Episteme: The Masks of Privacy Trilogy #1

by Suzy Bernard

Fox sees all. That’s the warning Aegis has been whispering across Washington and the threat to Episteme, the company that put a computer inside the minds of half the nation.

It’s also a promise Edward Gareau intends to keep, especially when it comes to Dior Barnes, his co-founder, his undoing, and the only mind in the city sharp enough to challenge him. Edward will change every law, conceal every secret, and bury every version of himself to keep her.

But somewhere beneath the politics of the DC elite, a woman called Tabby wakes up with no memory of who she is or where she came from—and only she can destroy everything Episteme has built.

As Edward grasps for the one thing money and power can’t buy back, Tabby searches for a name, a past, and a truth someone doesn’t want her to remember.

Some secrets aren’t meant to be found. Some find you first.

A dark political romantic suspense where privacy is currency, love is suffocating, and surveillance is the law.

Tropes: villain x villain / morally black characters / masked MMC / high spice / he falls first / fake engagement / touch her and die / soft only for her/ amnesia / political intrigue / billionaire tech MMC

EPISTEME is a true villain x villain love story, perfect for fans of the romance and political intrigue in H.M. Wolfe's Daggermouth and ABC's Scandal, and the dark suspense of S.T. Abby's The Mindf*ck Series and Netflix's Black Mirror.

491 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 3, 2026

About the author

Suzy Bernard is a practicing litigation attorney in Denver, CO. Before involving herself in the legal system, she worked in politics as a congressional legislative assistant for a Congressman in Washington, DC. She has been fortunate enough to work in all three branches of the federal government. She enjoys exploring what makes a villain a villain while hopefully creating an addictive romance. In her free time, she writes, a hobby she started in high school with Naruto fanfiction. She also enjoys cuddles with her corgi, dachshund, and black cat.

Reviews

[Brittany Gentilini · Rating 5 out of 5]

**review of advanced copy**

🦊🔥 EPISITEME — 5 ⭐️ EPIC REVIEW 🔥🦊

★★★★★ 5/5

This book had me HOOKED! 🖤🔥 Episitme is the kind of read that pulls you in, keeps you guessing, and makes you want to turn page after page.

The dark, mysterious atmosphere paired with the fox imagery, secrets, danger, and undeniable intensity made this feel like such an addictive reading experience. 🦊🌹 There’s something about a story that feels mysterious from the very beginning—and this one absolutely delivers that vibe!

✨ Intriguing
🖤 Dark & atmospheric
🔥 Addictive
🦊 Mysterious
💥 Impossible to put down

Final verdict: A 5-star read that completely captured my attention! If you love books with a darker edge, mystery, tension, and a story that keeps you wanting more, put Episitme on your TBR! 📚🔥 well written characters that will have you addicted to each and every one of them.

“Fox sees all. She sees fox.” 🦊👀

#BookReview #5StarRead #Episitme #SuzyBernard #Bookstagram BookTok CurrentlyReading MustRead EpicRead ReadersOfInstagram

🚨11/03/2026 DON’T FORGET TO PREORDER🚨

A special thanks to @suzybernard_author for letting me pre read this masterpiece this is by far the best book I have ever read and I am honored this was my first ARC experience! So pre order and fall into this world you will be glad you fell into !

[Suzy Bernard]

If you want main character chemistry and tension that matches Olivia Pope and Fitz Grant, then do I have the book for you.



EPISTEME explores the complicated motivations of villains who think they're good . . .



And not surpisingly, these villains also think they're the smartest people in the room.



But somehow, the two villains fall in love, and the MMC very much enjoys his pet name for her.



Did I mention that the MMC is a billionare who wears a holographic fox mask?



He also has an eccentric obsession for fashion and status? Yea . . . just a little bit arrogant.



While he does find all of humanity incompetent, he respects the FMC and will do anything to have her.



And she is the only one who can comfort him.



Oh, but let's not forget that the two of them are trying to take over the world, Black Mirror style. Just a normal day in the office advancing neuro-technology.



Unfortunately, a woman wakes up with amnesia and gets pulled into a group trying to stop the villains.



She has ties to the villains that she does not understand, and once you find out who she is, you'll be making this face.



If you want suffocating love



A mystery that will keep you guessing



And a near future with scientific advancements that will make you think, shit, this could actually happen for real.



You should check out my debut novel EPISTEME! :)

[M.S. Hawthorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me an ARC copy of this book.

Episteme completely consumed me.

I went into this intrigued by the premise, but I wasn't prepared for just how much I would end up theorising about absolutely everything. This is one of those books where every new piece of information makes you reconsider something you thought you'd already figured out, and I changed my mind about certain characters and their identities more times than I can count.

I loved the concept of Episteme itself and the questions the book raises around technology, identity, power and control. The political elements took me a little while to get to grips with, particularly as I'm not hugely familiar with the US political system, but once I understood the roles of the Senate, Senators and the different parties, those sections became much easier to follow. Apparently NetGalley and ARCs are educational now!

The characters were easily one of the strongest parts for me. Tabby fascinated me from the beginning, and I really enjoyed Ravi too. Edward is an incredibly complicated character, and my feelings towards him changed constantly as more of the story unfolded. The use of the animal masks was also brilliant, particularly how they reflected the people behind them.

What really pushed this to five stars, though, was the mystery surrounding Tabby. I had theory after theory while reading, and every time I thought I'd finally worked something out, another revelation changed the context completely. Some of my guesses were spectacularly wrong, some were surprisingly close, and I had an enormous amount of fun trying to piece everything together.

The final portion was impossible to put down. The revelations were clever, the manipulation running underneath everything was far more intricate than I'd realised, and the ending left the story in such an exciting position. And now I have a problem.... I desperately need the next book

Absolutely fascinating, twisty and intelligent. One of those books that had me actively thinking about it whenever I wasn't reading it.

[Brianne C · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love high-stakes thrillers where you genuinely cannot trust anyone and your theories change every three chapters, add "Episteme" to your TBR right now before it releases 11/3. ​I went into this intrigued by the blurb and I loved Suzy Bernard push for advance readers for her debut (and anyone that knows me knows if I have room in my schedule; I'll take the leap!), but I was not ready for how completely consumed I’d be and how I couldn't put it down. It touches on identity, technology, power, and political control in a way that feels so sharp and relevant. To know this is the first of a three book series, Masks of Privacy Trilogy has me on board for the next two books. 


🖤​ What stood out: 🖤
➡️​The mind games: Every revelation reshapes everything you thought you had figured out. Trying to unravel the mystery behind Tabby had me creating wild theories the entire time.

➡️​Complex characters: Tabby and Ravi immediately pulled me in, and Edward is deliciously complicated—my feelings toward him shifted constantly as the layers peeled back.

➡️​The symbolism: The use of animal masks and what they reveal about the people behind them was brilliant.

➡️​The ending: The final stretch is impossible to put down. The level of intricate manipulation uncovered at the end sets up the next book in the best way possible.

​A strong 4.3 debut star read that I will recommend to anyone for Suzy's debut because you willnot be disappointed in this indie author.

If your vibe is..
🖤villain x villain
😈 morally black and gray everywhere 
🖤masked MMC 
😈 high spice 
🖤he falls first
😈 fake engagement 
🖤soft only for her 
😈amnesia
🖤one bed
😈political intrigue
🖤billionaire tech MMC
.. then add to your TBR today!

[Cassandra Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

DO NOT READ THIS BOOK!!!
🔥🔥🔥🔥
Unless you want a cliff hanger that leaves you holding your breath and craving so much much you wish "the cure" was real to feign this addiction!!

Episteme is a
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/ 5 star read
🔥🔥🔥 3-3/5 spice level (it is classified high spice but we all know my books are pitch black but some scenes do have you sweating for more!)

Masked MMC and FMC
Villain x villain
Fake engagement
He falls first (and trust me when I say, I was NOT expecting the plot for how that played out!)
Amnesia
Highly obsessive MMC

I don't know if I hate Tabby or feel bad for her. There are parts of me that want to scream at her especially near the ending (no spoilers) but also parts of me that feel bad for her. She is just a victim to her own mind and family trauma but man, the way Fox loves her? I don't know how she kept her restraint.

Fox- now he is DADDY. I don't think I have fallen for an MMC this hard in a long time! Learning his back story was heart wrenching. Learning his motives behind the current setting just broke my heart but played into such a "villain hero complex with a big ego and even bigger... well ya know..

This book does end on a cliff hanger but the author has already noted to working on the next book and I wish I could have my memory wiped until the next book is out because EXCUSE ME SUZY! Ma'am, this is not fair. You creating addicts and left us feigning for more!

This book is set to release on November 3rd and if you are not RUNNING to add this to your TBR and wish list, what are you even doing with your life??

Suzy, I love you, but hate you so very much for creating the monster in me but I cannot wait to read the continuation of the story!

[Booked & Dreaming · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks so much to NetGalley for sending me this ARC! I went into this book expecting a classic dark romance, but I was truly surprised by how much more there was to enjoy. The story is layered and features characters that are really morally gray. While they might not be likable, I appreciated understanding their reasons and motivations behind their actions. What I loved the most was the sense of intrigue, mystery, and the political twists woven into the plot, especially since the discussions about privacy, technology, and consent feel very timely and relevant today. We may not have this technology yet, but with scientists and tech experts working on these innovations, the story feels much more real. This is definitely a strong debut, and I’d recommend it for anyone who enjoys morally complex characters, intricate plots, and political themes.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, YES please. More of this. I’ve been in such a reading rut because the market has been very repetitive lately, like everyone is copying and pasting what they know sells well. If you are looking for something completely new, Episteme is for you. It’s smart, complex and addictive. It asks very important questions about technology and privacy, which is chillingly relevant. The FMC and MMC are incredibly morally layered (pretty much pitch black morals) and I’m here for it. I found myself reading from my kindle app on my phone at work because I couldn’t put it down. This is a very confident debut and I can’t wait to see more.

[Aurelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a read! I wasn't sure what to expect with this one, but it gripped me from the start. The characters were layered and the story was fascinating to follow. I really appreciate how there really isn't a 'right' or 'wrong' in this book- just motivations and an underlying moral system for each character. It really captures the dynamic between the political parties as well.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I'm curious to see where it goes! Definitely a good read.

[Anna Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was nothing as I expected, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Neither the FMC nor the MMC are not what you'd think, but it added a layer of intrigue to the story. And while there was spice, it was by no means the heart of this story.

Also, some impressive plot twists here. Overall, I enjoyed this.

[Steph Spone · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me think. We are all wearing masks...I had to immersive read this one, but the narrator had me with a couple of the pronunciations. I kept thinking she was saying Epstein - then my mind went to the files...and it kinda fit. This was thought provoking and I'm ready for the next one.

[Amy Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing book and I can't wait for the next one! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.