Solitaire by Bill Pepitone is a fast paced political thriller, feat. Grace, a reporter and Solitaire, a secret agent?
Let’s find out..
“A popping sound drifted above Broadway, struggling to
be heard amongst the loud buzz below. The sound was faint,
almost lost in the crowd’s roar. For a heartbeat, the city froze —
a living photograph — before all hell broke loose”
Book Review: Solitaire by Bill Pepitone
So, Solitaire starts with a murder in Times Square. Big, messy, public. Deputy Mayor Robert Caldwell is dead, and reporter Grace Delgado gets pulled into something much bigger than a normal crime story.
In starting, it feels like a fast political thriller. Corrupt people. Hidden secrets. Dangerous men in dark coats. You know the type. Then the AI thing comes into the picture, and from there it gets really interesting.
The scary part? The AI in this book is not some robot gone wild. It’s quiet. Invisible. It makes fake people, fake money trails, fake political donors. It helps powerful people cheat the whole system without anyone noticing. Honestly, that idea feels way too believable.
Grace is what makes the book work so well. She feels real. She gets scared. She makes mistakes. She keeps going anyway. Then there’s Michael Sloane, a lil secretive identity. His chemistry with Grace keeps the story sharp.
The book moves fast, and most of the time that works. A few side characters feel flat, and some tech parts get a little heavy.
4⭐️ because a few technical things (explanation) slows down the pace when the story is getting tensed.
A big question after all of this, What happens when machines start shaping truth, and nobody is watching? That’s the real chill here.
Similar Read: Strangers in Time by David Baldacci
“They’re not laundering money, Grace. They’re laundering legitimacy.”
Storyline: (Spoiler Alert)
Deputy Mayor Robert Caldwell gets killed in what looks like an attack meant for Mayor Evelyn Shaw. Tragic? Yes. Suspicious? Extremely. And for Grace Delgado, journalist who was close to Caldwell, this is something to look for. When she finds Caldwell left behind a hidden USB drive, she knows her normal life is doomed.
Enter Michael Sloane, aka “Solitaire.” a really mysterious man? Check. Grace and Sloane faced each other again, and let’s be honest, their chemistry is half the reason the conspiracy feels so electric.
Then comes the real nightmare: KATSAI. And no, it’s not some killer robot who can walk or attack. It’s worse. It’s an AI making fake identities, fake donor and no. of things which will surely scr*w up democracy. Creepy, right?
A good twist which I can point to, is that the AI itself isn’t evil, just being used by people who think ethics are optional.
Then there is Katerina Voss, Sloane’s former partner and lost love. She thinks that AI-control over government is humanity’s future. Sloane, now, has to face both these AI mess and his past heartbreak. Rough day.
Will he succeed??… Well the book has all the answers.
| Genre | Thriller |
| Number of Pages | 259 pages |
| My Rating | 4⭐⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
| Release Date | February 1, 2026 |
What I Loved
Solitaire is part conspiracy thriller, part emotional drama, and one lil reminder that maybe the scariest AI isn’t the one that thinks for itself, it’s the one thinking for the wrong people.
Quotes:
“Trust your instincts.”
Final Verdict?
When it comes to explosive final showdown, Grace character arc is totally gold. She is all after truth. Sloane? still secretive, but finally forced to confront his past.
Overall a good read, considering the direction AI is heading to in current days.
Who should read it:
- If you like to enjoy fast-paced political thrillers with lil bit of AI
- If you like thrillers that shows fears about surveillance and manipulation.
- Fans who like to read more of flawed characters (grace here), and obv. judge their decisions.
Books like Solitaire by Bill Pepitone:
- Deception Point by Dan Brown
- The Circle by Dave Eggers
