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Shadow Lives
The United States is heading toward war, climate catastrophes are everyday occurrences and Kristen Black, a private investigator, wants nothing more than to celebrate the end of the world by drinking and dancing herself into oblivion like the rest of the city. But a charismatic young political activist has been brutally murdered and the chief of police wants Kristen to solve the case before Brooklyn devolves into factional violence.
As the search for the killer intensifies, an international conspiracy is uncovered and Kristen finds herself dodging bullets and falling in love with a dangerously alluring man whose true motivations may be as sinister as the criminals Kristen is investigating.
With its gripping blend of futuristic technology, intricate political intrigue, and pulse-pounding action, Shadow Lives is a riveting tale of crime and heartbreak set in a very near dystopian future. If you enjoyed The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, you'll love Shadow Lives. Grab your copy now before the world ends.
As the search for the killer intensifies, an international conspiracy is uncovered and Kristen finds herself dodging bullets and falling in love with a dangerously alluring man whose true motivations may be as sinister as the criminals Kristen is investigating.
With its gripping blend of futuristic technology, intricate political intrigue, and pulse-pounding action, Shadow Lives is a riveting tale of crime and heartbreak set in a very near dystopian future. If you enjoyed The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, you'll love Shadow Lives. Grab your copy now before the world ends.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 8, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
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October 6, 2025Alex Waters’s Shadow Lives is a gritty, futuristic mystery that pulls you in from the very first page and keeps you hooked. It’s the first book in the Kristen Black series, and it introduces a strong yet deeply flawed investigator trying to find truth in a world where technology and corruption are everywhere.
The story takes place in a near-future Brooklyn, a city slowly falling apart under the weight of war, politics, and poverty. Kristen Black is a private investigator with a sharp mind, a haunted past, and a dangerous secret—she has an illegal implant that lets an AI named Betsy live inside her head. Betsy talks to her constantly, offering advice, teasing her, and sometimes judging her choices. Their back-and-forth feels like a cross between a friend and a conscience, giving the story both humor and heart.
When Kristen is asked to look into the death of Carol Narl, a young activist whose body is found frozen near the Gowanus Canal, she quickly realizes that this is no simple case. Carol’s death has already been ruled a homicide and closed by the police, but something about it doesn’t sit right. Kristen’s old contact in the department, Chief Jerry Booker, quietly hires her to dig deeper—off the books. What she uncovers points to a cover-up that stretches far beyond one woman’s murder.
Waters builds this world with incredible detail. The city feels real—rain-slick streets, neon lights, broken buildings, and people just trying to survive. Everywhere you look, there’s tension: political marches, street gangs, and AI systems that monitor every move. The story has that noir feel—dark, smoky, and full of moral gray areas—but it also feels modern and urgent, like something that could actually happen.
Kristen is a fascinating main character. She’s tough, sarcastic, and capable, but she’s also human. She drinks too much, gets in over her head, and wrestles with guilt and loneliness. Her partner, Maureen Hopkins, balances her out with calm logic and a sense of discipline. Their friendship adds warmth to the darker moments and shows how much they depend on each other even when they don’t say it.
One of the best parts of the book is how naturally the dialogue flows. Whether it’s Kristen trading sharp lines with Maureen or arguing with Betsy inside her head, every conversation feels believable. There’s a rhythm to the writing that keeps the story moving even in quiet moments. The interviews with suspects and witnesses—like Jimmy Arsen, the boy accused of murder, and Carol’s grieving mother—feel authentic and emotional.
The pacing stays tight throughout. Every chapter adds another clue, another twist, another reason to question what’s real. As Kristen pieces things together, she starts to see how deep the corruption runs—and how dangerous it is to expose it. There’s action and suspense, but also plenty of reflection about right and wrong, freedom, and what it means to be human in a world run by machines.
Waters’s writing style is cinematic and easy to follow. You can see every scene like it’s playing out in a movie. He mixes the intensity of a crime thriller with the atmosphere of dystopian sci-fi, creating something that feels both familiar and fresh. Fans of Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo or Richard K. Morgan’s Altered Carbon will find a lot to love here, but Shadow Lives has its own unique voice—sharper, leaner, and deeply emotional.
By the end, you feel like you’ve walked the streets beside Kristen, seen what she’s seen, and carried some of her exhaustion and determination with you. Shadow Lives is dark, smart, and full of heart—a mystery that asks real questions about truth, technology, and humanity. It’s an unforgettable start to what promises to be an exciting, thought-provoking series.
The story takes place in a near-future Brooklyn, a city slowly falling apart under the weight of war, politics, and poverty. Kristen Black is a private investigator with a sharp mind, a haunted past, and a dangerous secret—she has an illegal implant that lets an AI named Betsy live inside her head. Betsy talks to her constantly, offering advice, teasing her, and sometimes judging her choices. Their back-and-forth feels like a cross between a friend and a conscience, giving the story both humor and heart.
When Kristen is asked to look into the death of Carol Narl, a young activist whose body is found frozen near the Gowanus Canal, she quickly realizes that this is no simple case. Carol’s death has already been ruled a homicide and closed by the police, but something about it doesn’t sit right. Kristen’s old contact in the department, Chief Jerry Booker, quietly hires her to dig deeper—off the books. What she uncovers points to a cover-up that stretches far beyond one woman’s murder.
Waters builds this world with incredible detail. The city feels real—rain-slick streets, neon lights, broken buildings, and people just trying to survive. Everywhere you look, there’s tension: political marches, street gangs, and AI systems that monitor every move. The story has that noir feel—dark, smoky, and full of moral gray areas—but it also feels modern and urgent, like something that could actually happen.
Kristen is a fascinating main character. She’s tough, sarcastic, and capable, but she’s also human. She drinks too much, gets in over her head, and wrestles with guilt and loneliness. Her partner, Maureen Hopkins, balances her out with calm logic and a sense of discipline. Their friendship adds warmth to the darker moments and shows how much they depend on each other even when they don’t say it.
One of the best parts of the book is how naturally the dialogue flows. Whether it’s Kristen trading sharp lines with Maureen or arguing with Betsy inside her head, every conversation feels believable. There’s a rhythm to the writing that keeps the story moving even in quiet moments. The interviews with suspects and witnesses—like Jimmy Arsen, the boy accused of murder, and Carol’s grieving mother—feel authentic and emotional.
The pacing stays tight throughout. Every chapter adds another clue, another twist, another reason to question what’s real. As Kristen pieces things together, she starts to see how deep the corruption runs—and how dangerous it is to expose it. There’s action and suspense, but also plenty of reflection about right and wrong, freedom, and what it means to be human in a world run by machines.
Waters’s writing style is cinematic and easy to follow. You can see every scene like it’s playing out in a movie. He mixes the intensity of a crime thriller with the atmosphere of dystopian sci-fi, creating something that feels both familiar and fresh. Fans of Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo or Richard K. Morgan’s Altered Carbon will find a lot to love here, but Shadow Lives has its own unique voice—sharper, leaner, and deeply emotional.
By the end, you feel like you’ve walked the streets beside Kristen, seen what she’s seen, and carried some of her exhaustion and determination with you. Shadow Lives is dark, smart, and full of heart—a mystery that asks real questions about truth, technology, and humanity. It’s an unforgettable start to what promises to be an exciting, thought-provoking series.
March 29, 2025
I really liked the concept of this book… hard-boiled female detective trying to solve a murder in a dystopian future ravaged by climate change and political instability. The first few pages are tightly written and dive right into the action.
Unfortunately, the end result is a hot mess. The action is frenetic, the writing gives you a fire hose of descriptions (honestly, I don't need to know every item of clothing worn by every character), and yet the world building is sketchy. The characters talk constantly but lack distinct voices, except for the AI assistant in the main character's head, who rapidly goes from "sassy" to "please shut up." I found myself struggling against the writing, just trying to figure out what was going on.
All these problems could have been fixed!!! What this book needs is a careful rewrite and some TLC from a good editor. It also needs copy editing, because the punctuation is just terrible. But I can easily imagine a 4-star version of this book.
The book does not list a publisher, so I assume it is independently published, and it appears the entire trilogy was published on the same date. The cover art is very professional, which makes me wonder if the author paid for cover art but not for an editor.
I hope this author gets picked up by a publisher, because I think her work shows real promise.
For the record, I received an advance review copy of this book for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily, and all opinions expressed here are my own.
Unfortunately, the end result is a hot mess. The action is frenetic, the writing gives you a fire hose of descriptions (honestly, I don't need to know every item of clothing worn by every character), and yet the world building is sketchy. The characters talk constantly but lack distinct voices, except for the AI assistant in the main character's head, who rapidly goes from "sassy" to "please shut up." I found myself struggling against the writing, just trying to figure out what was going on.
All these problems could have been fixed!!! What this book needs is a careful rewrite and some TLC from a good editor. It also needs copy editing, because the punctuation is just terrible. But I can easily imagine a 4-star version of this book.
The book does not list a publisher, so I assume it is independently published, and it appears the entire trilogy was published on the same date. The cover art is very professional, which makes me wonder if the author paid for cover art but not for an editor.
I hope this author gets picked up by a publisher, because I think her work shows real promise.
For the record, I received an advance review copy of this book for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily, and all opinions expressed here are my own.
March 31, 2025
This is an ARC book I received free of charge to provide an honest review. First of all as a reader, I try to appreciate any authors work so as long as I can finish a novel I start with a base of a 3 stars and go up from there. I really really enjoyed this book and I’m going to find the next in the series. The world building is excellent. You can feel the gritty way the city reeks of the dystopian future. The protagonist Kristen Black is a private investigator with a small team that she works with. She is called in to assist with a murder investigation by a friend in law enforcement after he is pressured to close the case. The author weaves Kris’s personal life and history around a varied cast of characters that keeps you guessing who the murderer is as well as creating questions that I’m sure will play out in the future books. The pacing is tight and definitely keeps you reading. I was intrigued by the societal dynamics that were in play from politicians to the military to organized crime and just those people who were trying to get by. If I had any beef with the story I suppose it may be with Kris’s imbedded AI, Betsy. Sometimes it was unclear if the AI was just speaking to Kris or to others in her proximity. It wasn’t anything that threw off the rhythm of the storytelling and it may have just been me. This is a really great read.
October 23, 2025
Shadow Lives by Alex Waters is a fabulous blend of science‑fiction, mystery, and character‑driven storytelling. Set in a vividly imagined futuristic world, the book’s premise feels both original and carefully thought out, pulling readers into a society that’s as fascinating as it is ominous.I loved the central case and how it evolved—cleverly plotted, full of unexpected turns, and nuanced enough to keep you guessing until the end. The banter between characters adds a great balance of humour and humanity to the darker moments, giving the story emotional rhythm without losing tension.Waters’s writing is strong, fluid, and cinematic, perfectly matching the book’s tonal variety. Even though a touch more polish could have elevated the pacing or transitions, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment overall. Shadow Lives stands out for its creativity, layered characters, and the way it makes a high‑concept world feel real and relatable.A definite five‑star read for fans of sleek sci‑fi thrillers and intelligent worldbuilding—I’ll be first in line for the next one!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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April 19, 2025I an ARC reader and this is my honest opinion. It took me quite a way into the book to feel I really wanted to finish it. I knew it was set in the future but I'm not really a fan of dystopia and I hadn't quite realised to what extent that's the genre this story is. However, at its base, all bleak, AI controlled future aside, it is a detective mystery story and I did get caught up in the twists in the plot. I also had to chuckle at the character of the AI the main protagonist, Kristen had in her head. In the story, everyone is obliged to be chipped with what seems to be a combination of memories and conscience that replaces the natural ones. Kristen managed to make hers able to speak out loud and it's puzzled questioning about how "bio beings" interact made me chuckle
September 22, 2025
3 stars for me.
Kristen Black, a private investigator have a job. Political activist has been murdered and chief of police counting on Kristen to find the killer.It will not be easy as international conspiracy and thugs who don't want for Kristen to dig to deep getting involved. A new man David come to Kristen life, and he's also a mystery that need to be resoled.
Will Kristen find the killer?
Who is David and what he really want?
Fast, near future thriller keep me engaged to the end. Some scenes move to fast, and there was a lot going on, still I'm glad that in the end all got resolved, sad about David though. Hope to read other books in the series.
Thank you booksprout and author for copy.
Kristen Black, a private investigator have a job. Political activist has been murdered and chief of police counting on Kristen to find the killer.It will not be easy as international conspiracy and thugs who don't want for Kristen to dig to deep getting involved. A new man David come to Kristen life, and he's also a mystery that need to be resoled.
Will Kristen find the killer?
Who is David and what he really want?
Fast, near future thriller keep me engaged to the end. Some scenes move to fast, and there was a lot going on, still I'm glad that in the end all got resolved, sad about David though. Hope to read other books in the series.
Thank you booksprout and author for copy.
February 25, 2025
This book captivated me. The story of murder, corruption and factions in a world that is dying is very well written. What surprised me most was the tenacity of the main character who is a Private Investigator to find the truth although she knows the world is about to end. The love side of the story was intriguing and it added another dimension to the search for truth (no spoiler alert - so cannot say more). I shall be reading more books with Kristen and her friends and the cases that they are hired to solve. The descriptions of the decaying world are so vivid that I felt the despair of Kristen too.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 29, 2025
This has the potential to be an amazing piece. Unfortunately, there are some gaps at the beginning, and the intersections of the book's themes (AI, internal systems, school systems, government takeover, and operations) are not introduced at a pace that eases you in or aligns rapidly. With some editing and reorganization, this could easily earn more stars.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews