Part of Cryptos, book 1
First published 2020
Jana crafts digital realities from her workstation. Her favorite creation is Kerrybrook, a quiet fishing village where sheep graze near cottages and cool ocean breezes blow through cozy pubs. When the heat becomes unbearable at her workplace, Jana makes it rain in her virtual sanctuary. As a world designer, she builds alternative realities that feel as real as life itself. Fantasy kingdoms, prehistoric continents, and destroyed cities flow from her imagination into immersive experiences. But something goes wrong in Kerrybrook. A shocking crime shatters the tranquility of her most peaceful world. The violence forces Jana to act, pulling her deeper into a situation she never anticipated. Her escape from reality becomes a trap she must navigate.
Genres: science-fiction, dystopia, mystery, thriller, psychological-thriller
Vibes: dark, immersive, suspenseful, thought-provoking, unsettling
Tropes: mystery-unraveling, trapped-in-system, unreliable-reality
Setting: Kerrybrook
Paperback
Content warnings: murder, violence