A chilling near-future thriller about control, resistance, and the price of perfection.
Iceland, 2052. For 25 years, society has been governed by Alfa, an all-seeing AI that uses vast data to make optimal decisions for everyone. Life under Alfa is smooth, efficient, and safe, at least on the surface.
Sabina and Mekkin are preparing for a milestone in their son Julius’s life: at sixteen, he will receive a microchip implant and be assigned his future by the system. But when Sabina’s brother, a known dissenter living off the grid, dies under suspicious circumstances, cracks appear in the seemingly flawless world they’ve trusted.
Was it truly an accident, or something far more deliberate? And who was really the intended target?
Nominated for the Icelandic Crime Award 2025
Selected the ‘Best Crime Novel of 2025’ by Morgunbladid Daily
“An intriguing and tightly woven crime and speculative story, well thought-out and gripping. The plot is demanding, with strong character development and a momentum that keeps the reader fully engaged.”
THE JURY OF THE ICELANDIC CRIME AWARD, WHEN NOMINATED
Multi-award-winning Icelandic author, playwright and screenwriter Lilja Sigurdardottir (b.1972) is one of the most popular writers of Icelandic thrillers. She has written both stage plays and screen plays in addition to her popular novels. All her books are a fast-paced More about the author