Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Jesse Muehlbauer’s The Artificial Conspiracy is a gripping blend of speculative fiction, psychological drama, and social commentary that opens with a question as ominous as it is irresistible: “Is this the end of the world?” That question looms both literally and metaphorically over the novel’s events, anchored by a haunting billboard and a mysterious comet in the Nevada sky. With deft prose and an ever-tightening spiral of tension, Muehlbauer constructs a story that is as much about inner reckoning as it is about external apocalypse.

At the heart of the novel is Mirai McGarry, a young artist with a hidden burden, who receives an invitation to “The Preserve”—a glittering, self-contained utopia in the desert led by the enigmatic Alexander. What begins as a reunion mission to find and perhaps rescue her estranged best friend Julie quickly evolves into something deeper and far more disturbing. The Preserve, with its sterile order and utopian rhetoric, is revealed to be a psychological fortress built on charismatic manipulation and a dangerous promise of transcendence from a world deemed irredeemable.

Muehlbauer excels at atmosphere. His settings are vivid—from the desolate desert highway and eerie billboards to the shining interiors of The Preserve and the unsettling silence of its cult-like lyceum. The prose is cinematic, pulling the reader in with strong visual cues and emotional immediacy. Mirai’s perspective is sharp and relatable, her skepticism a necessary anchor in a world where the lines between hope, delusion, and authoritarian control blur.

One of the novel’s strengths lies in its timely themes. The Artificial Conspiracy explores the allure of certainty in an uncertain world, the seductive power of charismatic figures, and the existential dread that often drives people to seek shelter in extreme ideologies. The subplot involving Mirai’s own health challenges adds emotional weight and complexity to her motives, highlighting how fear—both global and deeply personal—can make promises of escape dangerously attractive.

While the plot is largely character-driven and emotionally resonant, some readers may find the pacing uneven, particularly in the latter half where the story shifts gears into a broader conspiracy. The novel also leaves some threads unresolved (intentionally so), but those hoping for tighter closure may feel slightly unfulfilled. However, these minor issues are overshadowed by the novel’s compelling voice and thematic richness.

The climax, centered on a dramatic confrontation within The Preserve and a shocking public display in Times Square, is both emotionally satisfying and intellectually provocative. The final moments invite readers to consider not just the literal meaning of “the end of time,” but what it means to live authentically in a world bent on self-destruction.

Verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. Clever, creepy, and full of heart. Highly recommended for fans of Stephen King, metafiction, or anyone looking for something that’s scary and smart.