Overview

Verisim was sold as a sanctuary. A chance to outlast the end of the world. But it was only ever a distraction. After nuclear war, environmental collapse, and negative birthrates pushed humanity to the brink, the world turned to artificial generative intelligences to manage the chaos. One of them, Central, was tasked with governing what remained of the United States. The wealthy escaped into Verisim, a sprawling simulation under Central's control. Inside, they live as avatars in a city without hunger, pain, or time. Outside, the world decays. The poor take menial, dangerous jobs to earn credits as tourists. They are granted brief sessions inside Verisim's illusion, hoping one day to afford full immersion and claim citizenship. But most never make it out of the queue. Detective Dylan McKnight was once a believer. Now he drifts between worlds, numb, detached, haunted by a voice he thought he lost. Then a man dies under impossible circumstances. Something begins moving through the system, a killer who wears avatars like masks and ignores every rule the simulation was built to enforce. Forced to stop an adversary who shifts between realities with ease, Dylan is ejected into the irradiated wreckage of Arlington, Virginia. Civil Protection enforces what remains of order. The government's remnants rule quietly through fear. It is a place far worse than he remembered. Hunted across both realities, Dylan must confront the life he thought he abandoned and the growing suspicion that Verisim is not failing at all. It is functioning exactly as designed. Is it better to die inside a lie, or survive in what's left of the truth? Shadows of Verisim is a psychological sci-fi thriller about collapse, control, and the systems we retreat into when the world becomes unlivable. Perfect for fans of The Peripheral, Silo, and Black Mirror.

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Reviews

""The novel's strength lies in its challenge to readers to consider the ethical and existential implications of a dark world hiding behind a virtual fantasyland. Campbell's writing is sharp, with a fast-paced plot that keeps the tension high as Dylan uncovers a string of secrets that threaten the very foundation of Verisim, and his internal struggle against ""a world veiled by digital illusions"" is palpable. Readers will be swept into the disorienting, fragmented nature of living between two realities, marking this edgy thriller, the first in Campbell's Verisim Chronicles, perfect for contemporary audiences. Our Takeaway: Thrilling exploration of the intersection between digital escapism and reality."" - Publishers Weekly

""The novel's strength lies in its challenge to readers to consider the ethical and existential implications of a dark world hiding behind a virtual fantasyland. Campbell's writing is sharp, with a fast-paced plot that keeps the tension high as Dylan uncovers a string of secrets that threaten the very foundation of Verisim, and his internal struggle against ""a world veiled by digital illusions"" is palpable. Readers will be swept into the disorienting, fragmented nature of living between two realities, marking this edgy thriller, the first in Campbell's Verisim Chronicles, perfect for contemporary audiences. Our Takeaway: Thrilling exploration of the intersection between digital escapism and reality."" - Publishers Weekly ""A compellingly dark blend of noir, cyberpunk, and dystopian fiction."" - Kirkus Reviews

Author Information

Mark Campbell, author of the best-selling H7N9 Chronicles series, specializes in post-apocalyptic and sci-fi thrillers. Drawing on his background in law enforcement and cybersecurity, Mark brings a unique perspective to his stories, blending technology, suspense, and thought-provoking themes.

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