All Hope of Becoming Human

By: Lonnie Busch

Narrated by: Patricia Shade

The world is about to change in unimaginable ways…

Earthquakes rock the planet, revealing massive metallic objects and vast subterranean graveyards. One such location is in the Arizona desert. Scientists believe this incredible discovery may hold answers to the origins of man, but when the site is suddenly shut down due to seismic activity, one researcher knows she must return. Assistant archaeologist Rebecca Duccati sneaks into the compound alone, and will have to dig deep to find clues in these strange underground caves and tunnels. The work is dangerous and frightening, but she feels a connection to this bizarre phenomenon that even she isn’t fully aware of yet.

FBI Special Agent Demzey knows nothing about archaeology; his specialty— anomalous crimes, the fringe edge of the aberrant and the unknown. Demzey is investigating a recent rash of vicious and brutal murders, the clues surrounding the killings both disturbing and inexplicable. He and his assistant Connie Wegman catch a break when they discover remains of two monstrous creatures unknown to science, believed to be a race of aliens responsible for attacks on humans across the globe.

With the death toll ticking ever higher, scientists and intelligence agencies on every continent search for the source of these vicious creatures, until the combined efforts of Duccati and Demzey begin to unravel the mystery, though what they uncover could spell the end for the human race.

For fans of Douglas E. Richards and Jeremy Robinson.

©2023 Lonnie Busch (P)2024 Lonnie Busch

Critic reviews

“This absorbing, realistic near-future tale brims with unrelenting mystery and tension.” —Kirkus Reviews

Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction page-turner!

Across the world strange phenomena is happening. Bodies are being found with their heads severed clear off or split wide open with surgical precision. Large cavities in the Earth seem to be opening, revealing large metallic objects buried within them. In particular, one such location in Arizona near the four corners, is subject to a classified archeological study, under the close watchful eye of the United States military.

Concurrently, Special Agent Demzey is investigating these odd occurrences and the beings seemingly behind them. As part of a special government branch that explores the abnormal and mysterious. Agent Demzey is no stranger to the paranormal, but even he is having trouble rationalizing what may be behind this.

As the archeological dig site near the four corners is shut down due to tremors and safety concerns, assistant archologist, Rebecca Duccati seems oddly drawn back to it. The hundreds of bones uncovered within, both humanoid and something else, as well as the unidentified metal object (UMO) leave her feeling a strange sort of attraction. Risking it all, Dr. Duccati and Agent Demzey are determined to find answers.

We’ve all seen the movies and TV shows depicting aliens, other life forms, and extraterrestrial beings, but we’ve never seen anything like this. From the United States to Japan, India, and beyond, the world is experiencing the unexplainable. Chasms are opening up, superhuman beings are inflicting violence, and the media is feeding the public more lines regarding acts of terrorism.

Author Lonnie Busch delivers a post-apocalyptic, science fiction page-turner like you’ve never seen before. Absolutely captivating, readers will find themselves simultaneously repulsed and fascinated, drawn in and ready to run for cover.

Pseudo pandemic, pseudo George Floyd...

I read books to detach from reality. This book has a really cool premise but the rest is close to home but not quite. Like they are always worried about PPE gear and there is a reference in it basically George Floyd but with names changed. This really takes me out of the story. Like I am so tired on getting every author's take on how they viewed these times. I am not going to give this a bad score simply because of that, the performance is top notch, but I am having a hard time getting through this one I keep rolling my eyes.

Another note is that some of this content feels almost written by AI. It doesn't affect the story as much as the flow. How many times can you describe different things jouncing ya know?

Terrifying! A must hear!

Rebecca Duccati, an assistant archaeologist, finds herself working at a site in Arizona. The site is filled with skeletons, underground caves and tunnels, and a massive metal object that was revealed during a massive earthquake. However, when it becomes clear that this is not the only site to reveal these specific items or experience deadly attacks by vicious creatures, the military moves in and shuts everything down. What Duccati and her fellow scientists discover is terrifying!

The author, Lonnie Busch, weaves a masterful thriller filled with action, rich characters, and plot twists that will leave you on the edge of your chair! Busch takes his time building the storyline, however, given his vivid and detailed descriptions it does not take long before he shifts into high gear and the action becomes non-stop. The character development of the main characters is smooth and well done. The sense of singular focus of some characters that were affected especially behaviorally was masterfully captured. The plot twists, from the first until the end are amazingly shocking and unexpected. The dialogue was also well done and fluid. Busch avoided overwhelming his listeners with technical terminology, making the book more straightforward and concise.

The narrator, Patricia Shade spoke clearly. Although she didn’t employ distinct voices for each character, she adjusted her delivery style to match the character’s persona. She paced the dialogue’s delivery authentically so that it was easy to keep track of who was speaking. Her speaking was charged with energy to match the storyline action as well. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing Patricia Shade’s performance.

Overall, this is a truly terrifying book in so many ways! This book has stayed with me for a bit as it is on a small degree reminiscent of the movies “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and “Men in Black.” A must-listen!

There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook.

The world on the brink of cataclysmic change

The world teeters on the brink of cataclysmic change in "All Hope of Becoming Human" by Lonnie Busch. Amidst a series of seismic upheavals that rock the planet, ancient, huge and mysterious metal objects buried deep beneath the Earth's surface are revealed. Beside them, thousands of skeletons, mostly human, all seemingly having died under strange circumstances. With a global pandemic reminiscent of COVID-19 going on, is humankind doomed?

An outbreak of horrific murders is being kept under wraps by the governments around the world. Weird creatures with razor-sharp blade-like appendages attack unpredictably, but how could something so far in the past have anything to do with what is happening?

Primarily we follow two people, FBI Special Agent Demzey who specialises in anomalous crimes. Like Mulder from the X-Files but with the crazy toned down. He's been tasked with finding out what the hell is going on and has a personal stake in the case.

The other is Rebecca Duccati, an assistant archaeologist who is working the dig in Arizona and trying to work out the ancient mystery. Her interest turns to obsession, and she will do anything to discover what it all means.

While I found it a little slow in the beginning, once things started to fall into place and the two paths of Demzey and Duccati began drawing closer together, I found it hard to stop listening. Indeed, often going later into the night than I should have at times.

Busch does an interesting job at winding in modern problems like issues with racism, violence and greed into a kind of parable, holding a mirror up to society and getting it to take a good long hard look at itself. Mixing this with an interesting take on the origins of the modern human made for an interesting undertone for the whole book.

The narration by Patricia Shade didn't resonate with me as much as I would have hoped. It wasn't difficult or hard to listen to, mostly I thought it was a little bit mechanical, lacking the warmth and nuance to give the story that extra push it needed.

Overall, this was an enjoyable story. Part science fiction, part thriller, part horror; all of it working together to take a look deeper under the surface to what makes us tick.

Gripping!

A gripping and engrossing story that draws you in from the get-go. The visceral imagery created by Lonnie Busch, conveyed beautifully by Patricia Shade's narration is a treat! With well-rounded characters, one can't help but get drawn into their lives and their fates. Revolving around a post pandemic world we are now all too familiar with, throw in alien encounters, and people desperate to retain their humanity, all combines for an immersive, moving tale. A thrilling, science fiction mystery you can sink you teeth into.