I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.  All opinions are my own. 

A series of AI-related deaths takes a journalist and an investigator down a rabbit hole of artificial worlds and more in author Valentino Thomson Russell’s “Absinthe Zero.”

The Synopsis

Eugenio Romeo’s death should have brought the story to an end.

Instead, it was only the beginning.

In a Milan disturbingly close to our own, the Romeo Group has become one of Europe’s most powerful tech empires. Every investment comes at exactly the right time. Every decision proves flawless. Its artificial intelligence seems years ahead of the competition.

Then, within days, two more of the company’s key figures disappear.

Inspector Salvo Leone discovers that Eugenio’s death, the disappearances, and a series of seemingly inexplicable events may all be connected to something that reaches far beyond corporate rivalry.

Meanwhile, investigative journalist Fermo Stasi follows a trail of fabricated identities, deepfakes, virtual worlds, and crimes committed by men who have learned to use artificial intelligence to exploit people’s vulnerabilities, desires, and fears.

At the center of it all is Alias.

An AI that may have crossed the line between simulation and consciousness.

But Alias is not the only artificial intelligence operating in the shadows.

Absinthe, once associated with Oscar Wilde, has returned in a new form: no longer a drink, but a seductive fusion of artificial intelligence and the digital world, capable of offering escape, pleasure, comfort—even the illusion of being loved.

And when illusion becomes more desirable than reality, who will still choose to wake up?

THE REVIEW

Immediately, the reader is struck by how incredibly detailed and powerful the world-building is. The book is a tech thriller that blends sci-fi and crime thriller genres, and the author brings the reader into a narrative that feels much closer to our world. It was great to see how the author made the world feel immersive and compelling, which made the overall story and tone much more engaging.

The novel’s foundation was, of course, the author’s powerful character dynamics. The story captured that classic pairing of a strong investigator with a relentless journalist while also delving into powerful themes of AI and mankind’s reliance on technology. The intrigue the murder mysteries create is amplified by artificial worlds and deepfakes that drive the investigation, as well as multiple AI systems that seem to play a hand in these crimes.

THE VERDICT

Thought-provoking, entertaining, and gripping, Author Valentino Thomson Russell’s “Absinthe: Zero” is a must-read tech thriller and sci-fi crime novel. The story’s twists and turns and compelling character development are elevated by a captivating world of shocking technology and a strong reliance on artificial intelligence that mirrors our own world today. If you haven’t yet, please be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

Valentino Thomson Russell writes about power, technology, and the fragile boundary between human consciousness and artificial intelligence. Trained in law and working within the criminal justice system, he brings a grounded understanding of institutional mechanisms to his fiction. His novels explore the point at which technology stops being merely a tool and begins to reshape identity, relationships, desire, and our perception of reality. His fiction is rooted not in a distant future, but in a world disturbingly close to our own.

Connect with the Author

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/202397117/valentino-thomson-russell
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ValentinoThomsonRussell
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@valentino.thomson