First published 2012
Kira Miller has cracked the code for temporary superhuman intelligence. The brilliant genetic engineer developed a method to unlock savant abilities across all forms of thinking and creativity. But enhanced cognition comes with a dark side: ruthless megalomania that transforms users into dangerous megalomaniacs. David Desh thought his special forces days were over after his team died brutally in Iran. Now he's pulled back into action for one final assignment: track down Kira Miller before her discovery triggers a bioterror catastrophe threatening millions of lives. Desh quickly realizes the bioterror threat is merely the surface of something far more complex. He finds himself trapped in layers of deception and manipulation, forced to play a deadly game where the rules keep shifting. The stakes extend beyond immediate casualties to the fundamental trajectory of human evolution. As Desh navigates this web of intrigue, he must determine whether Kira's breakthrough represents humanity's next step forward or its final mistake.
Genres: science-fiction, adventure, action, artificial-intelligence
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: deception, enemies-to-lovers, manipulation, unreliable-narrator
358 pages · Kindle Edition · Paragon Press
Content warnings: violence