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THE SINGULARITY RACE by Mark de Castrique

THE SINGULARITY RACE

by Mark de Castrique

Pub Date: Oct. 11th, 2016
ISBN: 9781464205972
Publisher: Poisoned Pen

A routine security job takes a dark turn when battling international interests target a secret futuristic technology.

Retired Secret Service Agent Rusty Mullins, who now does security work for Prime Protection, is hired to protect brilliant Dr. Lisa Li and her young nephew, Peter. Shortly after the introductions, unnamed assassins try to kill Dr. Li and Peter, but crack shot Mullins saves them. Dr. Li is performing highly classified research on artificial intelligence—the singularity of the title—a program whose importance is brought home to Mullins by the president himself. North Carolina billionaire Robert Brentwood, who’s funding Dr. Li’s research, is relieved that Dr. Li is safe but infuriated that it’s Mullins who’s protecting her. Mullins forges a strong bond with young Peter through baseball and meets with Brentwood, who earnestly speaks on Li’s value and protection. Meanwhile, Mullins’ daughter Kayli expresses concern that he’s working on yet another dangerous assignment and reminds him that he wants to be around to watch his adorable grandson, Josh, grow up. Mullins’ son-in-law, Allen Woodson, who also works as a federal agent, makes a surprise appearance to warn him to take special care. This meeting and Mullins’ other movements are monitored by a determined assassin named Heinrich Schmidt. Mullins takes Dr. Li and Peter to the North Carolina mountains to a safe place Brentwood has provided for her to work. In the end, though, whom can Mullins trust?

De Castrique’s (A Specter of Justice, 2015, etc.) taut action sequences and strong character relationships triumph over a plot crowded with threads and back stories.