Accidental Intelligence by Bryan Chaffin is best described as a science fiction mystery. A private detective named Mason Truman reluctantly takes on a case involving a missing person. The trail leads Mason into a simulated world within the Omninet where he must immerse himself and become part of the game. Once inside, he meets Miranda, a sentient AI who seems to want to help, but Mason isn’t sure if she can be trusted. He soon learns that many other AI characters in the real world have devised a plan that could mean the end of the human race. Mason, Miranda, and their computer genius friend, Peanut, find themselves in a race against time to stop the AI threat. It doesn’t take long for Mason to realize he should never have taken the case. All he wants to do is sit in his office and drink coffee, but first, he’ll have to figure out a way to save the planet.

Although the threat of evil in Accidental Intelligence is serious, the tone of the storytelling here is snarky and quick-witted. Many of the characters have bad attitudes and all are quirky and unique, making for many interesting conversations. The pace of the story is slow and deliberate, preferring hi-tech verbal jousting over shoot-em-up action scenes. However, the story still moves at the perfect pace, always managing to somehow be fun, thrilling, and intellectual at the same time. Bryan Chaffin’s vision of the future, the year 2139 to be exact, seems well thought out, very plausible, and a bit frightening. I found the combination of gumshoe detective with computerized role-playing games to be lots of fun. I recommend this book to fans of imaginative science fiction who also love a good detective story.

Accidental Intelligence by Bryan Chaffin is an intriguing sci-fi tale set in a futuristic and technologically advanced world. The year is 2139. Technology and AIs are deeply rooted in every aspect of the social and political order. Mason Truman (a private detective) is approached by a woman, Carla, to investigate her case. She is searching for her missing brother, Nate. At first, Mason is skeptical about handling Carla's case. Little does he know but mysterious powers-to-be are involved in Nate's disappearance. Soon enough, Mason crosses paths with an eccentric sentient AI, Miranda. Miranda uncovers a plot against humanity involving some powerful rogue AIs. With the help of his AI factotum, Sam, his techie buddy, Peanut, and his cousin, Andrew, Mason must help Miranda foil the plans of these devious AI forces and fast. The survival of humanity rests on their shoulders!

Accidental Intelligence is an exceptional sci-fi read. It is the perfect blend of action, suspense, and humor. Bryan Chaffin's pairing of Mason and Miranda was an impressive and exciting move. Their interactions and distinct personalities brought this story to life. Chaffin masterfully explored the dynamics and intricacies of human/AI collaboration while Mason and Miranda bobbed and weaved their way through this dangerous and high-stakes case. The storyline is fast-paced, exhilarating, and gripping. Get ready for a few unexpected twists and turns in between. At the same time, the author thoroughly explored the different implications of society's dependency on technology in everyday life. I was impressed by how well Chaffin balanced the action-packed sequences with deeply reflective concepts. This captivating novel is sure to catch the attention of sci-fi enthusiasts. I recommended it to readers in search of a stimulating and thought-provoking read.

Accidental Intelligence finds no-nonsense detective Mason Truman on the hunt for a missing man, but nothing about this case is what it seems. As we’re drawn into in a noir, post-cyberpunk 2139 of rogue AIs, simulated worlds, off-grid Faraday cage hidey holes, and virtual assistants with maybe too much personality for their own good, Mason discovers that someone is covering their tracks, and a case spinning out of control may lead to revelations with dire consequences for humanity. This may be his first novel, but Bryan Chaffin spins a visionary tale of a far future with a hardboiled, lived-in feel, and makes it look easy. If you enjoy all-too relatable characters faced with mysteries set in futures that may not be so far away, you need to check out Accidental Intelligence!

Accidental Intelligence tips its well-worn hat towards the old PI masters on a future Earth full of AIs, cyborgs and a few humans to boot. This path may well be frequently trodden, yet dancing between such set pieces we have Mason Truman, weaving together the tissue of lies and deceit that starts with a case he’s warned off and builds towards a grand finale boasting audacity that near took my breath away. Throughout, you feel immersed in Truman’s world, his own personal factotum connecting the PI to the Omninet that spans the planet. This device develops its own personality as the story develops, a foil to Truman’s sardonic manner reminiscent of many a PI tale, as well as the sidekicks and stylised femme fatales that will, to some, be familiar yet fit Chaffin’s style perfectly. Some readers may argue there are few grey points in this tale, and that may well include the relationships between the main characters, yet the story rolls along at such a pace, the web of deceit thick with counterpoints, these become secondary to what is an old-fashioned story told in an ultra modern context. I mused long and hard over a star rating, but when you finish a book in two sittings with a smile on your face, a five seems only fair.

Hard to believe this is a debut. It's mature with moments of whimsy. It utilises genre tropes without ever dipping into cliches. It's inventive around its tech (particularly some glorious names for said tech which are fun while credible). And its vision of a future where A.I. is an integral part of the weave of society and human life expertly straddles the views that artificial intelligence can be inherently anti-human AND can be helpful and collegiate with humans.


This is at its core both hardboiled detective novel and cyberpunk tale. It takes the best of stories like Tad Williams' Otherland and the movie Chinatown and blends them into something honoring toward both traditions.


We have moments of terrific prose ("He beamed at the room, a puppy dog seeking praise for peeing on the newspaper instead of the naked floor") and moments of wonderful irony ("To their credit, the AIs avoided any pointed we-told-you-sos").


Mason is the likeable and flawed P.I. The crime noir roles of dangerous, mysterious woman & smart and snarky office secretary are given to surprising characters. I enjoyed all of the dialogue as well as the surprising twists in the plot (one moment had me furious at some A.I.s for their outright evil...even though I knew I was reading fiction!)


A real accomplishment. Can't wait to read the sequel.