Also by Chris Dolley: Resonance

With Shift, Dolley continues the SF tradition of scientist as hero. Stubbs is a bit of a bumbler, lacking in social grace, more interested in science than people, and easily distracted by new ideas. But he's also got just the knowledge that's needed to put everything together. He does get help but it is almost always accidental help, the kind that would be meaningless except that Stubbs happens to be there to use it.

The benefit to this kind of story is that the plot is dependent upon the character and since the writer controls the character there is, essentially, no plot that can't be done. The downside is that the whole thing ends up being pretty unrealistic and this can have the effect of sucking you out of the book time and again, breaking that bond between writer and reader that begins with a reasonable suspension of belief.

I did enjoy the book, reading it in three sittings, it was fast paced, well plotted and self contained. I think Dolley's first book was stronger than this one but the two taken together indicate that there's some talent here worth watching.