Clean

An unnamed telepathic hero battles bad guys and his addiction to super-drug Satin in this tightly written futuristic detective story set in an alternate Atlanta. After the devastating Tech Wars, Ameri­cans developed a healthy paranoia regarding both seemingly sentient machinery and humans who can control others’ minds. The narrator, a level eight telepath, commands wary respect from his compatriots at the DeKalb County Police Department despite his preference for self-isolation and conflicted feelings about his drug habit. Det. Isabella Cherabino works alongside the hero to solve a string of serial killings that might be linked to the Telepaths’ Guild. As clues to the murders surface, the hero’s and Cherabino’s pasts are also illuminated, offering a psychological analysis of each character that serves to strengthen and carry along the plot. Their burgeoning attraction adds zest and ups the hero’s personal stakes as he tracks the killer’s steps while examining his own life. This crisp debut marks Hughes as a writer to watch. Agent: Alexandra Machinist, Janklow & Nesbit Associates. (Sept.)