What do you think?
Rate this book
A Voice in the Mind
After technology robbed Randy Hutton of his livelihood, will it also claim his mind?
Isabella Hutton was the up-and-coming star at Breakthrough Systems, leading a project that would help artificially intelligent computer systems work with their human counterparts. All the smart machines needed, she reasoned, was a better understanding of the strengths and limitations of their human coworkers. And so, she loaded her software with the accumulated knowledge of the human mind.
Her husband, Randy, however, had fallen on hard times. He had lost his management job in customer service, “a victim of technology” as his manager had put it when he let him go. Randy, however, described it as being ousted by little more than a glorified answering machine.
After a time, a growing evil in Randy’s head, a disembodied voice, made it clear that he need look no further for his revenge than his wife. Soon, violence erupted all around Isabella.
Nicole Veles, Isabella’s new friend, began to suspect that Randy was behind these tragedies, but would it make any difference? Because by the time Nicole came to this belief, husband and wife were deep in the Colorado wilderness, and Randy had murder on his mind.
Isabella Hutton was the up-and-coming star at Breakthrough Systems, leading a project that would help artificially intelligent computer systems work with their human counterparts. All the smart machines needed, she reasoned, was a better understanding of the strengths and limitations of their human coworkers. And so, she loaded her software with the accumulated knowledge of the human mind.
Her husband, Randy, however, had fallen on hard times. He had lost his management job in customer service, “a victim of technology” as his manager had put it when he let him go. Randy, however, described it as being ousted by little more than a glorified answering machine.
After a time, a growing evil in Randy’s head, a disembodied voice, made it clear that he need look no further for his revenge than his wife. Soon, violence erupted all around Isabella.
Nicole Veles, Isabella’s new friend, began to suspect that Randy was behind these tragedies, but would it make any difference? Because by the time Nicole came to this belief, husband and wife were deep in the Colorado wilderness, and Randy had murder on his mind.
234 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 29, 2025
1 person is currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Bruce M. Perrin
14 books127 followersBruce Perrin has been writing for more than 20 years, although you will find most of that work only in professional technical journals or conference proceedings. But, after completing a PhD in Industrial Psychology and a career in psychological R&D, he is now applying his background and fascination with technology and the human mind to writing novels. Besides writing, Bruce likes to tinker with home automation and is an avid hiker, logging nearly 2,500 miles each year in the first two years of Fitbit ownership. When he is not on the trails, he lives with his wife in St. Louis, MO. For a closer look at his writing life, book reviews, and progress on his upcoming works, please join him at www.brucemperrin.blogspot.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 1, 2025
This book is a fabulous and fascinating read. It touches on some very real life concerns and turns them into an eerie psychological thrill ride. I get total sky net Terminator fears and paranoia vibes too. It was a scary but great read that made me almost wanna toss out all my tech just to be safe lol. It’s a can’t miss!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 30, 2025
Review of eBook
After months of searching, Isabelle Perez-Hutton finds a job with Breakthrough Systems, creating training for writing prompts for artificial intelligent systems. Her work wasn’t exactly making machines more intuitive to human users, rather, it was making their requests more intuitive to the machine. She’d even given a name to the software component she was involved in creating: Eliza.
But her relationship with her husband, Randy, has become problematic, especially since he’d been let go from his management job in customer service. Randy was angry about being replaced by what he considered an answering machine.
But the voice in his mind? Although he no longer mentions the voice to Isabella, he still hears it. And it is certain that whatever revenge he desires should be focused on his wife.
What is the voice? And is Isabella in danger?
=========
Eighth in the author’s Mind Sleuth series, “A Voice in the Mind” takes readers on a psychological thrill ride. With unexpected revelations and a plot that twists and turns, readers will find themselves guessing as the narrative spins out its clever tale of intrigue.
Strong, interesting characters populate the telling of this tale while the technology here seems all-too-real. With emotional impacts and the shattered feelings of a man who feels thrown away, the suspenseful story is both relatable and distressing.
Readers who enjoy psychological thrillers will find much to appreciate here.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book from Booksprouts and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
After months of searching, Isabelle Perez-Hutton finds a job with Breakthrough Systems, creating training for writing prompts for artificial intelligent systems. Her work wasn’t exactly making machines more intuitive to human users, rather, it was making their requests more intuitive to the machine. She’d even given a name to the software component she was involved in creating: Eliza.
But her relationship with her husband, Randy, has become problematic, especially since he’d been let go from his management job in customer service. Randy was angry about being replaced by what he considered an answering machine.
But the voice in his mind? Although he no longer mentions the voice to Isabella, he still hears it. And it is certain that whatever revenge he desires should be focused on his wife.
What is the voice? And is Isabella in danger?
=========
Eighth in the author’s Mind Sleuth series, “A Voice in the Mind” takes readers on a psychological thrill ride. With unexpected revelations and a plot that twists and turns, readers will find themselves guessing as the narrative spins out its clever tale of intrigue.
Strong, interesting characters populate the telling of this tale while the technology here seems all-too-real. With emotional impacts and the shattered feelings of a man who feels thrown away, the suspenseful story is both relatable and distressing.
Readers who enjoy psychological thrillers will find much to appreciate here.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book from Booksprouts and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 24, 2025
Okay y’all, this one’s a mind-twister! A Voice in the Mind had me flipping pages like a maniac and yelling “NO WAY” more than once. Randy starts off as just this guy down on his luck, but then BAM—he’s hearing voices, stuff’s blowing up, people are dying, and suddenly I don’t trust anyone. I love when a book messes with your brain and keeps you guessing. It’s creepy, smart, and a total ride. If you like psychological thrillers with techy vibes and characters that spiral fast, this book’s your jam. 😱🧠
May 6, 2025
Clever and imaginative! Great, multi-faceted characters. Very interesting plot. Vivid descriptions. Kept me intrigued from the first page to the last. Simply a GREAT read!
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
November 15, 2025
Allow a day for this fast-paced, action-packed, compelling, twisted, urban, adult, contemporary, cautionary, stand-alone science fiction adventure thriller tale, involving voices, minds, sleuths, betrayal, LGBTQ suggestions, murder, mystery, rescue, and violence.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 25, 2025
A Voice in the Mind is a chilling blend of psychological suspense and near-future tech paranoia that hooked me right from the start. The story of Randy—a man ousted by automation while his wife thrives in the very industry that replaced him—feels uncomfortably real. What I really appreciated was how the book doesn’t just explore the societal impact of AI, but digs into the emotional and psychological unraveling of a man who feels obsolete. The tension builds steadily, and I found myself constantly wondering whether the voice in Randy’s head was madness… or something else. It was disturbing in the best way and left me thinking long after I finished.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews