Book Review: The Artificial Conspiracy

Reviewed by Victoria Lilly

A tense rollercoaster of a thriller that explores cult dynamics & personal autonomy against an apocalyptic backdrop

The Artificial Conspiracy opens in medias res as Mirai McGarry, a 24-year-old artist from Florida recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, ventures into the Nevada desert where a doomsday cult has garnered a following numbering in tens of thousands.

Mirai enters the cult compound in search of her best friend, Julie, who abruptly left her Florida home to join The Preserve, lured by its charismatic leader Alexander’s promise of spiritual rebirth and ascension to a different world. But Mirai’s attempt to rescue Julie fails quickly, and she is expelled from the compound along with David, a member of the cult disillusioned with its promise of rebirth and escape from “hell” of everyday life.

Mirai’s and David’s burgeoning friendship is interrupted when an apocalyptic message is broadcast—first on the big screens of New Year’s celebrations in Times Square, then in a frantic rambling of a dementia-stricken radio station host. The latter warns of a millenarian secret society, Ad Ordinem.

Mirai thinks little of either event at first, preoccupied with the loss of her best friend to the cult, and agonizing over her medical diagnosis, but her life is inexorably pulled toward the threats of apocalypse when she is contacted by an anonymous member of an organization claiming to be fighting Ad Ordinem and The Preserve. Encouraged and aided by David, Mirai throws herself into a whirlwind of conspiracy, assault, and reckoning with her emotional and spiritual baggage.

This evocative thriller is about the search for truth, belonging, and beauty in an age of moral uncertainty and false prophets. Framed around the ominous appearance of Brubaker’s Comet and a cryptic doomsday conspiracy, the novel examines how fear, grief, and yearning for meaning can drive people toward the illusion of safety—even at the cost of their freedom.

The unfolding suspense plot provides an engaging structural anchor; onto this skeleton author Muehlbauer adds the true meat of the story, the exploration of existential uncertainty, religious doubt, and childhood trauma. While cult dynamics are examined, more attention is devoted to the reasons why people wind up joining cults in the first place, exemplified by such supporting characters as Mirai’s best friend Julie and newfound partner David.

Interpersonal relationships are the novel’s strongest feature. Where it stumbles is the delivery of new information and enunciation of characters’ particular worldviews. This exposition is sometimes clunky, which interferes with the otherwise fluid and quick pacing, and makes otherwise compelling characters sound flat and lecturer-like.

This is, however, a minor complaint, as the writing overall does its job and brings characters to life with great skill. One of the most enjoyable dynamics is the McGarry family in the first act, with banter between Mirai and her adopted father and sister particularly notable, especially in the light of later events and revelations. This well-executed thriller plot—which has a protagonist chasing puzzle pieces all around the United States—should more than satisfy lovers of the suspense genres. The novel also does an excellent job of incorporating and critiquing AI technology and chatbots.

The Artificial Conspiracy is a compelling and emotionally rich narrative about resisting authoritarian seduction and choosing truth over comfort. Mirai’s journey is ultimately one of reclaiming voice and agency in a world increasingly primed for manipulation. A bold, timely, and haunting work, this book challenges readers to confront what they believe in and asks them to consider whether comfort is ever worth the price of freedom.

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