Trouble Walked In

I’ll admit, I went into *Trouble Walked In* expecting a straightforward sci-fi adventure, but what I got was a masterclass in how to make corporate espionage *thrilling*. Kupari’s worldbuilding is relentless—every chapter drops another acronym or interoffice memo, and while it occasionally risks overwhelming, it’s deliberate. This isn’t a universe where heroes swoop in; it’s one where progress is measured in stolen data drives and carefully worded threats. Derek Dysart’s performance is a huge part of why it works. His voice has this weary, seen-it-all quality that sells the exhaustion of fighting a rigged system. When he snaps out a line like, *“You don’t get to ask questions when you’re the product,”* it lands like a gut punch. That said, the pacing isn’t perfect. The first act drags slightly as Kupari sets up the chessboard—too many scenes of characters staring at screens or debating legal loopholes. And while the conspiracy’s scope is impressive, the final act’s revelations *almost* tip into over-explanation, as if Kupari worried we wouldn’t connect the dots. But the trade-off is worth it: the action sequences (when they come) are *brutal*, and the moral ambiguity sticks with you. This isn’t a book about saving the world; it’s about whether the world *deserves* saving. If you’re tired of sci-fi where the good guys are obvious, give this a listen—but maybe not before a performance review. It’ll make you side-eye your HR department.