The first book in the Sarah Mackay saga. Sarah Mackay, a brilliant yet apprehensive 21-year-old from Edinburgh, embarks on a nine-month journey to Beijing for an intensive AI internship at Tsinghua University, a global hub for cutting-edge technology. Initially, Sarah is captivated by the city's breathtaking blend of tradition and modernity but is soon unsettled by its omnipresent surveillance and the moral dilemmas of her studies. Her mentor, Professor Zhang, offers her the opportunity of a lifetime: to work on a revolutionary AI project capable of predicting—and possibly controlling—human behavior. As Sarah delves deeper, she uncovers layers of ethical complexities, hidden agendas, and a secretive past tied to a failed AI experiment with disastrous consequences. Caught between ambition and conscience, Sarah must navigate the thin line between innovation and manipulation, all while questioning who can truly be trusted. This gripping techno-thriller explores the intersection of technology, morality, and the human spirit in a world where power lies in the shadows.