When a charismatic social researcher, Dr. Naila Kibet, publishes a groundbreaking book claiming that modern society is held together by "micro-deceptions"-small lies people tell themselves to survive-she becomes an overnight intellectual celebrity. Her theory spreads across universities, governments, and media, inspiring think tanks and political groups to twist her ideas into tools for manipulation.

But weeks after her rise, a whistleblower leaks documents revealing that Naila's own research institute has been quietly funded by a coalition of corporations and politicians who stand to benefit from blurring the line between truth and narrative. Overnight, her work becomes the center of a global controversy: Did she uncover the truth about human deception, or help engineer it?

When she isn't writing, Leah can usually be found hiking off-grid, attempting to bake the perfect sourdough, or reading analog books far away from signal towers. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family and a dog who has no concept of personal branding.