UNKNOWN

Secrets unravel. Perfection crumbles.

In a decaying world, a grizzled detective and his fiery young partner uncover a conspiracy that could destroy everything.

Deep in the frozen wastelands of Northern Finland, humanity clings to survival in crumbling habitats, surrounded by an irradiated desert known as the scour. Nothing lives beyond their rusted walls-or so they thought. Chief Investigator Linus Halla, hardened by twenty years of violence in a claustrophobic dystopia, is ready to walk away. His deputy, Ivan Finn, is young, driven, and hungry to prove himself.

When a six-year-old boy is found alive in the scour, their worlds collide. The discovery reopens a chilling case from Linus's past, forcing the unlikely duo to hunt for answers in a society fractured by eugenics, prejudice, and desperation. As they unravel a web of lies and face a ruthless enemy, Linus and Ivan must confront their own demons-and a truth that could either save or destroy what's left of humanity. Perfect for fans of gritty sci-fi thrillers and complex character-driven mysteries, this pulse-pounding novella explores survival, sacrifice, and the cost of truth in a world on the brink.

Meet Gideon Strath, the Atlanta-area wordsmith weaving epic science fiction and fantasy adventures from his Georgia garden shed-turned-writing-den. By day, he's shaping young minds as a public-school teacher; by night, he's crafting worlds in his debut thriller Shattered 9—a pulse-pounding tale of shattered realities and heroic quests. When not plotting interstellar escapades or building custom furniture, Gideon dives into his garden for inspiration. Subscribe for exclusive readings, behind-the-scenes writing updates, and sneak peeks into the mind of a storyteller on the rise!