Extremity is a sharp, intelligent, and relentlessly entertaining novella that successfully merges the detective thriller with mind-bending science fiction. Nicholas Binge demonstrates a remarkable ability to craft a complex, high-stakes narrative that is both thought-provoking and immensely readable.

Book Review: Extremity by Nicholas Binge, A Time-Bending Police Procedural

In Extremity, Nicholas Binge, the acclaimed author of Ascension and Dissolution, ventures into the realm of time-travelling noir, delivering a compact, high-concept thriller that reads like “True Detective if written by Philip K. Dick”. This 176-page novella, released in September 2025, combines a gritty police procedural with mind-bending science fiction, creating a fast-paced narrative that has garnered significant attention from early readers. Told through a multi-perspective narrative, the story explores themes of guilt, consequence, and the terrifying implications of tampering with time.

The novel hooks the reader from the outset with an irresistible premise. Julia Torgrimsen, a once renowned detective now in forced retirement after a career destroying mistake, is reluctantly pulled back into the macabre world of London’s rich elite . She is tasked with investigating the murder of billionaire Bruno Donaldson, a man she once knew from her undercover work. The case immediately defies logic when Julia discovers not one, but two identical bodies of the victim, both Bruno Donaldson, down to the fingerprints, and both shot.

This initial mystery spirals into a much larger and more dangerous conspiracy. Julia, along with DCI John Grossman and the hapless but well-meaning DC Mark Cochrane, finds herself hunting a mysterious assassin who is systematically targeting the ultra-wealthy. The investigation uncovers increasingly impossible evidence, documents predicting future stock market crashes, photographs of dead clones, and the workings of a clandestine time-traveling operation. The stakes are raised from solving a murder to preventing an insidious chain of events that could lead to the extinction of the human race.

One of the most distinctive features of Extremity is its narrative approach. The story is presented as a series of statements or debriefs, switching between the first-person perspectives of the three main characters: Julia, Mark, and John. This technique provides a multifaceted view of the investigation, allowing readers to experience events through the jaded expertise of Julia, the cynical authority of John, and the novice terror and occasional comic relief of Mark.

The characters themselves are a highlight of the story. Julia Torgrimsen serves as a compelling protagonist; she is brilliant, exceptionally sharp, but also deeply flawed and haunted by the difficult choices she has made in her past. The dynamic between the three central characters provides a strong and engaging emotional core that drives the narrative forward. The classic “grizzled veteran and rookie” trope is executed with great skill, their interactions offering not only palpable tension but also well-timed moments of humour that lighten the mood amidst the mounting chaos.

For those who prioritise plot momentum and inventive ideas, Extremity is a near-perfect read. Binge wastes no time, plunging the reader directly into the mystery and escalating the stakes with masterful control. The central conceit of the duplicated body is a brilliant hook that seamlessly unfolds into a much larger, more terrifying conspiracy. The integration of time-travel mechanics into a gritty police procedural feels fresh and is executed with a logical consistency that is often lacking in stories dealing with temporal paradoxes.

Ultimately, Extremity is a highly successful and ambitious work. It demonstrates that a story does not need to be immense in length to have a tremendous impact. The multi-perspective narrative, while occasionally jarring, is a bold and effective technique.

Extremity is a sharp, intelligent, and potent shot of sci-fi thriller excellence. It proves that Nicholas Binge is an inventive author with a firm grasp on how to blend the cerebral with the visceral. While one might finish the book wishing for a slightly longer stay in its intriguing world, that very feeling is a powerful indicator of its success. It is a highly recommended read and leaves ample room for, and keen anticipation of, a potential sequel.

Extremity by Nicholas Binge

What would you undo if you could change the past?

Extremity is a nail-biting, time-travelling police procedural from bestselling author Nicholas Binge. For fans of True Detective and Philip K. Dick.

‘Grand, unputdownable, exhilarating . . . easily in the running for the best novella of the year’ – The Fantasy Hive

Infamous police detective Julia Torgrimsen is brought out of forced retirement to investigate the murder of Bruno Donaldson, a billionaire she worked with while undercover. But she doesn’t expect to find two bodies. Both are Bruno, identical down to the fingerprints – and both have been shot.

She soon finds herself on the hunt for a mysterious assassin who has been taking out London’s rich elite one by one. But when she finally catches up with her quarry, she unveils a world of deadly secrets: impossible documents about future stock market crashes; mysterious doppelgangers; and a conspiracy that threatens the entire human race.

To have any chance solving this mystery, Julia will have to revisit her undercover past and the brutal act that destroyed her once-legendary career . . .

‘I was so tense I could feel every muscle locking up in my body. This was what if Christopher Nolan directed an episode of X-files or Fringe and I sincerely want more’ – FanFiAddict

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Readers are gripped by Extremity:

‘A wild race against time, clever and impossible to put down’ – 5* NetGalley Review, August 2025

‘A perfect balance of action, mystery and jeopardy’ – 5* NetGalley Review, August 2025

‘A great read, lots and lots of action’ – 5* NetGalley Review, August 2025

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