psychic squad to unravel the international conspiracy behind a host of high profile murders and strange events.<\/p>\n

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Though Max is technically the protagonist, the story is narrated by Greg, a vet who survived the battle of Fallujah with his body, but not his mind, intact. Greg\u2019s ability to reason and articulate is severely crippled by post-traumatic stress syndrome. He is an amazingly well-developed, likeable, and engaging character, but a poor choice for a narrator. His often confusing and disjointed narrative style makes the already complex plot feel unnecessarily burdensome at times. There are points in the narrative where the reader has trouble following what is going on, not because of the plot complexity, but because Greg doesn\u2019t coherently present facts. While this behavior is certainly in character, it makes him an unreliable narrator.<\/p>\n

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But Mindbenders is worth the extra effort required. The psychic element feels like an organic part of the story and not just a tacked on gimmick. Krever presents the nature of these mind-controlling powers in a way that is believable while avoiding the need to bog down the story with extensive explanations. The end result is a fully immersive experience that puts the readers right in the center of an elaborate international web of intrigue. Definitely a book that should be on the digital bookshelf if you consider yourself a fan of the genre.<\/p>\n

~~~~ <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

5.0 out of 5 stars\u00a0More Than Just a Thriller<\/strong>,\u00a0June 1, 2011<\/div>\n
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By<\/div>\n
Claudia<\/a> (VA, USA) –\u00a0See all my reviews<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Amazon Verified Purchase<\/strong>(What’s this?<\/a>)<\/div>\n
This review is from:\u00a0Mindbenders (Kindle Edition)<\/strong><\/div>\n

This is that rare piece of fiction based on fact in such a way as to make the lines between the two seem to blur. Mindbenders is built on the work done by both the US and Soviet governments as they attempted to harness the most powerful instrument on the face of the earth – the human mind – as yet another weapon in their massive arsenals. More experimentation has been done in this area than most people realize, and Ted Krever obviously did his research very thoroughly before writing this book. In this novel, he deals with remote viewing, telepathy, and other things that some consider ‘tricks’ of the mind, but which many believe are far closer to reality than myth.<\/p>\n

The novel is well written and well edited, with a storyline that takes hold in the first few pages and doesn’t let go until the plot has unwound in ways one would not expect. The characters are well developed, ‘warts and all’, as the saying goes. The story takes the reader from the swamps of Florida to the catacombs of Rome while dealing with life and death, and war and peace.<\/p>\n

These are not, for the most part, ‘nice’ people, as their actions demonstrate, and they each have their inner struggles, their secret demons. When reading this book, I couldn’t escape the feeling that the potential reality lies close to the surface. Perhaps because it’s a subject in which I’ve long been interested, but I couldn’t read it without knowing that while it is fiction, and a fascinating story, the underlying dynamics are all too possible.<\/p>\n

This is a novel, a story that came forth from the mind of the author and found its way to the pages of a fascinating book; however, one of the most interesting aspects of the story is that it is not so far from reality that something very much like it could not happen. The story shows how powerful forces of the mind could be used for overwhelming evil or redemptive good, and we can but hope that the latter would triumph in any battle between the two.<\/p>\n

The ending certainly is an ‘ending’, but I see plenty of room for a sequel one of these days, if the spirit moves Mr. Krever, and we are fortunate enough to have him write it. I was sorry when it ended, which I think is the way I want to feel when I’ve been fortunate enough to stumble on a really good book.<\/p>\n

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Amazing, science fiction meets fact – MUST READ!!<\/strong>,\u00a0June 25, 2011<\/p>\n

Review By\u00a0K. Sozaeva “Obsessive bibliophile”<\/a> (Athens, GA USA) –\u00a0See all my reviews<\/a><\/div>\n
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Greg has been out of the military for a year now and is living in with a man he calls Uncle Dave; his mind was fried by the stress of his experiences in the Middle East, causing severe memory loss and problems with speaking and even thinking. Hearing screaming, he leaves his room and finds Dave Monaghan dead in the bathroom, the screams coming from the small TV showing the assassination of the Indian premiere. Before he can really process all of this, a man known to him as Mr. Dulles shows up, tells him to pack his stuff and takes him away – they haven’t gone far before the house explodes.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

This is only the very beginning of “Mindbenders,” a story in which science fiction and fact combine (and which is based upon real events and programs). Mindbenders are people who are able to affect things with their minds – mostly through mind reading and affecting other people’s thoughts. Dulles – Max – turns out to be a particularly powerful mindbender with a checkered past. Dave, it turns out, has used Greg as a vessel – storing information subconsciously in Greg’s mind that Max and Greg must use in order to answer their questions. Initially seeking only to understand Dave’s killing and why it happened, Max and Greg discover they must combat a group of other mindbenders that threaten the whole world in their lust for money and power. They seek out others to help them, achieving a final count of four people – Max, Greg, Kate and Mark – against a vast, multinational conspiracy.<\/p>\n

I was enthralled by this story and absolutely devoured it. It is fast-paced, exciting and yet allows for good character development and back-story. The author – Ted Krever – cleverly uses run together words and phrases to create ideas, such as an instance in which Greg thinks he would need a degree in “Idontknowwhat” in order to understand a situation in which he has been placed. Mr. Krever also has a good grasp of character dynamics and the interactions between his characters is realistic and interesting.<\/p>\n

Overall I must say I was mightily impressed. I can recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a good thriller, suspense science\/science fiction story, which covers a lot of people. In fact, anyone who enjoys a good tale should give this one a try – I think you’ll be as impressed as I was!<\/p>\n

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An amazing read!<\/strong>,\u00a0June 22, 2011<\/div>\n
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By<\/div>\n
Bonnie Lamer, Author<\/a> –\u00a0See all my reviews<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
This review is from:\u00a0Mindbenders (Kindle Edition)<\/strong><\/div>\n

Review:<\/p>\n

Greg is a vet suffering from debilitating memory loss. The man who took it upon himself to help him through, possibly draw out the memories and his voice, is suddenly killed. Now, the only person left to trust is the man who tells Greg that he is a map of sorts. A map of the locations of the people who once served the government as mindbenders. A defunct program with a lot of loose ends.<\/p>\n

Greg and Max follow a path that leads them to a disturbing reality. Someone wants to kill hope, the most important of all human emotions; the one that keeps people going in their day to day lives. Rounding up a small team of people who share their desire to set things right, they piece together the clues and ready themselves for the final showdown.<\/p>\n

In Mindbenders, Ted Krever takes the reader on a fantastic journey of the mind. His characters unfold and expand, keeping the reader riveted, turning the page to see how they grow. His suggestions of what governments are willing to do to breed the best possible weapon are disturbing but yet – believable. The search for power, greed, and control is too much temptation, and when others who are like Max decide big business is more lucrative than helping governments succeed, the world is trouble.<\/p>\n

Ted Krever had me hooked from page one. Throughout the book, the reactions, the feelings of the characters, all seemed real. I felt their discomfort, their reluctance, and I felt their minds growing and blossoming into the people they needed to become. Mr. Krever’s writing style is clean and concise, and his ability to describe what is happening keeps you in the moment, able to understand how the characters felt or reacted – “Well, I’m not comfortable running away without a good reason,” Fine answered, speaking slowly, biting each word off as if they came a la carte.<\/p>\n

Mindbenders is an incredible read and I was recommending it to others before I even finished reading it. I loved the characters with their flaws and their quirks. I loved the action and the way the characters used their powers. The idea of people like this actually existing in our reality is disquieting, to say the least. Ted Krever’s world is a scary one, but one you shouldn’t miss reading about.<\/p>\n

This book deserves every bit of the five stars I give it.<\/p>\n

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Jan Buck<\/a>‘s review -Jul 07, 11<\/p>\n

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Mindbenders is one of the most pleasant surprises I’ve read in a long time. From the fast paced beginning to the last revelations, I couldn’t put it down. Simply put, the plot is fascinating, the characters well-drawn, the narrator fresh and intriguing.I won’t give you spoilers, because I think others have adequately sketched the plot. This is one story you’ll want to discover the details for yourself. Mindbenders has something for everyone – science fiction, paranormal fantasy, thriller. It doesn’t matter whether you believe these programs once existed. You’ll believe in these characters.<\/p>\n

I hope there is a sequel coming and that Mr. Krever won’t keep us waiting too long.<\/p>\n

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5.0 out of 5 stars\u00a0Awesome Read – You Won’t Be Able To Put Down<\/strong>,\u00a0July 13, 2011<\/div>\n
By\u00a0CristiAk<\/a>\u00a0(Juneau, Alaska, USA) –<\/div>\n
This review is from:\u00a0Mindbenders (Kindle Edition)<\/strong><\/div>\n

I got this from the author in a giveaway. I thought it sounded interesting but really it was not my first choice type of read. I was blown away by it! It is an awesome book. At times it was difficult for me to read. One of the characters was a vet suffering from PTSD. My son was in Iraq 10 years ago. Some of the scenes with the character of Greg brought back all the worry and fear. This is a fascinating book that is fiction based on fact. Ted Krever did an outstanding job! Read it even if it isn’t the genre you usually read.<\/p>\n

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Mind control out of control<\/strong>,\u00a0June 13, 2011<\/div>\n
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By\u00a0L. Mihay “Bikrgran”<\/a>\u00a0(Texas USA)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
What would it be like to read minds? Cool, huh? Maybe NOT. What if you could CONTROL people, through minds? How about harnessing the very molecules around you? Apparently, way back, various countries tried to develop this kind of control. Ted Krever has taken the idea and built Mindbenders around it. I have to say, this is one book that was hard to put down. What’s really scary is that this COULD have happened.<\/div>\n

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Frighteningly amazing<\/strong>,\u00a0July 18, 2011<\/div>\n
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By\u00a0Dianna R. Dennis “weatherford”<\/a>\u00a0(Ireland)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Amazon Verified Purchase<\/strong>(What’s this?<\/a>)<\/div>\n
This is the kind of book you wish only existed in fiction. But, it’s based on fact. Ted Krever did an outstanding job researching this tale of mind-control and creating real, honest characters that catch you and tear you apart. It’s not a book you can put down – the suspense holds you and won’t let you go.<\/div>\n

And, not only is this a great tale, it is BEAUTIFULLY written. Which in itself is pretty unusual in the genre.<\/p>\n

The other reviews say it all. I can’t recommend this book highly enough. Read it!!<\/p>\n

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January 16, 2013,\u00a05 Star Review: Book:\u00a0 Mindbenders Author:\u00a0 Ted Krever Genre:\u00a0 Paranormal (psychic ability), Thriller, Suspense Length:\u00a0 Approximately 275 Pages I have to say that I’ve always been fascinated by the thought of the Soviet Mind Control program that we …<\/span> Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":125,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-679","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tedkrever.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/679","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tedkrever.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tedkrever.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tedkrever.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tedkrever.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=679"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/tedkrever.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/679\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":734,"href":"https:\/\/tedkrever.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/679\/revisions\/734"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tedkrever.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/125"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tedkrever.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=679"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}