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The Furnace
by Timothy S. Johnston

Reviewed by Christopher DeFilippis

Touted as a locked-room mystery updated as horror Science Fiction, Timothy S. Johnston’s debut novel The Furnace has cover blurbs comparing it to The Thing and Invasion of the Body Snatchers. And while it doesn’t quite outshine those SF classics, it sits comfortably in their shadow, a flawed—but fun—homage.

In the distant year 2401, humanity has spread out across the solar system, governed by the suppressive, authoritarian Confederate Combined Forces. When murder is suspected on SOLEX One, a remote research facility orbiting the sun, the CCF Security Division dispatches Lieutenant Kyle Tanner, its best homicide detective to investigate.

But more murders occur in the wake of Tanner’s arrival, including an attempt on Tanner’s own life. In the investigation that proceeds, Kyle uncovers a shocking threat that could not only claim the rest of the station crew, but humanity itself.

On the surface, The Furnace has a lot going for it. Its remote setting and classic premise are primed to deliver intrigue and suspense, and it ideally should have been a quick, exciting read. But while Johnston’s writing is serviceable enough, the narrative suffers from one key flaw...

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