Liquid Cool: The Cyberpunk Detective Series

Liquid Cool, Book 1

De: Austin Dragon

Narrado por: Shamaan Casey

The sci-fi detective thriller gets cool...Liquid Cool!

Liquid Cool is the action-packed (and funny) first book in this cyberpunk detective series.

Meet Cruz — a private detective with a cool hat, laser gun, and attitude. But don’t touch his red hovercar — or you could get shot!

Science fiction and crime fiction blend in the high-tech, low-life world of Liquid Cool as Cruz faces off against neon gangsters, sinister cyborgs, corporate samurai soldiers, and laser-gun shootouts solving cases in the rainy supercity of Metropolis. It isn’t a bad place, but it isn’t a good one either.

Uber-governments and megacorporations fight for control of the supercity, but so does crime. It's here we meet our unlikely hero in this supercity of a million victims and perpetrators.

In the novel that started it all, author Austin Dragon shows why you never want to meet a cyborg in a dark alley.

Download Liquid Cool today and begin your action-filled and funny sci-fi detective adventure with Cruz and company!

©2016 Austin Dragon (P)2024 Austin Dragon

Action-packed Cyberpunk Mystery

Liquid Cool is an immersive cyberpunk adventure that masterfully blends film noir-style detective work with futuristic, dystopian storytelling. Author Austin Dragon crafts a vivid world filled with neon-lit skyscrapers, hovering vehicles, and a society dominated by advanced technology. The story follows private investigator Cruz, who is hired to solve a missing person’s case. As he investigates, he uncovers a web of conspiracies involving megacorporations, ruthless criminals, and a mysterious figure known only as “the Big Guy.” The investigation takes him through the city’s dangerous underworld, and he encounters an array of colorful characters, from femme fatales to eccentric inventors, each adding to the layered and unpredictable storyline. The novel nicely balances fast-paced action, mystery, and dark comedy, making for a very entertaining read.

Dragon’s descriptive world-building is one of the highlights of this book, as the futuristic mega cityscape comes vividly to life with its non-stop buzz of activity and rainy atmosphere. There’s a lot to unpack in this futuristic world, with its advanced technology and gritty characters. It should be noted that this book does require a significant amount of attention to detail due to the sheer volume of information presented. If you’re listening to the audiobook, be sure to listen at a slower speed to fully appreciate/grasp all of the extensive worldbuilding. On the positive side, the book’s short chapters and straightforward writing style allow it to be read faster than expected for its length.

The book is also full of unique, memorable characters. Protagonist Cruz is a very likable genius detective, and his detective work includes some ridiculous scenarios that add humor and intrigue to the story. Many of Cruz's friends are flawed, shady characters that readers will find crass and unlikeable—but they all have larger-than-life personas that add entertainment value to the story. The overall narrative of the story is driven by Cruz, with a lot of accompanying action and engaging dialogue that pulls the story together.

The story begins as a mystery after an explosive shootout at Joe Blow’s bar. Soon after, the story shifts to Mr. Cruz and his effort to set up a detective agency. The two storylines don’t come together until late into the story, so readers will have to be patient, but there is a satisfying resolution of how everything ties together. Cruz’s initial case of the murder of “Easy Chair Charlie” is solved quickly, and other cases come his way after word spreads that he is in the detective business. The book, at times, feels like a series of short stories of Cruz solving different cases with new characters introduced in each.

One critique of the novel could be its overwhelming cast of characters. At the beginning of the book, almost every chapter introduces someone new, and it becomes difficult to keep track of everyone or to understand the connections between them. The first three chapters are told in the 3rd person, focusing on different characters. In the 4th chapter, readers discover that these are side characters as the perspective switches to the 1st person POV of the protagonist, Mr. Cruz. On the positive side, there is more clarity later in the novel, and the complex interconnectivity of the characters becomes very intriguing. The author’s ambitious attempt at creating a sprawling, interconnected world is very evident, but the lack of focus on a central cast early on may have readers wanting a more cohesive narrative.

In summary, Liquid Cool is a great option in the cyberpunk genre, offering a refreshing take on classic noir tropes with a futuristic twist. The abundance of characters make it challenging at times, but readers who are patient will find it a very satisfying story by the end. Narrator Shamaan Casey does a fantastic job portraying the characters with distinct voices and brings the complex dystopian world vividly to life. If an action-packed detective storyline set in an expansive dystopian world sounds interesting, don’t hesitate to add this book to your reading list. The 2nd and 3rd books in the series, Blade Gunner and NeuroDancer, are currently available as physical copies, so you can quickly devour the entire series!

🎤Narrator Performance🎤

Narrator Shamaan Casey does an excellent job narrating this audiobook. Casey uses a strong, commanding voice to narrate the central narrative, wonderfully describing the expansive world-building in the story. This book has a large cast of characters, and Casey masterfully uses his vocal talent to provide unique voices, personalities, and pacing for the characters, matching the demeanor and grittiness of each and giving the audiobook the feel of a multicast listening experience.

A Surprise

a good class detective novel set in a cyberpunk world. surprising good and I don't see many other vooks doing true cyberpunk setting

fun cyber noir detective story

This is the first book in a series, which I originally read a few years ago. Like most first books in a series, we are getting used to the characters and feeling out the world building.
As an audiobook I found it a little hard to follow because the plot competes with a lot of single story vignettes, most of which eventually tie in.
I hope that they do more audiobooks because I love the Liquid Cool world. It's fun, light without being a cozy, some action, but mainly character studies.

Thrilling Action-Packed Detective Series

Detective Cruz is a newcomer to the PI game, and he makes his entrance with a blast—literally. Equipped with a laser gun and an unshakable attitude, he navigates a world of super-governments, mega-corporations, gangsters, cyborgs, and the underbelly of Metropolis, settling into crime-solving like he was born for it.

Austin Dragon crafts a thrilling sci-fi fantasy world filled with heroes, villains, and mystery. Each character is richly developed, serving both their immediate role and the larger narrative. Authentic dialogue and emotions keep the listener fully immersed, while vivid details bring the story to life. The plot twists are sharp, unexpected, and flawlessly executed, with no loose ends—only anticipation for more from Detective Cruz.

Shamaan Casey delivers a masterful narration, effortlessly bringing the story to life with his rich, dynamic performance. His precise articulation and expressive range infuse each character with distinct personality and emotion, pulling the listener deeper into the world. With impeccable pacing and an innate understanding of tone, he transforms the audiobook into a fully immersive experience, elevating the narrative’s intensity, depth, and intrigue.

This audiobook is an absolute thrill ride, packed with captivating characters and pulse-pounding mystery! An electrifying experience from start to finish, I can’t wait for the next installment!

There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook

Energetic, cyberpunk thriller

Liquid Cool by Austin Dragon is a fun, energetic, cyberpunk detective story. Shaman Casey is a fantastic narrator the story is entertaining, interesting, humorous, thrilling, and engaging. Cruz is a private detective who works in the wrong part of the city. Things are not always what they seem.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review