Blake, a wayward teen on the cusp of following his estranged father into the army, discovers his phone has been hacked by a mysterious app. Using what appears to be an artificially intelligent avatar, the app convinces Blake to help it investigate the brutal abduction of its creator, a loner computer genius specializing in AI called Jacob.

Blake accepts the challenge, not least to enrich himself with the rewards offered as payment to draw him in.
Initially unafraid and dismissive of any potential threat, Blake soon discovers he's not the only one playing to win the spoils at any cost. The shadowy international organization that helped fund Jacob's work and the UK intelligence service also conspire to control the code that Jacob has unleashed.

Facing personal ruin and battling the guilt of his criminal actions, Blake must become both detective and soldier while remaining an amateur - an adolescent alone, fighting his way out through the world of professional men, women and something beyond them all.