There is a secret society of 200 who try and change society, but only in very small ways. When Ren.was sent to met a client in Las Vegas, she didn't expect to be introduced to a secret society. A mysterious man named Phil approaches her and offers the chance to be part of a 200 person group that has existed for more 40,000 years. As one member dies, their memories are uploaded into a new recruit.
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Ren is uploaded with the memories of Celeste, who recently died. She was also the lover of Phil, which brings all sorts of complications.
The upload doesn't work correctly and the problem brings into play a number of disputes among members. Phil is one of the majority of members who believe in sticking with the group's mission of changing society slowly. But Celeste was one of a smaller group of members who believe they should take stronger action. And she planned her death and later uploading in a way that would force change in the group.
Phil and Ren realize what Celeste had planned, which includes sabotaging the central mental database the group uses to communicate and store memories. The memory of Celeste infects another member, who tries to kill Ren.
In the end, the group is able to slow down Celeste's plan and protect themselves. But she's still a threat and now the group is afraid her essence will figure out a way to expose them.
Ren comes up with an idea they hope will work. She realizes that if the group was going to be exposed, then they should be the ones to do it. She and Phil begin planning to reveal the group to the rest of the world slowly, at a pace they hope won't be dangerous to either side.
Best part of story, including ending:
Unlike most secret society plots, the idea of a group that manipulates society in a slow, incremental way is a different approach. It makes for a much more subtle premise, which I appreciate.
Best scene in story:
One of the better scenes in the book oddly enough involves Phil playing poker. That's how he spends his spare time and the scene in which explains probablity and how a bad hand can make you money in the long run made me want to go to a casino and try it out.
Opinion about the main character:
Phil is calm and collected in any situation. That is supposed to be a consequence of his long life and that makes sense. But the problem is that calm is also close to boring. And more times than not in the book, Phil is kind of boring.
