Blurb:

In a world where social media never sleeps, murder has a new audience—Roman Glass is about to face the deadliest broadcast of his life.

In a not-so-distant future where social media broadcasts people's lives 24 hours a day, Roman Glass is broadcast killing the number one media star. Now Roman must race against the clock to unravel a web of deceit. As he fights to prove his innocence, Social Media Investigator Rae Dettmer unearths a sinister pattern: a series of seemingly unrelated murders connected by the invisible threads of the digital realm.

The Murder Algorithm is an exciting blend of science fiction and mystery, where the line between private and public is as thin as the pixels on a screen. With each revelation, layers of intrigue are revealed, leaving readers questioning the price of fame, and the lengths the powerful will go to maintain control.

In the age of perpetual surveillance, the most dangerous game is the one played in plain sight.

Are you ready to challenge the boundaries of reality?

Join the adventure where every click, every post, and every like is a weapon. Get your copy today and follow Roman Glass in a race against time to unravel the truth.

Review:

The Murder Algorithm is a fast-paced science fiction blended with an intriguing murder mystery. Immediately I was drawn in by the way true reality is blended with the online reality created by the mega media conglomerate, StarSee. The surreal backdrop of a partially burning LA mixed with a reality-tv-like obsession kept me turning pages, eager to see if Roman Glass would be exonerated or eviscerated. 

Characters

Roman Glass is determined to prove his innocence, not only to the Social Media Division and the Homicide Division of the LAPD, but to his online watchers. Throughout the book, the importance of both takes the stage. After years of improving his image and gaining Admiration Points, his involvement in the murder of superstar Starla Devine has not only tainted his reputation, but put a target on his back. He will do anything to clear his name, even trick the police. 

Among  the police is peppered those who want to progress the station into the online world of StarSee and those who want to uphold the law as it is and keep the prying eyes of the public out. Peppered in are some corrupt individuals, and the one person who believes Roman is innocent is none other than Rae Dettmer, an investigator in the recently formed Social Media Division. But she has more fish to fry than just this murder. She’s convinced there is nefarious involvement in several murders by the StarSee founding family: The Blakewells. 

Which brings me to Maddox Blakewell. He’s a control-freak and a great villain in this story. He’s just psychotic and powerful enough to believe he can get away with anything, even bypassing his own algorithms. That is until Dettmer is on the case. 

Overall these characters worked so well together and against each other, that is character-driven mystery kept me turning pages. 

Atmosphere

While I was a bit surreal reading about LA in the current climate of early 2025, the hyper-reality show that has become society was intriguing. It begs the question: How far are people willing to go to have an online presence? When the new norm is driven by technology that keeps everyone connected and watching in real time, it’s both exhilarating and uncomfortable. Roman has to battle both to clear his name, and in the end, the technology ends up being pivotal. 

It’s not something I think I would be completely comfortable with, but does have a bit of a “Black Mirror” feel to it. 

Writing Style

Kincaid’s writing style flows well and easily. Even with the plethora of tech, it is easy to grasp and follow. The way it is written, it has both a current and far-future feel that will bring any reader of science-fiction immediately into his grasp. 

Plot

This is certainly a page-turner for anyone who loves a good murder mystery with a future-feel. Just enough suspense to keep the reader interested while not too obvious that it’s predictable. In fact, I had expected a slightly different outcome. Again, it also doesn’t read as a setting so far distant from our own, making it relatable, if not close to a potential future we may experience at the rate our own technology is developing.

Intrigue/Excitement

I was immediately drawn into the story and it kept me reading. The dynamic between Roman and his group of loyal friends was great to see, and the fact that Dettmer wasn’t just a corrupt agent made it all the more intriguing. I was expecting it to go a bit differently with how much stock is put into each person’s online presence and the obvious power of StarSee, but those things aren’t important to her. In fact, she actively works against StarSee and their monopoly tactics. Without her tenacity, the story would have been cut and dry and the outcome would have benefited the villain far more than the protagonist. 

The question you might be asking: Would I recommend this book? 

The answer is: ABSOLUTELY.