Emergent: Android Chronicles: Book 3

Illegal android Synthia Cross and her human companion, Maria Baldacci, await an opportunity to flee from their Evanston, Ill., safe house in Erlick’s gratifying third Android Chronicles futuristic adventure (after Unbound). The FBI, special ops, and several other androids continue to hunt Synthia, but while this chase does have its high points, Synthia’s tactic of hacking cameras, drones, and self-driving cars to evade pursuit becomes repetitive through the middle. The love-hate dynamic between Synthia and her human companions entertains while behavior changes provide a convincing growth arc for the android. Continued subversive attacks by a new, more powerful AI enemy force Synthia to plan a confrontation with those hunting her as Erlick sets up several clever plot twists leading into a satisfying denouement. Despite a dreary middle, this is a solid conclusion to a fun sci-fi trilogy. Agent: Bob Diforio, D4EO Literary Agency. (Mar.)