This is the first book in a series.

The story takes place in 2062 in world where the US is no longer a world power and Canada has more or less taken over its international role. We're told that a right-wing Christian government rules the US, but we don't get a general view of it. We see the lower class section of Hartford, Connecticut where the police rarely go. We see crime gangs (especially one run by a relatively ethical leader) and Jenny (a Canadian ex-patriot / veteran with an artificial arm and other results of serious injuries). As the story progresses, we learn of (then see) the manipulations of the Canadian military out to bring the woman back for a new project. We get to the latter part through investigations into the death of a Hartford police officer, the death of drug users from tainted drugs used by the Canadian military and the fact (initially) unknown persons are trying to locate the ex-patriot woman.

Along the way, we get bits and pieces about AI development and space exploration. At the end of the book, it appears as if the AI and space themes will play a major role in the next book. However, I'm not sure that will, in fact, take place. The amazon.com description of the book makes it sound as if it may. However, I can't help wonder - if that's really where the series is going why did the author spend an entire book on these other things? If the author felt comfortable making an entire book on these other material, how much of the following books will be involved in themes other than AI's and space?

Readers who like a more or less dystopian story may like the book as a stand-alone novel. It's not clear to me whether the other books in the series would be to their tastes.

If the second book actually focuses on the AI and space themes, it might turn out that readers who prefer those themes would be better off starting with the second book.

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