Veracity

by Douglas E. Richards

A breathtaking near-future thriller. From the New York Times bestselling author whose books have sold more than a million copies.

What if you developed a technology that made it impossible for anyone to lie? About anything. Would this save humanity from itself? Or would it tear society apart? And just how far would power players around the globe go to stop it?

Elias Gibson has invented a technology that will profoundly change the essence of human behavior. But will this lead to a glorious future, or to the collapse of civilization? Before Elias can answer this question, he finds himself battling for his very survival, and racing to uncover the identities and motives of the treacherous forces arrayed against him. As he fights to stay alive, he will be stunned by one extraordinary revelation after another.

But the biggest surprise is yet to come . . .

Veracity is a roller-coaster ride of a thriller. One that offers meticulously researched insights into both human nature and the future of the human race.

"Richards is an extraordinary writer," (Dean Koontz) who can "keep you turning the pages all night long." (Douglas Preston)

"Richards is a worthy successor to Michael Crichton." (SF Book dot com)

Near Future Science Fiction Thrillers by Douglas E. Richards
WIRED (Wired 1)
AMPED (Wired 2)

MIND'S EYE (Nick Hall 1)
BRAINWEB (Nick Hall 2)
MIND WAR (Nick Hall 3)

SPLIT SECOND(Split Second 1)
TIME FRAME (Split Second 2)

QUANTUM LENS
GAME CHANGER
INFINITY BORN
SEEKER
VERACITY
ORACLE
THE ENIGMA CUBE

Kids Science Fiction Thrillers (9 and up, enjoyed by kids and adults alike)
TRAPPED (Prometheus Project 1)
CAPTURED (Prometheus Project 2)
STRANDED (Prometheus Project 3)

OUT OF THIS WORLD
DEVIL'S SWORD

Genres: Science Fiction, Audiobook, Thriller, Mystery

422 pages, Paperback

Published February 10, 2019

About the author

Write to Doug at douglaserichards1 at gmail dot com, and visit the author's website to be notified of new releases.

Douglas E. Richards is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of science-fiction thrillers that have sold more than three million copies (see list below). Richards has been celebrated for his gripping, thought-provoking works that blend cutting-edge scientific concepts with heart-pounding narratives.

Richards burst onto the literary scene with his debut novel, WIRED, published in 2010. The novel garnered widespread acclaim for its ingenious combination of scientific speculation and thrilling storytelling. This success set the stage for a series of bestselling novels, each marked by meticulous research, riveting plots, and characters that resonate with readers.

Known for his ability to translate complex scientific concepts into accessible and engaging narratives, Richards has become a go-to author for readers seeking an intellectually stimulating and adrenaline-fueled reading experience. His works delve deeply into the ethical dilemmas posed by scientific breakthroughs and the potential impact of technology on society.

A former Director of Biotechnology Licensing at Bristol Myers Squibb and a former biotechnology executive, Richards earned a BS in microbiology from the Ohio State University, a master's degree in genetic engineering from the University of Wisconsin--where he engineered mutant viruses now named after him--and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

The author has two grown children and lives in San Diego, California, with his wife and dog.

Richards loves hearing from readers, and always replies, so feel free to write to him at douglaserichards1 at gmail dot com, and address him as "Doug". You can also Friend Richards on Facebook at Douglas E. Richards Author, or visit his website, where you can sign up to be notified of new releases.

SCIENCE FICTION THRILLERS BY DOUGLAS E. RICHARDS

SERIES

WIRED (Wired 1)
AMPED (Wired 2)

MIND'S EYE (Nick Hall 1)
BRAINWEB (Nick Hall 2)
MIND WAR (Nick Hall 3)
UNLEASHED (Nick Hall 4)

SPLIT SECOND(Split Second 1)
TIME FRAME (Split Second 2)

THE ENIGMA CUBE (Alien Artifact 1)
A PIVOT IN TIME (Alien Artifact 2)

STANDALONE NOVELS

QUANTUM LENS
GAME CHANGER
INFINITY BORN
SEEKER
VERACITY
ORACLE
THE IMMORTALITY CODE
UNIDENTIFIED
PORTALS
THE CURE (To become KU eligible for the first time in 2023)
THE BREAKTHROUGH EFFECT

Kids Science Fiction Thrillers (9 and up, enjoyed by kids and adults alike)

TRAPPED (Prometheus Project 1)
CAPTURED (Prometheus Project 2)
STRANDED (Prometheus Project 3)

OUT OF THIS WORLD

DEVIL'S SWORD

Reviews

[Rae Anne Bowen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Veracity is silly in the extreme. Truth may be all well and good in theory but it would be horrible for family cohesion. Think about it, you bought something you knew was a little expensive or shouldn't have, but no white lie will help you. You ask your husband if the dress makes you look fat? You really want the answer? The kids come to you demanding attention, but you want to finish that last chapter in a book so you say I'm busy. But now they know your not really busy because the book could be put down even if it is a great book and you need to finish it.

The solution in the book would not help with the problem either, sure wear a blocker at home, see how much trust the other family members have in you after they realize you still want to be able to lie to them. I would be suspicious if my other half wanted to be able to lie to me. I'm fully aware that his lies about my butt not being bigger than it was before the kids, a device like that would force me to wonder what else was being hidden. A constant reminder that your other half wants to be able to lie to you. Great solution!

And then you have the writing in the book as well, its writing like a lecture. So much for making tech palatable to the masses. And then at one point it just gets stupid. Connor has set of a flash grenade. No one can hear a thing, most of them can't see a thing, but he covered his eyes. So anyway he is deaf. Yet somehow he knows that the electric minivan is a tank that drives quieter than a bicycle. How would he know that when it isn't until later in the chapter that he even gets his hearing back? It states that he has never seen an electric minivan before, so how would he know how quiet it is without his hearing?

I must admit I read a lot. I read a lot of every type of book (except westerns and romance) and that includes mysteries. Yet never once did I think to myself that I could use people's imaginations to get myself out being killed by professional hit men.

They are average citizens yet he uses what he learned from novels to get him out of a jam. I suppose next I should be asking myself "what would Mcguiver do?"

How this book pulled off a 4 star rating is beyond me. It just isn't that good.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting book. I was already aware of most of the points highlighted by this book but I am repeatedly surprised by the ignorance of over 50% of the population. It seems that people are so easily influenced it's scary. What is worse is that so few people are willing to do the most basic of due diligence, just believing the first thing they read, then worse than that spreading the lies with absolute belief its real.

As much as this book states that the world is going in a positive direction, I am extremely concerned with the direction politics is currently heading as well as the power some people seem to wield. Between how easily the majority of the population is influenced and unlike in books and films the inability to fight against anyone in power. Anyone that makes any attempt in doing any real journalism is drowned in a sea of lies and labeled a conspiracy nut. Even if a shocking story does make any headway it is quickly forgotten about with the next big headline.

The whole point of this book is truth and lies and I agree that the real issue we are facing is exactly that. No one with intelligence trusts either the media or any politicians, but separating fact from fiction is becoming increasingly harder.

As for politics how can any genuinely decent person get to a position of power when most (possibly all) politicians need to be somewhat ruthless and have less than savoury alliances to even last long enough to reach a senior position. Look at present day politics and it's like the countries of the world are having a competition on who can put the most inappropriate person in charge. It really makes you wonder what is going on behind the scenes. Between this, the advances in the tech and the increasing distrust of media and politics; it seems likely that we are heading to some kind of big social upheaval. The question is in what form will it take and how will it effect the average Joe.

[Emily Kakolewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unusual. Interesting.

The story seemed to really be a frame for a thought. Meaning, here, the story wasn't what made me keep reading, it was seeing where the thoughts went in the book. Unusual. And a...pleasure? :)

[Poor Professor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing, thought provoking, page-turner

I HIGHLY recommend everything that Douglas E. Richards has published, and Veracity is no exception.
And the release of this novel couldn't be more timely. Now that we live in a country of "alternate facts" and "fake news," where most have no idea how to begin to find the simple truth about nearly anything, Veracity provides some much needed food for thought.
Plus, it's a gripping page turner of an action novel. What's not to love?
Disclosure: I have only (this far) read Richards' novels for adults. I have no doubt that the younger reader books are fantastic as well. Richards is an amazing author, who engages in meticulous research, which deepens the potential reality of his near-future novels greatly.
I simply cannot recommend this author more highly, including Veracity. I believe Richards is destined to be a "household name" author, and I am actually a bit surprised it has not come to pass just yet. Keep writing, Mr. Richards! I, for one, intend to be there every step of the way.

[Sean Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulous story from Richards. I can't express the feeling when a book of his just pops into my life. Even though we can see how many things are going to go by knowing his style, there are always unique joys in every single one of his books. I of course missed the big reveal here, as I was supposed to, and found the whole thing a brilliant thriller start to finish, as Douglas is famous for. What a wonderful writer, let's hope he's got many, many more ideas.

[Maria Fledgling Author Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC, I have so much to say about this one!

[Melanie J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fun read.

As always, this book has brought up some very thought provoking subjects. I loved all the twists and turns. An awesome read!!

[Aaron · Rating 1 out of 5]

I LOVE this author. This book sucks.

Too much preaching and not enough (or maybe any) story. Couldn’t finish it. I finish terrible books. Just couldn’t get into this. Oh well.

[John Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be Prepared for something New

This is a tough one: on the one hand the author had the guts to try something new, which i think technically belongs in another genre- not a techno thriller but maybe “techno sociology” would be a better description, BUT I am absolutely blown away by his obvious love for this devout readers (and this certainly includes me). Look forward to the usual greatness in his work, with plenty of twists and turns and nail-biting cliffhangers that always leave me hanging on the edge of my couch at 1:30a.m. I’ve looked forward to and read each and every one of his books and as usual I’m already looking forward to his next effort and trying to find out where to pre-order. That having been said, some people like Coke and some prefer Pepsi. It’s just Individual taste. Personally I’m a Coke guy who prefers ‘original recipe’. Oh, and by the way- we love you too, brother!

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid, thought-provoking science mixed with what I'm starting to think of as the author's stock formula: disruptive technology is invented; bad guys want it; good guys don't want them to have it; cat-and-mouse games; explosions; a deal is made at gunpoint; talky denouement.

Talky everything, actually. Douglas Richards' characters love to talk. They love to explain themselves. They love to debate, and argue, and pontificate.

I don't know. Maybe when you're dealing with Big Ideas, like this author does, the writer's adage of "show, don't tell" doesn't always apply. I'm confident Douglas Richards is doing his best, and I believe his books are getting better and better.

[Mark Vedel · Rating 3 out of 5]

As much as I love Douglas Richards I did not love Veracity. I seriously wonder if Mr. Richards actually wrote the story or if it was ghost written? It just did not have its usual panache. I didn’t buy all the lengthy explanations of evil plans to take over the world by villains about to kill someone. It was very hokey and comical to say the least. I found many of the escapes and strategies to not be very plausible.

I did enjoy the discussions of how such a technology might influence and change the world but that is about it. I expected better from Mr. Richards.

[Luiz Marques · Rating 4 out of 5]

As most of his books, this is a near future SF thriller. Basically a scientist evolves the perfect AI truth detector, and naturally, some people want it for themselves and won't stop at anything to get it...

I usually like his books, but I felt this one could be better. The ending is pretty good, but the middle really dragged for me.

As always, props for the author for having an appendix where he discusses all the technology used on the book, and where it is right now.

[Jerome K. (Jerry) Lipsich · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've read all of Richards' book and would have given them 4+ stars in a review. But this one was just no good. It felt preachy to read, more like an essay on the ramifications of everyone being able to know when everyone else was lying, than one of Richards' other novels. I kept reading it, hoping it would improve, enjoying the action sequences and plot twists, but speed-reading and scanning through the "essay" sections. Avoid this sucker and pick up any of Richards' other works.

[Lee Young · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was really getting ridiculous, but I was hanging in there. But when the Chinese Special Forces showed up out of nowhere, I deleted it.

What a totally stupid twist.

[Steve Worsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expected to enjoy this book but didn't realize I would love it! Sure it has some very lame jokes early on and the characterisation isn't so deep, but this book surprises constantly and is far more than gripping suspense.

Many stories and films have tackled the concept of a world where lying is no longer possible, but I've found none as comprehensive as this.

Written in 2019 there is enough to suggest it arose in the context of Trump and 'fact checking' and the claims of 'fake news'.

The optimism thread (- 'the world really is getting better') doesn't fully convince me. I have no doubt that by various measures there has been significant recent improvement. But historical perspective helps: a huge surge of optimism in the 19th century culminated in two world wars and atom bombs. And it's interesting reading this novel during the Coronavirus period also. Quality of life is deteriorating globally and there's little that can be done about it. The virus will eventually pass but the damage from it may continue for decades. It may in fact change humanity for good. In the wake of Coronavirus must come recession. And in the wake of that comes the massive implication of climate change, environmental degradation and the consequences of decades of materialism and capitalism. Humanity is not living sustainably and overpopulation means all of this is coming home to roost. Contrary to this author I believe there is much to be deeply concerned about. Faith in God is what keeps me sane in the midst of all this. But I am thankful for a surprisingly thought provoking book. Well done Doug Richards!

[Conor · Rating 4 out of 5]

The entire concept of the book is fascinating. The idea that a piece of technology that has perfect lie detection is surely something I can see people fighting over. Honestly, I did not have a hard time believing that such a device could be invented with the rate at which technology has been advancing, and how the author described the act of inventing it. Because of how the author seemed to, in my mind, downplay the invention process, a bit, in combination with the world of corruption, exageration, and "fake news" we have today, I had no problem thinking I was right there in the story with Connor and Kayla. That ease of getting into the story paired with the interesting piece of "future tech" made Veracity just a ton of fun to read.

The reason I would rate the book a 4 and not a 5 was because for some reason I felt that I was still in the exposition for most of the story. Looking back, I realize that may have just been me thinking "When is the main character/conflict coming?" but for a majority of the story I felt like I was leaning into the book in anticipation of the main antagonist. After finishing, I realize that may have been intentional (that all I will say due to spoilers), and overall I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

[Cedar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly captured my interest!

Veracity truly captured my interest and imagination. Near Future literature was a genre I never read, or at least, if I read it, I called it dystopian, so when I started the book, I was caught unaware of what I was delving into. I found this book quite fascinating! It was a great story, yes, but it kept brushing on subject matter so true or so close to becoming true that, even now, having finished it, my mind keeps going back to ideas and thoughts, brought on by reading the book, like a dog worrying over a bone... I rarely read all the after pages in a book, preferring to go to sleep as I usually stay up way too late, greedily finishing the actual tale, but I went back the day after I completed Veracity, just so I could thoughtfully read the author's notes. They soon captured my interest as much as the story did! I will be reading more by Douglas Richards and I highly recommend this book!

[Thomas James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genius Concept

I emailed a question to Mr. Richards. Imagine my surprise when he responded immediately! (He was right.) He told me that he wrote largely to make people think and in that he succeeded. The CONCEPT for the story is genius! Imagine being able to tell instantly if someone is lying or telling the truth. At first, I thought, "How cool!". But as I thought about it I decided, " Not such a good idea" . Richards spins a tale based on this concept and he almost instantly confirmed my suspicions. While this concept is A+, unfortunately the story based on it is B rated. By today's standards, it was predictable and uninspired. It's not bad just not as inspired as the exploration into why people lie. I think it's a basic survival instinct so that our weak bodies can fake-out our enemy. He doesn't get into that, though he does delve into other possibilities. All in all a good story and one to think about.

[Paul K. Wein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is his best book! I thought Seeker was great but this book tops it. Read my review on Amazon regarding Seeker and then read both books. Richards researches his books and then at the very end describes his thinking and logic with references. A good book should be fun to read but it is a bonus when you come away both learning things and thinking deeply regarding philosophical and religious questions.
People criticize his books because often his characters are superficial and the stories are sometimes a bit contrived. Forget all this and focus about his ideas. It continues to amaze me why this author is not on the NY Times best seller list. In short imagine if people could not lie - no more fake news. Politicians could no longer promise the world and deliver nothing. That is all I am going to say regarding the story: just read the book

[Rob Morton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Ain’t Lying!

I’ve read a lot of Doug Richards’ books and this one is one of his best and not because of the action that takes place - it’s because of lying and psychopaths and some of the factual things that have been studied concerning Homo sapiens.

That’s us. Humans. What would a world without lying look like? Read this book and get an idea and it is kinda disturbing as much as it could be hope and prosperity for us all. Imagine politicians that couldn’t get away with lying; imagine news that was actually the truth of things and totally unbiased since lying and deflecting would become impossible and thanks to a very smart supercomputer... and a pair of contact lenses or glasses.

Then imagine this technology used for power hungry and evil purposes. Doug Richards gets it and I hope you have fun reading this.

[Carol-Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fascinating, scary read

I found this book to be far too realistic to call enjoyable, but nonetheless it is one of the most fascinating and scary books I have read in a while. The simple reason being that everything in this book is, or probably soon will be, a reality. That is a scary concept, and yet some of this is great. Take the arguments for when a beloved child shows you a drawing that you can even understand. You certainly don’t expect them to be artists,but criticism and lies can certainly hurt more. A delicate balance to achieve. As technology overruns our world, we already have little privacy left. Where to next? To the author, wow, you blew my mind and scared me. Not an easy thing to do. Well written and researched, and I love that you include excerpts in all your books.

[Matthew P O'Malley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Terrific Book By Douglas E. Richards

I've read every one of his books (some several times) and have always been thrilled, and Veracity is no exception. I saw the author's release announcement on Facebook, and immediately downloaded it to the Kindle app on my Pixel 2. I made the mistake of starting to read what I thought would be the first few pages, and instead read the whole book in one sitting on my phone's too-small screen. I have a massive headache, but it was worth it. As always, Richards integrates near-future tech into an action-packed story that's impossible to put down. His books inevitably pose far-reaching questions of morality and policy that will keep you thinking weeks after you've finished the last chapter. You can't go wrong with this guy!

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic!

A fast-paced novel so crammed with reality, it could very well have been written as a nonfiction! I now have a secondary set of books on order - all the goodies recommended by this author! So much truth in the novel, maybe it's just time we opened our minds to reality! Nothing is going to be worse, in fact, everything around us is actually very GOOD, and getting better all the time!! So happy I first discovered this author years ago! Keep writing, sir! You are a wonderful breath of fresh air in all the current doom and gloom! Keep up the great work of spreading such GOOD NEWS in such a highly entertaining format!

Ten stars! TWENTY! 100! LOLOL WTG, Doug! Just loved it. Stayed up all night to finish reading! Was worth every single minute!

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take liar,liar and multiply it by billions and you have Veracity

Imagine technology that makes it possible for anyone to discern when someone lies. 100% of the time. Now imagine what certain people would do to prevent the technology from setting fruit.

Imagine being able to watch tv and know for fact when a politician or media person is lying.

Now imagine what would happen if this tech became available to everyone.

Works leaders would stop at nothing to restrain this technology.

Well written and thought out as all of Doug's books are and you have the makings of a technology that is both needed and repulsive. I won't say more about this. Instead, get the book and read it for yourself and then make up your own mind.

[John Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Futurist book of the year that lives up to the tribal times we live in today

What if someone can build an AI learning algorithm that can identify lies from truth beyond a reasonable doubt? How would this change the face of politics and social interaction? This book touched home to me with several areas. The severe political / social divide we have in the US is on point. The deep learning AI technology that exists today, and other technology like slaughterbots, and the references to today’s figure and quotes had me identifying to this story throughout. Congrats Douglas E. Richards on keeping me hooked to your stories yet again.

[Luigi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really disappointed with this book. Having enjoyed a few books from this author, I was expecting rally good book, based on the hook, which was about a technology that stopped people telling lies.
There were hints of what it could be like, politicians who couldn't lie, now there is a cool idea, to people in countries that don't have democratic leadership, where politicians could easily identify dissenters because they could be caught lying.
I bought the book because I thought it would actually present a story of what happened once this system existed, which the cover alluded to.

I put a number of his books on my want to Read list, but I don't think I'll be reading them now.

[Norm Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read on Dec 10, 2020 4.4/5 stars. Recommended. Veracity by Douglas E. Richards ==Fini== What if you couldn't lie? What if you always knew if someone was telling the truth? Douglas addresses some challenging questions in his books.

Haven't read a book by Douglas E. Richards I didn't like. Read The Cure ages ago and still think of it regularly. Not for kids. Very graphic early chapter or two. Then twists galore. Douglas examines psychopathy.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting concept

I enjoy science fiction and stories of future tech, so I expected to like this more than I did. It was exciting in parts, had a few twists that I mostly saw coming, but was also very wordy. I found myself skimming parts that didn't seem to directly affect the story. But other times when I wanted more details about how something worked, it was glossed over - as in, it's the future and this is real now, just accept it. Like I said, it's an interesting concept, but, even though it IS about future tech, some of it seems far-fetched. Overall, not a terrible book, but just not my cup of tea.

[Kathi Cashion]

Thoughts on Veracity

I chose a five star rating because I found the book utterly fascinating ! It was not just the action and story plot that captured my attention, but more of what I call "things that make you go hmmm". This book made me sit back and really look at how much life has changed in my 70 years on this rock,...has it been for the better? Most definately! Douglas Richards made some very valid points through the viewpoints of his characters. All in all, it was a great read and one of those books that I did not want to end! I would recommend this book to anyone wanting something just a little different from all the others out there.

[Dave Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author - his characters most often do smart things instead of the stupid and stereotypical things often portrayed in media of all types (to make the plot more exciting?) but Richards uses science and extrapolates the consequences - both obvious and unforseen in making the plot move along. This book is no exception and it arrives at the perfect time as this seems to be the year of "fake news". I really enjoy the debrief at the end of each book where sources and the real science behind the story is discussed.