With Tom out of the picture, Grandy weaves a surprising thriller that lives up to its title, with a complex cast of perspective characters, each thoroughly developed and compelling. The storytelling is brisk but attentive to contemporary cultural divides—Miriam’s father, James, considers Canadians too casual and muses there’s “no room in his world for a namby-pamby liberal like Tom.” While the prose tends toward the flatly declarative, the cleverly plotted mystery will keep fans of corporate and personal skullduggery hooked until the dramatic, action-packed finale. Grandy blends traditional mystery elements—Liu peruses a wall of suspects and considers each’s motives—with 21st century tricks. Grandy also convincingly brings life to Toronto’s tech scene and, more crucially, how the minds of its leaders work, clearly reflecting the author's own experience in the industry.
The story also delves into themes of COVID-19 and American politics, which might resonate deeply with some readers while feeling divisive to others, depending on personal perspectives. Overall, it's a thrilling and well-crafted read that will captivate fans of tech-driven mysteries.
Takeaway: Smart mystery of a tech CEO, tangled schemes, and many suspects.
Comparable Titles: Christopher Reich’s The First Billion, Chandler Baker’s Whisper Network.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
