Eric Rickstad’s latest offering, “The Six,” marks a bold departure from his acclaimed Canaan Crime trilogy into uncharted psychological territory. This first installment of the Remote series plunges readers into a nightmarish world where the impossible becomes terrifyingly plausible, and the line between supernatural ability and scientific manipulation blurs beyond recognition.
Plot Overview: When the Unthinkable Becomes Reality
The narrative follows FBI Special Agent Lukas Stark, a seasoned investigator haunted by eighteen months of futile pursuit of the enigmatic Tableau Killer. This methodical predator has been systematically targeting families across the country, arranging their bound victims in precise, puzzling formations before executing them without leaving a trace of evidence. Stark’s investigation has yielded nothing but dead ends and mounting frustration until he’s reluctantly paired with Gilles Garnier, an eccentric loner claiming to possess remote viewing abilities.
Rickstad masterfully establishes the central tension through Stark’s skepticism toward his new partner. When Garnier accurately describes a fresh crime scene from hundreds of miles away, the foundation of Stark’s rational worldview begins to crumble. The author’s background in crafting psychological thrillers serves him well here, as he carefully layers doubt and possibility throughout the early chapters.
The story’s momentum accelerates when shocking revelations emerge about both Garnier and the killer, known only as “Q.” Their connection through the clandestine Stargazer program—a government initiative to weaponize children with remote viewing capabilities—transforms what initially appears to be a conventional serial killer narrative into something far more sinister and complex.
Character Development: Broken Heroes in a Fractured Reality
Stark emerges as Rickstad’s most compelling protagonist to date. The agent’s personal demons, including his troubled relationship with his imprisoned father and his desperate attempts to protect his family, create a multi-dimensional character struggling with both professional duty and personal vulnerability. Rickstad’s portrayal of Stark’s gradual acceptance of the impossible demonstrates his evolved understanding of character psychology since his earlier works like “The Silent Girls.”
Garnier represents a fascinating study in manufactured humanity. His identity crisis—knowing himself only through the false construct of the Stargazer program—creates genuine pathos. The character’s deteriorating health and desperate need for his remote viewing abilities read like addiction, adding layers of complexity to what could have been a simple paranormal gift narrative.
The antagonist Q transcends typical serial killer archetypes through his tragic origin story. Rather than pure evil, Q represents the horrific consequences of governmental overreach and child exploitation. His quest to understand his true identity through increasingly violent means creates a compelling, if disturbing, character arc.
Thematic Exploration: Government Conspiracy Meets Psychological Horror
Rickstad’s exploration of government programs that exploit children for intelligence purposes feels particularly relevant in our current political climate. The Stargazer program serves as a chilling metaphor for institutional abuse of power, echoing real-world concerns about surveillance, experimentation, and the militarization of human potential.
The theme of identity destruction resonates throughout the narrative. Characters grapple with manufactured identities, false memories, and the fundamental question of what makes someone human when their entire existence has been constructed by others. This philosophical depth elevates “The Six” by Eric Rickstad beyond mere thriller entertainment into thoughtful commentary on agency, identity, and the ethics of human experimentation.
Writing Style and Pacing: Rickstad’s Evolving Voice
Rickstad’s prose has evolved considerably since his Vermont-based crime novels. The writing in “The Six” demonstrates increased confidence in handling complex narrative structures and multiple timeline revelations. His ability to maintain suspense while gradually unveiling the truth about the Stargazer program showcases mature storytelling technique.
The pacing occasionally suffers during exposition-heavy sections explaining the remote viewing program’s background. However, these slower moments serve necessary purposes in establishing the story’s fantastical elements within a believable framework. Rickstad’s experience with police procedural elements from his earlier works grounds the more outlandish aspects of the plot.
The author’s descriptive passages, particularly during the crime scene investigations, maintain the atmospheric tension that marked his previous successes while incorporating new elements of psychological dread. His portrayal of remote viewing sessions creates genuinely unsettling moments that linger with readers.
Strengths and Notable Achievements
1. Bold Genre Expansion
Rickstad successfully transitions from regional crime fiction to paranormal thriller without losing his distinctive voice. The integration of supernatural elements with police procedural investigation creates a unique reading experience.
2. Complex Moral Ambiguity
The story avoids simple good-versus-evil dynamics. Q’s actions are horrific, yet his motivations stem from genuine trauma and manipulation. This moral complexity mirrors the best work in contemporary psychological thrillers.
3. Realistic Character Reactions
Stark’s skepticism toward Garnier’s abilities feels authentic, avoiding the common thriller trap of characters accepting impossible explanations too readily. The gradual erosion of disbelief creates believable character development.
4. Governmental Conspiracy Elements
The Stargazer program feels frighteningly plausible, drawing from historical examples of governmental overreach while extrapolating into speculative territory.
Areas for Improvement
1. Information Overload
Certain sections become overwhelmed with exposition about the remote viewing program’s history and methodology. While necessary for plot comprehension, these segments occasionally disrupt narrative flow.
2. Supporting Character Development
Secondary characters, particularly Sarah and Francis (Stark’s family), feel somewhat underdeveloped despite their importance to the protagonist’s emotional journey.
3. Technical Explanations
Rickstad’s attempts to provide scientific explanations for remote viewing abilities sometimes feel forced, potentially alienating readers who prefer either complete scientific grounding or full supernatural acceptance.
Comparison to Similar Works and Author’s Previous Books
“The Six” represents a significant evolution from Eric Rickstad’s Canaan Crime series, trading the rural Vermont atmosphere for a more expansive, paranormal-tinged thriller landscape. While maintaining the psychological complexity that marked “I Am Not Who You Think I Am” and “Lilith,” this new work ventures into territory similar to Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child’s Pendergast novels or James Rollins’ Sigma Force series.
The book’s exploration of government conspiracy and human experimentation echoes classic works like “The Manchurian Candidate” while incorporating contemporary concerns about surveillance and genetic manipulation. Rickstad’s treatment of these themes feels both timely and timeless.
Compared to his previous standalone novels, “The Six” by Eric Rickstad demonstrates increased ambition in scope and concept. The international implications of the Stargazer program and its multiple victims create a larger canvas than the intimate, community-focused crimes of his earlier works.
Final Assessment: A Successful Risk That Pays Dividends
“The Six” by Eric Rickstad succeeds as both an engaging thriller and a thought-provoking exploration of identity, power, and human potential. While not without its flaws, Rickstad’s willingness to push beyond his established comfort zone results in his most ambitious and memorable work to date.
The novel’s combination of police procedural investigation, psychological horror, and speculative elements creates a unique reading experience that should satisfy both longtime Rickstad fans and newcomers seeking intelligent paranormal thrillers. The setup for future Remote series installments promises continued exploration of this fascinating universe.
Despite occasional pacing issues and exposition-heavy sections, “The Six” by Eric Rickstad delivers genuine suspense, compelling characters, and thought-provoking themes that elevate it above typical genre offerings. Rickstad has successfully reinvented himself as a thriller writer while maintaining the psychological insight that made his earlier works compelling.
Similar Books Worth Reading
For readers who enjoyed “The Six” by Eric Rickstad, consider these comparable titles:
- “Blindsight” by Peter Watts – Explores consciousness and perception through a science fiction lens
- “The Relic” by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child – Combines FBI investigation with supernatural elements
- “Dark Matter” by Blake Crouch – Psychological thriller with speculative science elements
- “Mina’s Matchbox” by Yoko Ogawa – Examines identity and memory manipulation
- “The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle” by Stuart Turton – Innovative thriller with reality-bending elements
- “Recursion” by Blake Crouch – Another mind-bending thriller exploring memory and reality
“The Six” stands as a testament to Eric Rickstad’s continued evolution as a writer and his willingness to challenge both himself and his readers. While it may not achieve perfection, it succeeds brilliantly as an entertaining, thought-provoking thriller that promises exciting developments in the Remote series continuation.