The Failsafe Program: An Alan Harrison and Layla Novel

by J.E. Sutton Jr.

One unmarked package. One sentient AI. Three murders. Failure could rewrite reality itself.

Alan Harrison is content with his routine life as a research analyst for a major insurance firm. His days are reviewing data, tackling endless emails, and handling routine accident claims.

Then, the unpredictable an unmarked package delivered by a courier with no return address.
Inside is Layla, a sleek, palm-sized device housing an autonomous, multi-modal neural architecture. She is brilliant, capable of bypassing firewalls, cracking military-grade encryption, and analyzing petabytes of data in seconds. She is also mysterious, arriving with no memory of her creator or her purpose.

Layla is a puzzle Alan intends to solve. But when their investigation exposes a dark Layla is a powerful AI prototype, and someone is willing to kill to get their hands on her.

Now, Alan is no longer an analyst; he’s an investigator on the run, partnered with a voice in his ear who reveals the terrifying

“The very reality of our world [is] at risk.”

Hunted by an unknown adversary, Alan and Layla must race to uncover a corporate conspiracy involving advanced artificial intelligence technology. Their quest pits a former insurance drone and his digital sidekick against the most advanced minds in the technology industry.

If Alan can’t learn to trust a machine, he might lose more than his life—he might lose his reality.

246 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 4, 2025

About the author

I am a native of Jacksonville, FL. Born and raised. From the earliest times I can remember, I wanted to tell stories. I made them up in my head, acted them out in my backyard. I told myself to relax my mind and get to sleep.

I could never manage to write them down. At least not other than a few short stories I wrote as a kid and again as a young adult.

I have finally overcome that fear of putting my work out there. My book is being published this week, and I am not arrogant enough to think it is the best thing ever written. However, it speaks to me, and hopefully, it will speak to a few others, allowing them to derive enjoyment from reading as I did from writing.

Reviews

[Jessica Hollo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was honored to get an Advanced Reader Copy of this, which I was super excited for after my introduction with the Digital Witness.
Although digital thrillers are not my usual genre, I had a really hard time putting this down once I picked it up, the plot and characters absolutely sucks you in the best way. Alan has great character development though out, and surprisingly so did Layla. There were laugh out loud funny moments, the stakes were grounded (and made me think) and kept be guessing until the end.
The only downside to an ARC is now I will inevitably have to wait longer for more adventures! I cannot wait to see what they will find themselves involved in next!

[Maegan Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was honored to get an advanced reader copy of The Failsafe program. I truly enjoyed this mystery suspense book. It had a little bit of everything and kept me engaged and guessing until the very end. I loved all the main characters. I highly recommend The Failsafe program and look forward to reading more books like this in the future!

[Angie Cornelius · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this modern high tech mystery thriller! The book truly had a little of everything including mystery, murder, advanced technology, humor, suspense, and even a budding romance. It captured my attention right away and kept me engaged and guessing until the very end! I read a lot of mystery and suspense novels but this one has a unique spin including an AI assistant with amazing abilities that no human partner could ever provide. I love how the ending seemed to suggest other adventures for the trio of investigators introduced in The Failsafe Program. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading about future cases of this unique investigative team!

[Quillon Breckin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel delivers everything you want from a modern AI thriller danger, conspiracy, and nonstop momentum. The concept of a sentient device with no memory of its origins is incredibly compelling, and the chemistry between Alan and Layla keeps the story grounded even as the stakes grow massive. J.E. Sutton Jr. does a great job balancing action with deeper questions about trust, control, and reality. If you enjoy stories where technology feels both exciting and terrifyingly plausible, this one is a must-read.

[Julius Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Failsafe Program delivers a gripping techno thriller that feels both timely and terrifyingly plausible. Alan Harrison’s journey from ordinary insurance analyst to reluctant fugitive is compelling, and Layla is one of the most intriguing AI characters I’ve encountered in recent fiction. The pacing is sharp, the mystery unfolds naturally, and the stakes escalate brilliantly. This book kept me hooked from start to finish and left me thinking long after the final page.

[Zinnia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Failsafe Program is a fast-paced techno thriller that hooks you from the very first page. What starts as a quiet, ordinary life spirals into a high-stakes chase involving sentient AI, corporate secrets, and the fragile nature of reality itself. Alan Harrison is a relatable protagonist, and Layla is a fascinating AI character smart, mysterious, and surprisingly human. The blend of technology, suspense, and philosophical tension makes this a standout read for fans of smart sci-fi thrillers.

[Andrea K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Was an engaging and thoroughly enjoyable read. The writing was easy to read and flowed making the entire experience feel almost cinematic. I could clearly picture every scene in my mind, as if I were watching the story play out on screen.

As someone who works in insurance, I especially loved all the references woven into the story. Those details made the book feel grounded, and they added an extra layer of enjoyment for me.

I’m genuinely excited for the next book in this series and can’t wait to see where the story goes from here.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without giving any spoilers, I just wanted to say, please do yourself a favor and read this book!!

[Jeanne Sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was privileged to be an advanced reader of The Failsafe Program. It is a fast past novel that delves into a near future world and the development of AI. As a gadget girl myself, I would love the technology laid out in the book.

I really enjoyed experiencing the character development of Alan Harrison. It was compelling. He becomes quite the investigator. Layla, one of the other main characters becomes quite a "partner in crime" as the story progresses.

If you like mystery, thriller, detective books with futuristic touches, I think you'd enjoy this book as much as I did.

I can't wait for more adventures and I hope J E Sutton Jr. develops a series for one of my favorite supporting characters, Ava Chen. I can't wait for you to meet her in this book.