The story begins quickly. Boston, a pretty average 14-year-old boy, is roused from bed at 6:30 a.m. by an FBI special unit. Illegal possession of weapons, robbery of a money transporter, planned rampage at his school, the list of allegations is as long as it is serious. In the course of the investigation, the suspicion that he had murdered an older classmate and smashed his skull in with a stone in cold blood was added later.
Right from the start, the young adult author Frank M. Reifenberg built irritation into his story, which he set in the American provinces. Something is wrong here.
The evidence seems clear. There is a video that shows the youth during the robbery, the amok threats can also be found on his laptop. And at the scene of the robbery, a scarf is found – with his DNA. Everything clearly – and yet also not. Because the boy, who is likeable in itself, who came to his new parents as a foundling, has an alibi. At the time of the robbery, he was around 150 miles away at a summer camp with 200 young people, where he was recognized as the best boy scout by the local sheriff.
Right from the start, the young adult author Frank M. Reifenberg built irritation into his story, which he set in the American provinces. Something is wrong here. The investigating FBI agent Rosalind Casey also seems to feel it. And so is “Identity X – Who is Boston Coleman?” not only designed as a pure crime story, it is also a search for clues to the identity of the boy. Because Boston has a double. This Asher appears out of nowhere with three young friends and tells him strange things regarding an epidemic that will threaten the world in the future. And wants to force him to become the protagonist of a mission to save the world, including time travel into the future. The strange twin also gives him hints regarding his past and his roots., because all investigations so far have turned up nothing. So who is this 14-year-old boy who seems so normal?
Reifenberg develops his plot in a parallel narrative, on the one hand he describes the investigative work from the point of view of the FBI agent, who over time has more and more doubts regarding the evidence. At the same time, Boston Coleman himself has his say. In a secret hideout in the mountains to which he fled, he discusses tapes with his version of the story. Both narrative strands should advance the story with the help of constant changes of perspective and keep it exciting. Linguistically, this succeeds very well, the dialogues are lively. But above all the time travel science fiction elements, which fit into the rather realistically told thriller story, are confusing. And the answers to the questions regarding identity that the title poses, and which ultimately the twin brother Asher in Boston Coleman might also trigger, remain rather vague or completely unanswered. The reader does not really learn who Boston Coleman is. So “Identity X” isn’t a psychological book regarding the inner life of a teenager, the author focuses more on pacing and action. This also works well over long distances. (from 13)
Frank M. Reifenberg: Identity X – Who is Boston Coleman? dtv 2022, 251 pages, 12.95 euros.
