I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Deepest Fake by Daniel Kalla Published by Simon & Schuster on July 29 2025
Genres: Adult, Thriller
Pages: 304
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
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The nitty-gritty: Daniel Kalla tackles AI, medical drama and more in this ambitious thriller, perfect for readers who are looking for a fast-paced, although sometimes predictable, tale.
The use of AI is such a hot button topic right now, and Daniel Kalla has written a thought-provoking thriller that addresses the moral and legal issues of a technology that has really taken off in the last few years. The Deepest Fake was a lot of fun, fast-paced and full of fascinating information about AI and the ramifications of using it. Kalla not only takes a deep dive into what AI can do, but he builds a solid story around it that involves such elements as domestic drama, a medical crisis and a “ticking clock” mystery that kept me flipping the pages as fast as I could. I did have some issues with Kalla’s writing style, and parts of the story felt both predictable and unrealistic, but I had a lot of fun while reading it despite a few quibbles.
Liam Hirsch is the CEO of tech company TranScend, a leader in the field of AI. Liam and his senior staff are working hard on the upcoming launch of a new app called TheirStory, which uses a predictive algorithm that takes detailed information about anyone alive or dead and extrapolates it into a realistic, thinking avatar. But when Liam gets bad news after a visit to a neurologist—he’s been having uncontrollable muscle spasms and the doctor suspects he might have an aggressive form of ALS—he pushes to move up the release date of the app, thinking his deteriorating condition will affect the app’s success and the company’s stock.
At the same time, Liam suspects his wife is cheating on him and hires private investigator Andrea DeWalt to find proof. When Andrea turns up irrefutable evidence, Liam feels like his life is falling apart. But as he delves further into his illness, he discovers that his symptoms might point to something else, something even more sinister. With the clock ticking and his senior staff trying to get the app ready for launch, Liam finds himself in the middle of a conspiracy. Will he and Andrea be able to uncover the truth before his illness takes over?
Just for the record, I’m personally against the use of AI, but that doesn’t mean I’m not fascinated by it. I don’t know enough about the subject to comment on whether Kalla’s ideas are reality or fiction, and I don’t have time to go down a rabbit hole researching AI, but I will say the AI parts of the story were very convincing and well done. Even though Liam runs an AI company and profits off of it, I appreciated the fact that as the story progresses, he begins to have doubts about what his company is creating. The concept of “deepfake” videos—AI being used to create fake videos that look completely real—is terrifying, especially when the author describes a political situation where a fake video can have terrible consequences. Liam goes through a lot in this story, and by the end he’s developed a conscious. Perhaps the huge profits that he and his coworkers have been reaping aren’t as important as ruining lives.
I also liked the fact that the author builds some interesting backstories for his characters. Liam, for example, has a volatile relationship with an old college friend who claims Liam stole code from him to develop the AI software his company is known for. Rudy, the disgruntled “friend,” plays an interesting part in the story and is the obvious suspect at first. We also have the “cheating wife” side plot that added some drama, and while I don’t usually like cheating subplots, this one was almost necessary for some of the twists that come up later in the story. I also enjoyed Andrea’s emotional backstory. Her father committed suicide a year before the story begins, and she’s struggling to understand why, especially since they were very close. And I have to give the author props for the way he handled infidelity in the story. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I really appreciated the way Celeste’s and Liam’s marital issues are resolved at the end of the book. There’s also a suggestion that Liam and Andrea might be starting something, but that is also handled in a believable way.
The story is told in short, punchy chapters that alternate between Liam and Andrea, and this gave the story almost perfect pacing. And not surprisingly, the action ramps up near the end with the addition of such elements as a runaway self-driving car, a shoot-out, and more over-the-top events. And it was a lot of fun! But I did have a few issues.
Disclaimer: I know this is fiction, but. I still need my thrillers to be mostly believable, and The Deepest Fake strains believability at times. For example, when Liam finds out that he has ALS and is given only a handful of weeks before the disease overtakes him, his first reaction is to consider assisted suicide. It’s not that I think the idea of assisted suicide isn’t believable, but it’s the way it’s presented that didn’t make sense. Liam makes the leap way too quickly and easily, and it just didn’t sit right with me. There also a part near the end where Liam discovers what’s actually wrong with him, and I just didn’t buy that subplot at all (I’d love to give more details but I’m trying to avoid spoilers).
I also found a lot of the dialog to be on the cheesy side. It’s something I might not have noticed if I hadn’t recently read some amazingly well written books, but unfortunately Kalla’s awkward dialog was a sticking point for me.
Still, I can’t deny I had a blast reading The Deepest Fake, and if you enjoy thrillers and are curious about AI, you’ll probably enjoy it too.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
This sounds interesting! I read some mixed opinions around and I get what you’re saying with the issues part, but all in all you had fun! And now I am curious!!
It was fun, and a quick read:-)
Great review, Tammy! I see how this book both has some good and bad points. I like that it has short chapters because those are my favorite to read. It’s so easy to say oh just another chapter. But I get your feelings about the awkward dialogue. It would definitely bother me too. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Stephanie! I love short chapters too:-)
I loved the book and the storyline behind it. I am just getting back to reading after many years of not reading. I really enjoy short chapters and this was the reason that i kept reading this book. Hard to put this book down.
I loved the book and the storyline behind it. I am just getting back to reading after many years of lnot reading. I really enjoy short chapters and this was the reason that i kept reading this book. Hard to put this book down.
What AI can do is a little unsettling. I’m not a huge fan of it either. I’m just sorry the writing in this one wasn’t a little better. But the idea is certainly on point for what’s happening in the world with AI and deepfake videos.
It’s a very current story, and although AI makes me uncomfortable, I’m glad I read it:-)
I think I’d like this if the dialog was better.
Anne – Books of My Heart
I think you’d enjoy it:-)
Parts of your review for this seemed perfect for my watch of the movie, The Beekeeper. I mostly had a good time with it (it was exactly what you’d expect of a Jason Statham movie), but there were parts, and one related to suicide similar to with Liam, that just didn’t quite feel real and seemed rushed. But, glad you did get some enjoyment out of it, despite any flaws.
I haven’t seen that movie but now I’m curious about it:-)
I just finished a fabulous clifi scifi thriller with AI: Artificial Wisdom, by Weaver. Highly recommended
I will check it out!
You mentioned in your review that you have read some amazingly well written books. I am just getting back to reading after about a 50 year absence. I would be interested to know what some of those books are so I can give them a try. I enjoyed your review of the book.
It’s a shame about the sometimes cheesy dialogue as parts of this do sound really interesting. It sounds like the sort of story that would make a good film.
I think so, it definitely has movie pacing and I could see it as a Netflix show.
Glad this one was at least fun for you. AI can be really scary nowadays.
Yes, very scary!
The AI side of this storyline sounds interesting, although the issues you had with dialogue and believablity are giving me pause. Tbh the action at the end sounds a bit OTT for me too but I’m glad you mostly enjoyed this one.
It really was a lot of fun, and the issues revolving around AI really make you think.
Sorry this wasn’t better, and I was so intrigued by the AI aspect! Thanks for the warning about the straining of believability though, I’ll keep that in mind when I read this because I also got a copy for review.
I’m curious to see what you think!
It’s a disturbing subject – I’m a bit haunted by the fact that the late, great Stephen Hawking claimed that AI would probably be the ending of humanity… But the cheesy dialogue wouldn’t work for me:).
I actually can see many uses for AI, although with anything good there is going to be bad, and there are already some of those deep fake videos that have been out and that is scary like you said! Glad this was a mostly good read for you, although the issues you had could be ones that would bother me as well. Great review as usual!
https://lisalovesliterature.bookblog.io/2025/07/30/l-l-l-little-reviews-78-july-2025/
In some ways I like the sound of this but then in others I don’t think it’s really for me. Happy to see you enjoyed the read even with the cheesy dialogue.
Lynn 😀