Going Dark

Name: Going Dark
Price: 7.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9798742821564

✍️ A Kirk Straw

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$7.99

In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days

📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A firefighter battles a microchip-controlled disease on New Year's Eve.

Craig Meyers finds himself at the center of a global crisis initiated by a former Vice President. The leader of Dominatexs pushed for euthanasia policies that were initially dismissed but later implemented through forced microchipping. Now, with a child managing the infrastructure, Craig must confront a mysterious illness. His background as a firefighter provides the only tools he has to save his family. The plot unfolds over one night, creating a claustrophobic atmosphere where time is running out. Straw uses the contrast between the festive holiday and the personal terror to drive the narrative forward. The story examines how secret political deals can lead to widespread suffering for ordinary citizens.

Key Themes

selective euthanasia microchip implants New Year's Eve

Literary Context

The book is set in a near-future United States where government overreach has normalized invasive medical procedures. It reflects contemporary anxieties about surveillance technology and bioethics, using the backdrop of a national holiday to emphasize the intrusion of political power into private life.

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Stephen King's dystopian narratives · Michael Crichton's techno-thrillers · John Carpenter's New Year's Eve horror films

🩸

Horror Fiction

🏛 Independently Published 📅 2021 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9798742821564

📝 Description: Going Dark

A Kirk Straw presents a dystopian thriller centered on Craig Meyers, a firefighter whose life intersects with a sinister government plot. The narrative begins with the Vice President of Dominatexs proposing selective euthanasia to manage population surplus. Although the Commissioner of Health rejects the plan as inhumane, the Vice President continues secret negotiations after leaving office. Three years later, every citizen receives a microchip implant while a child controls the system. Craig remains unaware of these technological intrusions until a disease emerges on New Year's Eve. He must rely on his professional experience to protect his loved ones from an unknown threat during the countdown to midnight. The story blends elements of gothic suspense with modern techno-thriller tropes, focusing on the tension between individual agency and state control. This book suits readers who enjoy fast-paced narratives involving medical mysteries and political conspiracies. It may not appeal to those seeking historical fiction or romantic subplots. Straw structures the plot around a single day of crisis, using the New Year's Eve setting to heighten urgency. The narrative draws on traditions of supernatural horror by treating technology as an unnatural force that invades the human body. Craig’s journey is one of discovery and survival against a backdrop of cold weather and societal collapse.

💎 Our verdict on Going Dark

“

🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

A Kirk Straw delivers a tense, claustrophobic thriller that effectively utilizes the New Year's Eve setting to amplify dread. The narrative succeeds in blending gothic suspense with modern techno-thriller tropes, portraying microchip implants as instruments of sinister control rather than mere convenience. Craig Meyers’ background as a firefighter provides a logical, albeit desperate, toolkit for survival against an invisible, systemic threat. The book shines in its examination of how ordinary citizens suffer from elite political machinations, creating a palpable sense of societal collapse. While it lacks historical depth or romantic relief, its strength lies in the relentless countdown to midnight and the exploration of bodily autonomy under state surveillance.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who enjoy fast-paced narratives involving medical mysteries and political conspiracies will find this book compelling. It offers a claustrophobic, high-stakes experience where the festive backdrop of New Year's Eve contrasts sharply with personal terror. The story examines how secret political deals lead to widespread suffering, appealing to those interested in the tension between individual agency and state control. By treating technology as an unnatural force, it draws on supernatural horror traditions while remaining grounded in a single day of crisis. It is ideal for fans of psychological horror who appreciate a countdown structure that heightens urgency without relying on romantic subplots or historical fiction elements.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

A Kirk Straw delivers a tense, claustrophobic thriller that effectively utilizes the New Year's Eve setting to amplify dread. The narrative succeeds in blending gothic suspense with modern techno-thriller tropes, portraying microchip implants as instruments of sinister control rather than mere convenience. Craig Meyers’ background as a firefighter provides a logical, albeit desperate, toolkit for survival against an invisible, systemic threat. The book shines in its examination of how ordinary citizens suffer from elite political machinations, creating a palpable sense of societal collapse. While it lacks historical depth or romantic relief, its strength lies in the relentless countdown to midnight and the exploration of bodily autonomy under state surveillance.