How far will power go to hide the truth?
In a world teetering on the edge of collapse, where nuclear devastation and environmental ruin have ravaged the planet, the wealthy retreat into Verisim-a virtual haven designed to shield them from the crumbling wasteland outside. Safely cocooned in fully encapsulated pods, they live as avatars in a shimmering, sanitized simulation. Outside, the real world deteriorates, and the poor, trapped in a brutal reality, labor just to survive. They toil in digital arcades, scraping together enough credits to escape into Verisim's illusions, but true freedom remains forever out of reach.
Dylan McKnight, a disillusioned homicide detective, straddles both worlds. As one of Verisim's citizens, he enjoys privileges in the virtual utopia, yet he's haunted by the system's commercialization and the growing disparity between the wealthy and the struggling tourists. Despised by both the elite and the desperate, Dylan enforces laws in a world where real justice no longer exists.
When a high-profile murder exposes cracks in Verisim's pristine facade, Dylan finds himself targeted by a shadowy killer, pulling him into a conspiracy that reaches beyond the virtual walls. The truth he uncovers threatens to unravel not only Verisim's carefully controlled system but also the dying world outside.
As the body count rises, Dylan races against time to expose the hidden layers of control and deception that govern both realities. But the closer he gets to the truth, the more he risks becoming a pawn in a game far larger-and far deadlier-than he ever imagined.
Caught between the decaying world outside and the digital dream that offers a false sense of hope, Dylan must decide whether to confront the lies at the heart of Verisim or fall victim to them like so many before him.
"Thrilling exploration of the intersection between digital escapism and reality."
- Publishers Weekly
"Mark Campbell is a fantastic storyteller. The world and character building throughout the book is incredibly well done, with so many twists that keep you turning the pages."
- The Twilight Bookworm, Goodreads
"A compellingly dark blend of noir, cyberpunk, and dystopian fiction."
- Kirkus Review
