Review: A Mirror Above the Abyss by Oleg Lurye

A brilliant blend of fuzzy historical fact and conspiratorial fiction, A Mirror Above the Abyss by Oleg Lurye is a dark and thrilling dive into the shadows of the past that is nearly impossible to put down. Set in the nearly present day, under the wild rule of the Trump administration, this political, journalistic, and historical thriller doesn’t hold back in its raw intensity.

When an ambitious Washington Post journalist with a notorious nose for a story is offered the biggest scoop in a generation, it is hard for Max Malin not to start seeking a place for his Pulitzer. However, being in possession of proof surrounding some of modern history’s most controversial conspiracies puts a lethal target on his back.

As he gathers the evidence to unravel a decades-spanning string of mysteries, this intrepid reporter discovers that one man may lie at the heart of this violent and hydra-like cabal. From Rome and Paris to Monaco, New York, and Moscow, this sinister controller is the deadly key to the biggest story of Max’s career – if he can stay alive long enough to write it.

Leaping back and forth from past to present, this tale not only connects the dots of a massive criminal conspiracy that rules our world, but also constructs logical and plausible frameworks that upend our common view of history. What if the JFK assassination was an elaborate and perfectly executed hit, not by the deranged Oswald, but by a naive, president-hating sharpshooter with a baby pram from the grassy knoll? What if the September 11th attacks were orchestrated like a deadly symphony by a psychopath on the ground in NYC, directing the “birdies” to destroy the “nests” without mercy or hesitation? These are questions that have been asked for generations, but watching these theories unpacked in such rich and fully-developed fiction is a thrill for anyone who distrusts the government’s version of events.

The regular footnotes and in-depth exposition regarding certain historical events and time periods make the line between fact and fiction even harder to discern, but that is a significant part of this book’s appeal. Many readers will seek out this book because of their own doubts regarding the 9/11 attacks, the Pope’s assassination attempt, or JFK’s murder, and Lurye does a masterful job of stoking those suspicions. Maintaining a journalistic style of narration that subtly reflects the protagonist’s profession, readers will readily forget that this is a work of fiction borne from nebulous and contentious “fact.”

On a technical level, there could be some improvement in the execution of the prose, as there are numerous examples of sloppy editing, including redundant words in the same sentence, awkward syntax, and inconsistent colloquial or non-native speech patterns. A final superficial edit could alter many of these stumbling blocks, without the need for any serious reworking of the text.

Despite these issues, this stunning and wildly creative thriller will leave you looking over your shoulder, and taking a hard look at what suspect realities you’ve chosen to believe. Given the current climate of mistrust towards government, as well as the insidious reach of powerful actors and shadowy organizations, this is a timely read with a sprawling potential audience.