by Kirsty King
First published 2026
Dr. Elena Rodriguez knows language. As a forensic linguist specializing in deception detection, she's developed an algorithm that can pinpoint linguistic markers of lies with unprecedented accuracy. When her prototype is stolen by a shadowy tech consortium, she realizes her research could become a weapon that destroys privacy forever. Now Rodriguez must track down her algorithm before it can be weaponized, navigating a dangerous world of corporate espionage where every conversation is a potential trap. Her only allies are a rogue cybersecurity expert and her own razor-sharp linguistic intuition. The truth will cost everything.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: high-stakes, race-against-time
Setting: Municipal Library, Neighborhood
Period: Decades Earlier
224 pages · Kindle Edition · Penguin