i4Ni: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Humanoid, Thriller

Editorial Review:
i4Ni by John Priest is a dystopian techno-thriller set in a near-future America devastated by corruption, riots, and the aftermath of failed utopian promises. Jules Von Beck has created an AI-powered humanoid with the promise of stopping crime and holding criminals to justice. His plan seems too good to be true, and rightly so. Detective Conrad Jacks investigates the disappearance of his friend Harry Jay, a whistleblower at the all-powerful Von Beck Global corporation. The i4Ni is an AI-powered, semi-humanoid device that reads memories to guarantee criminal convictions with chilling efficiency. Meanwhile, Supreme Court Justice Claudia Rain stands as the last bulwark against i4Ni’s nationwide implementation, only to be targeted and abducted by Jules Von Beck, the corporation’s megalomaniacal creator. As Jacks, reporter Rosie Freel, and TV journalist Romily Sanders race to expose the truth, they are drawn into a web of blackmail and betrayal. The fate of the American justice system—and the line between justice and tyranny—hangs in the balance.

John Priest’s worldbuilding is immersive, painting a bleak vision of 2060 New York and a fractured United States, where technology promises salvation but also threatens humanity. The setting is tactile: streets choked with debris, smoke, and fear; the looming glass pyramid of Von Beck Global; and makeshift sanctuaries where hope persists. The cast is rich and flawed—Jacks, haunted by his past but doggedly principled; Rosie, feisty and inquisitive; Claudia, bearing scars from the past yet unyielding; Leksy and Sheema, caught between survival and conscience; and Jules Von Beck, a chilling symbol of unchecked ambition. The conflict primarily revolves around the fight to rescue Harry and Claudia, exposing Von Beck’s machinations, and the characters' struggles with trauma, loyalty, and truth. Priest deftly employs engaging dialogue, shifting points of view, and layered backstories to build suspense and emotional resonance. The novel’s speculative technology is terrifyingly plausible, raising profound questions about memory, free will, and the price of absolute security. In i4Ni, justice is no longer blind—it is invasive, inescapable, and, perhaps, the greatest threat of all. This is a winner for fans of technothrillers—it is balanced, deft, and features unforgettable characters. 
Reviewed By: Sarah Harkness
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Date: September 6, 2025
The Book Commentary LLC 

The Serial Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely read for fans of dystopia
Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2025
Verified Purchase
As someone who loves near-future thrillers and techno-thrillers i4Ni had me hooked from the first page. I found John Priest’s vision of a crumbling New York in 2060 gripping and disturbingly realistic. It is like the author transports Trump’s chaotic world into the future with advanced technology. The idea of i4Ni—a terrifying AI justice system capable of extracting memories to prove guilt—felt chillingly relevant in our age of surveillance and diminishing privacy, where the truth can be distorted and justice manipulated. I was immediately drawn to Conrad Jacks, the battered, tough but deeply human detective, and his struggle to protect friends and family against a system that promises “100% conviction.” Jules is a complex character; at the surface, he is the genius who offers answers with his technology. But then, when a whistleblower goes missing, the other side of him starts to come out. This book thrusts you into a world where truth is manipulated, where Supreme Justices are threatened—and doesn’t that sound very familiar? It is one of the books in which I found myself fully invested, and I highly recommend it.