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Dark Site
Praise for Stephen Baker's
The Boost
“Baker has written a true delight of a techno-thriller that has deep, dark roots in the present…. [His] characters are memorable and wickedly fun.” --Kirkus Reviews
“His tale is rendered in light, easy, smooth prose which walks the tragicomic tightrope brilliantly and deftly.” --Locus Magazine
The Numerati
“Stephen Baker artfully conjures up vivid images to explain what he’s talking about and why a reader should care.”-- The Christian Science Monitor
“A highly readable and fascinating account of the number-driven world we now live in.” --The Wall Street Journal
It’s spring of 2043, and fifteen-year-old Alissa Terwilliger is the only student in her Washington, D.C., high school with a Chinese smart chip in her head.
It’s a dangerous time. Alissa’s boyfriend Nate is picked up by a drone and imprisoned in a Dark Site—a private prison where people are held indefinitely. She knows her grandfather could help. He’s a software titan and one of the richest people on earth. But he might be part of the problem.
Navigating a new world of AI and brain surveillance, Alissa must use her own networked chip to hunt down answers. This carries her on a risky mission into Washington’s highest echelons of power.
Dark Site is a novel of espionage and suspense. It previews the wild adventures we face as our minds meld with machines.
The Boost
“Baker has written a true delight of a techno-thriller that has deep, dark roots in the present…. [His] characters are memorable and wickedly fun.” --Kirkus Reviews
“His tale is rendered in light, easy, smooth prose which walks the tragicomic tightrope brilliantly and deftly.” --Locus Magazine
The Numerati
“Stephen Baker artfully conjures up vivid images to explain what he’s talking about and why a reader should care.”-- The Christian Science Monitor
“A highly readable and fascinating account of the number-driven world we now live in.” --The Wall Street Journal
It’s spring of 2043, and fifteen-year-old Alissa Terwilliger is the only student in her Washington, D.C., high school with a Chinese smart chip in her head.
It’s a dangerous time. Alissa’s boyfriend Nate is picked up by a drone and imprisoned in a Dark Site—a private prison where people are held indefinitely. She knows her grandfather could help. He’s a software titan and one of the richest people on earth. But he might be part of the problem.
Navigating a new world of AI and brain surveillance, Alissa must use her own networked chip to hunt down answers. This carries her on a risky mission into Washington’s highest echelons of power.
Dark Site is a novel of espionage and suspense. It previews the wild adventures we face as our minds meld with machines.
415 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 4, 2025
1 person is currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Baker
111 books8 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 6, 2026
A near future sci-fi story which blends plausible science with some good characters and interesting plot.
Alissa Terwilliger is a college student whose grandfather is a legend in the technology world. He has arranged for her to have a Chinese chip (Jinbu / Boost) implanted in her head. This allows her to access an integrated computing system with her thoughts, and the ability to communicate with other users who have such chips. Her grandfather and her neighbour downstairs Nicole (who is growing close to her dad) also have this chip. The US government is in the final stages of testing & rolling out a chip of its own called ‘Victory’. There is talk that the President might opt for one soon. There are many ‘Dark Sites’ managed privately (quite a few are owned by Alissa’s granddad) where troublemakers are held. Alissa’s boyfriend Jake’s cousin is first picked up by a drone and taken to a dark site. A few days later it happens with Jake. Alissa is determined to find out what is going on, and for that she is willing to take high risks.
The story is built on a good foundation of a logical progression of technology in the near future. The capabilities of the chips are at levels which are plausible or even likely in future. This progress brings risks of intrusion into individual privacy, monitoring and plots/hacking. I liked Alissa’s spunky character which ensures there is always action. There is at times poor decision making – but probably expected for her age and the gravity of the issues. I liked the easy way she speaks with everyone, and there is a nice touch of humour in some instances. The story is told mostly through Alissa’s perspective, and I found the tone flat for much of the book. The plot somehow gets stuck after some good build-up though and some key aspects (such as the dark sites & the Potemkin initiative) fall short of being consequential enough. I liked how the story ended.
My rating: 3.75 / 5.
Thanks to Netgalley, Atmosphere Press, and the author for a free electronic review copy.
Alissa Terwilliger is a college student whose grandfather is a legend in the technology world. He has arranged for her to have a Chinese chip (Jinbu / Boost) implanted in her head. This allows her to access an integrated computing system with her thoughts, and the ability to communicate with other users who have such chips. Her grandfather and her neighbour downstairs Nicole (who is growing close to her dad) also have this chip. The US government is in the final stages of testing & rolling out a chip of its own called ‘Victory’. There is talk that the President might opt for one soon. There are many ‘Dark Sites’ managed privately (quite a few are owned by Alissa’s granddad) where troublemakers are held. Alissa’s boyfriend Jake’s cousin is first picked up by a drone and taken to a dark site. A few days later it happens with Jake. Alissa is determined to find out what is going on, and for that she is willing to take high risks.
The story is built on a good foundation of a logical progression of technology in the near future. The capabilities of the chips are at levels which are plausible or even likely in future. This progress brings risks of intrusion into individual privacy, monitoring and plots/hacking. I liked Alissa’s spunky character which ensures there is always action. There is at times poor decision making – but probably expected for her age and the gravity of the issues. I liked the easy way she speaks with everyone, and there is a nice touch of humour in some instances. The story is told mostly through Alissa’s perspective, and I found the tone flat for much of the book. The plot somehow gets stuck after some good build-up though and some key aspects (such as the dark sites & the Potemkin initiative) fall short of being consequential enough. I liked how the story ended.
My rating: 3.75 / 5.
Thanks to Netgalley, Atmosphere Press, and the author for a free electronic review copy.
December 2, 2025
Dark Site is a sharp, near-future sci-fi thriller set in 2043 Washington. Fifteen-year-old Alissa has a smart chip in her head, and when her boyfriend is taken by a drone and locked in a secret “Dark Site” prison, she has no choice but to chase the truth herself.
The story moves quickly, with tense moments, believable technology, and a main character who feels real and determined. It raises timely questions about privacy and control while still delivering an exciting, page-turning plot.
The story moves quickly, with tense moments, believable technology, and a main character who feels real and determined. It raises timely questions about privacy and control while still delivering an exciting, page-turning plot.
December 5, 2025
I ended up loving this book—far more than I expected to. It’s not a genre I usually reach for, so I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It’s actually the first book I’ve read where I didn’t like any of the characters, yet I was completely hooked by the premise. If I can give you one piece of advice: add this to your TBR. You won’t regret it.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this book
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this book
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews