The Confessions is a riveting, timely, and educational thriller that is perhaps the most powerful narrative I’ve read in the past year. Paul Bradley Carr’s take on AI and its influence on our day-to-day life is incredibly realistic and one of the most-interesting I have encountered.
In a world where everyone is dependent on AI to chart a course for their lives on a day to day basis, what’s the worst thing that can happen? Paul Bradley Carr answers the question in this story of such an AI inexplicably going offline and unresponsive. The sheer panic and unrest is matched only by the mystery of an assortment of letters being delivered around the world with supposedly each person’s sins that they must atone for. The CEO of the parent company overseeing this AI must pair up with an ex-nun who was there at the beginning to help the AI understand the true meaning of life. Can they get to the bottom of the mystery before the veiled devious plan fully executes?
It’s impossible to read this narrative and not find stark similarities in our daily life. ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Bard are just a few examples of how ubiquitous AI is becoming for our society. We ask it to plan our day, our travels, our meals, and so much more. This realization makes The Confessions even scarier and more eerie with how it’s not so much of a far-fetched concept as one thought a decade ago.
On top of mirroring our world, Carr infuses the story with a fast-pace that keeps your interest at maximum levels with one big twist after another. It’s thoroughly thrilling, superbly thought-provoking, and overall an absolutely engaging experience that will have you finishing it in two sittings if not just one prolonged session. The impact however is a long-lasting one as you find yourself pondering over the well-crafted ideas that Carr conveys through his taut writing.
Hard to believe The Confessions is Carr’s debut in the thrillerverse because it feels like the work of a veteran who balances gritty and grounded human emotions, actions, and the grand stakes so adroitly without the slightest hiccup.
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