I was hooked from the first line of this book, and listened as fast as my brain could process the sound.

About the Book

SALVATION HAS A PRICE.

An enthralling murder mystery with a vividly realised future world, forcing readers to grapple hard hitting questions about the climate crisis, our relationship with Artificial Intelligence and the price we would be willing to pay, as a species, to be saved. Perfect for fans of Blake Crouch, Neal Stephenson, Philip K Dick, Kim Stanley Robinson and RR Haywood.

It’s 2050, a decade after a heatwave that killed four hundred million across the Persian Gulf, including journalist Marcus Tully’s wife. Now he must uncover the truth: was the disaster natural? Or is the weather now a weapon of genocide?

A whistleblower pulls Tully into a murder investigation at the centre of an election battle for a global dictator, with a mandate to prevent a climate apocalypse. A former US President campaigns against the first AI politician of the position, but someone is trying to sway the outcome.

Tully must convince the world to face the truth and make hard choices about the future of the species. But will humanity ultimately choose salvation over freedom, whatever the cost?

My Thoughts

This fast-paced, techno-thriller/murder mystery/climate apocalypse story hit the ground running and didn’t pause for a second. I’d heard great things about it, and this was a story that did not disappoint. The main character, Tully, is a journalist, and as a former journo, this can be tough. Like a hacker watching them do techno-magic, it can be hard watching them do ridiculous things with your profession sometimes, but he had just enough idealism mixed with hard-boiled realism to be a believable guy. With nothing left to lose but his reputation – which is all you have when your reputation is everything – he risked it all to tell the truth.

But what is the truth when everything can be manipulated by the information age? When we all put our information on the Internet, are you sure who you’re talking to at any given minute? The social commentary in this one is terrifying! Attacking everything from climate change to social media, you will be unsettled by this story. If you don’t leave changed by it and if you aren’t thinking about it days after you finish reading it, you’d better read it again. There are parts that are very hard to read and digest, but it is an amazing read, definitely one of my top reads this year and it is an important read. One that I think we all need to read!

The characters are so interesting and unique. The author manages to both introduce them and flesh them out, and make us feel like we’ve always known them and we’ve been dropped into a familiar scene all at the same time. Very quickly, I felt like I’d been dropped into a show with familiar characters, like an old comfort show. It’s definitely a world I would love to explore more, whether with these exact characters or different ones. I’d like to see what happens to these characters, but the ending left us with a wealth of possibilities.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book, and I can’t imagine just reading it on the page. I’m sure it was beautiful, but the audiobook version elevated it to the next level. The narrator, Mr. Steven Pacey was the perfect choice. I had to scour his list of other books because I swore I’d just recently listened to another book narrated by him, but I couldn’t find any. I guess the great ones just all sound similar enough in their performances that they overlap a little.

I am so grateful to the author and Love Books Tours for including me in this tour, and I can’t wait to see what flows from this author’s pen next!

Who’s It For?

I think this book is something everyone would benefit from reading. But practically, if you love murder mysteries, especially those with a sci-fi or futuristic feel, you’ll love this book. It also has a bit of a gumshoe, noir, cyberpunk feel to it. There is a strong, vibrant, and violent social commentary that does not pull punches, so be wary of that.

Content Warnings: War, Death, Violence, Spousal Death, Artificial Intelligence, Religious Extremism/Ideals, Climate Apocalypse, Disturbing Imagery, Alcohol Abuse, Drug Abuse, Child Death

About the Author

Thomas R. Weaver writes stories about tomorrow to help make sense of today. His debut novel, Artificial Wisdom, launched in the UK in October 2023, and on April 5, 2024, in the United States.

Aside from writing, he is a tech entrepreneur. His last startup was acquired by Just Eat Takeaway; his new one is still in stealth but backed by a major Silicon Valley tech accelerator.

Amazon US: https://a.co/d/ioqLqMt
Amazon UK: https://amzn.eu/d/jjHxRvC
Bookshop UK: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/artificial-wisdom-the-unputdownable-climate-and-ai-technothriller-for-fans-of-murder-mystery-and-fast-paced-twists-and-turns-thomas-r-weaver/7537847?ean=9781739434304
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/197491143-artificial-wisdom
Author Website: https://thomasrweaver.com/about-thomas-r-weaver/