The Terminal Code by J.W. Galliger

A refreshing and raw splash of dystopic creativity, The Terminal Code by J.W. Galliger is a futuristic crime thriller that will leave you hungry for more, though not necessarily eager for the decades to come.

A murder inside an immersive virtual reality world called SCAPE leaves investigators terrified and mystified by the implications. Identifying a deadly flaw in an escapist platform that serves billions brings up an impossible question: what are the true boundaries of reality? If our mind believes something deeply enough, can it be manifested with deadly consequences? Bringing the story home for today’s readers, the novel questions the potential risks of emergent technology that could quickly spiral out of control.

World-wise Dashiell Kincaid must apply all of his expertise, wit, and even survival skills to this spiraling mystery before more bodies hit the floor in both worlds. Turning the locked-room mystery genre on its head, this endlessly inventive story does not disappoint in its depth, detail, or dark prophecies. The entire premise of this twisting plot functions as a what-if critique of humanity’s current obsession with social media, online existence, and the blurry edges of morality that come with such virtual distance.

Technically speaking, the prose is executed well, with few obvious mistakes, and a clear attention to linguistic detail. Some of the conversations feel rushed or abrupt, and the narration does more telling than showing, but Galliger has wickedly crafted a three-dimensional future that feels frighteningly possible.