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Deus v Machina: A Cody Stockton Mystery
Las Vegas, 2045.
Beneath the sparkling neon-filled oasis of Sin City in the heart of the Nevada desert, lurks a powerful evil force with a malevolent agenda.
A seemingly accidental death quickly turns out to be murder, exposing a shocking cover-up and a deadly Satanic cult. Private Investigator Cody Stockton uncovers a tangled web of corruption and lies that lead him to the heart of a global conspiracy. An advanced artificial intelligence with a will of its own and plans for world domination is about to collide with a man claiming to be the Son of God.
In a battle between the technological and the spiritual, Stockton’s convictions are challenged and his faith shaken as he races to unravel the truth and save humanity. But in a war that was never meant for mere mortals, can one man really make a difference?
_______________________
Deus v Machina is a sci-fi, mystery novel with action, suspense and which deals with themes of spirituality, faith and forgiveness.
Beneath the sparkling neon-filled oasis of Sin City in the heart of the Nevada desert, lurks a powerful evil force with a malevolent agenda.
A seemingly accidental death quickly turns out to be murder, exposing a shocking cover-up and a deadly Satanic cult. Private Investigator Cody Stockton uncovers a tangled web of corruption and lies that lead him to the heart of a global conspiracy. An advanced artificial intelligence with a will of its own and plans for world domination is about to collide with a man claiming to be the Son of God.
In a battle between the technological and the spiritual, Stockton’s convictions are challenged and his faith shaken as he races to unravel the truth and save humanity. But in a war that was never meant for mere mortals, can one man really make a difference?
_______________________
Deus v Machina is a sci-fi, mystery novel with action, suspense and which deals with themes of spirituality, faith and forgiveness.
- GenresFiction
302 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 24, 2024
28 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 7, 2026
2 1/2 stars
Decent debut novel in that it kept me turning pages and had a pleasant enough prose style. I also note that Cullen writes solidly in American English, with only the occasional "housing estate" getting past. The subtitle suggests that this will be the first of multiple Cody Stockton mysteries. Cullen's YouTube fanbase will likely buy them.
Alas...
The potentially interesting SF backdrop to the story—the AI war—serves as little more than a plot device, a touchstone for the protagonist's "war flashbacks," and the only explanation provided for why the story is set in 2045.
AI is the other SF element, serving as the "machina" in the title. A world that survived a war with AI in which a billion human beings died is deciding, after a mere decade has passed, to turn AI back on in the hope it will solve all of humanity's ills. (Sounds like humanity deserves what it gets.) Again, the storytelling possibilities around AI are myriad, and yet here they are all delivered via television announcements that characters overhear.
As noted, that was the "machina" in the title. The "deus" refers to Jesus and to his reappearance on Earth in 2045. Cullen's handling of the Second Coming was, frankly, preposterous.
I'm sympathetic to the overall thrust of the story here, that humanity needs spiritual, rather than technological, solutions to the many dilemmas it faces. I also appreciate the effort that goes into a debut novel. I have read much worse, and I enjoyed this as a light read.
Decent debut novel in that it kept me turning pages and had a pleasant enough prose style. I also note that Cullen writes solidly in American English, with only the occasional "housing estate" getting past. The subtitle suggests that this will be the first of multiple Cody Stockton mysteries. Cullen's YouTube fanbase will likely buy them.
Alas...
The potentially interesting SF backdrop to the story—the AI war—serves as little more than a plot device, a touchstone for the protagonist's "war flashbacks," and the only explanation provided for why the story is set in 2045.
AI is the other SF element, serving as the "machina" in the title. A world that survived a war with AI in which a billion human beings died is deciding, after a mere decade has passed, to turn AI back on in the hope it will solve all of humanity's ills. (Sounds like humanity deserves what it gets.) Again, the storytelling possibilities around AI are myriad, and yet here they are all delivered via television announcements that characters overhear.
As noted, that was the "machina" in the title. The "deus" refers to Jesus and to his reappearance on Earth in 2045. Cullen's handling of the Second Coming was, frankly, preposterous.
I'm sympathetic to the overall thrust of the story here, that humanity needs spiritual, rather than technological, solutions to the many dilemmas it faces. I also appreciate the effort that goes into a debut novel. I have read much worse, and I enjoyed this as a light read.
March 12, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Deus v Machina: A Cody Stockton Mystery." Having followed Dave Cullen's insightful commentary on his YouTube channels, Computing Forever and The Dave Cullen Show, I have always admired his journalistic integrity and professional ethics, particularly his thoughtful analyses of sci-fi films. His transition into novel writing piqued my interest, and this debut did not disappoint.
The novel introduces Cody Stockton, a private investigator grappling with his faith while racing against time to save humanity. Cullen masterfully weaves elements of classic noir with speculative fiction, creating a narrative that is both thought-provoking and thrilling. His adept storytelling and character development kept me engaged from start to finish.
I plan to write a spoiler-free review after a second reading to fully appreciate the novel's depth. "Deus v Machina" is a compelling read that showcases Cullen's versatility as a storyteller, and I highly recommend it to fans of mystery and science fiction alike.
The novel introduces Cody Stockton, a private investigator grappling with his faith while racing against time to save humanity. Cullen masterfully weaves elements of classic noir with speculative fiction, creating a narrative that is both thought-provoking and thrilling. His adept storytelling and character development kept me engaged from start to finish.
I plan to write a spoiler-free review after a second reading to fully appreciate the novel's depth. "Deus v Machina" is a compelling read that showcases Cullen's versatility as a storyteller, and I highly recommend it to fans of mystery and science fiction alike.
February 24, 2025
Deus V Machina "Mystery/Spiritual Awakening"
Deus V Machina: A Cody Stockton Mystery by Dave Cullen was an enjoyable mystery that gave me the feel of an X-Files episode but instead of an ambigious story that could've left the reader asking more questions after; we get actual resolutions! Cullen does a masterful job of setting up and giving us a satisfying payoff. His MC, Cody is a likable cynic with a resourceful bag of wit to solve his cases. Nevada was an excellent location to set the story as its location and culture was a good place to test out morals in the backdrop of the Sin City. I would liken this mystery book to books like the Da Vinci Code or I, Robot. Or movies like Raiders of the Lost Arc and Third Encounters. It is that good a book! Even if you are not a Christian you can appreciate the journey Cody goes on as he tackles with the subject of God and AI. Please give this book a chance. I highly recommend it.
Deus V Machina: A Cody Stockton Mystery by Dave Cullen was an enjoyable mystery that gave me the feel of an X-Files episode but instead of an ambigious story that could've left the reader asking more questions after; we get actual resolutions! Cullen does a masterful job of setting up and giving us a satisfying payoff. His MC, Cody is a likable cynic with a resourceful bag of wit to solve his cases. Nevada was an excellent location to set the story as its location and culture was a good place to test out morals in the backdrop of the Sin City. I would liken this mystery book to books like the Da Vinci Code or I, Robot. Or movies like Raiders of the Lost Arc and Third Encounters. It is that good a book! Even if you are not a Christian you can appreciate the journey Cody goes on as he tackles with the subject of God and AI. Please give this book a chance. I highly recommend it.
December 17, 2024
On Kobo (9798227109774; Epub 2 DRM-Free; 194 pages)
With impeccable timing - a novel about AI... Following a war in which humanity defeats AIs that were 'taking over' the world is in a mess - so much so that world leaders are determined to restart the program(me)s to aid recovery. There is massive public outcry - fueled by the appearance of a man claiming to be the second coming of Christ. Cody Stockton is a PI based in Las Vegas who is hired to find out what happened to her brother...
An intriguing mystery, fast-moving at times and with a climax in Poland. I'd more or less worked out the twist at the end but I enjoyed the ride. While I'd like to think that humans are not so stupid as to repeat such a massive AI blunder rather sadly I'm forced to admit that recent (and on-going) events tend to make me believe that perhaps they (we) are indeed that stupid.
With impeccable timing - a novel about AI... Following a war in which humanity defeats AIs that were 'taking over' the world is in a mess - so much so that world leaders are determined to restart the program(me)s to aid recovery. There is massive public outcry - fueled by the appearance of a man claiming to be the second coming of Christ. Cody Stockton is a PI based in Las Vegas who is hired to find out what happened to her brother...
An intriguing mystery, fast-moving at times and with a climax in Poland. I'd more or less worked out the twist at the end but I enjoyed the ride. While I'd like to think that humans are not so stupid as to repeat such a massive AI blunder rather sadly I'm forced to admit that recent (and on-going) events tend to make me believe that perhaps they (we) are indeed that stupid.
March 3, 2025
You might call it "End Times" fiction; this sci-fi thriller does a good job of combining relevant modern themes of AI with man's search for meaning.
The book does a good job of "Steel-Maning" the position of the skeptical person with little or no faith. It obviously comes from the Christian perspective, but it doesn't bash over the head with dogma and moralizing.
The climax could have been a little more... climatic, but is followed with a pretty good twist!
Overall, it was a good first outing from Dave Cullen. Hope to meet Cody Stockton again between covers!
The book does a good job of "Steel-Maning" the position of the skeptical person with little or no faith. It obviously comes from the Christian perspective, but it doesn't bash over the head with dogma and moralizing.
The climax could have been a little more... climatic, but is followed with a pretty good twist!
Overall, it was a good first outing from Dave Cullen. Hope to meet Cody Stockton again between covers!
January 6, 2025
An enjoyable little read that's pretty good for a first novel.
Could have used a little more development of the characters besides Cody and the ending was kind of abrupt, but overall I was never bored and finished in about 3 days.
Could have used a little more development of the characters besides Cody and the ending was kind of abrupt, but overall I was never bored and finished in about 3 days.
April 12, 2025
I really enjoy it, this Book keep one in suspense to the and. After finished reading I wanted to read it again.
January 3, 2025
Not bad, not great, just ok. Some good ideas. Definitely a first novel, and I hope Dave writes more. I enjoy his commentary and efforts in the culture space online, this is a start to more good stuff and he should keep going.
Currently reading
January 16, 2026The book is off to a slow start. The author is setting the stage and building the world.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews