Who Knows You by Heart

Computer programmers discover a dark secret undergirding their latest AI project in this eerie, romance-tinged techno-thriller from Farley (My Favorite War). When Octavia Crenshaw, a young Black coder in New York City, pilots a chatbot that ends up leaking her coworkers’ personal secrets, she knows it’s time for a new job. An intriguing opportunity arises at a New Jersey tech firm, Eustachian Inc. It’s a bit of a soulless gig, but Octavia signs on, believing the lucrative salary and benefits will enable her to pay off her late mother’s debts. After she’s hired, Octavia’s coworker, Walcott Neville—one of Eustachian’s only other Black employees—ropes her into the Zion Initiative, a top-secret AI project meant to generate stories free of racism and other social biases. Octavia soon develops feelings for Neville, but before long, she learns that Eustachian’s plans for Zion are darker than she imagined: the tools she and Neville are developing are being used by the company against its own employees. Farley charges straight toward topical questions about AI and diversity initiatives, and the chemistry between Octavia and Neville draws readers in. If the final product prioritizes popcorn thrills over pointed social critique, readers will be too entertained to mind. Agent: Farley Chase, Chase Literary. (Nov.)