If you love spy stories full of action, suspense, and deep questions about right and wrong, Leveller by A.R. Lerwill might be your next favorite book. This exciting debut novel is packed with secrets, high-tech gadgets, and tough moral choices. Imagine Jason Bourne mixed with a Black Mirror episode—that’s the kind of chaos you’re in for. It’s an edge-of-your-seat thriller that will keep you guessing until the very last page, with twists and turns that will make you question everything you thought you knew.
Leveller is a must-read for fans of thrillers that mix high-stakes action with deep, thought-provoking questions. It’s the kind of book that lingers in your mind long after you’ve finished it, thanks to its timely themes and complex characters. While it sometimes follows typical spy story patterns and leaves some questions unanswered, the experience is so gripping that you’ll forgive its flaws.
If you enjoy stories with morally gray heroes, high-tech conspiracies, and non-stop action, this book is for you. It’s a thriller that doesn’t just entertain—it makes you think.
The Story: A Mission Gone Wrong
The book starts with a shock—our main character, Blake, wakes up tied to a chair, beaten and confused. He has no idea how he got there, but he knows one thing: something has gone terribly wrong. From there, the story jumps back in time to show how he ended up in this terrible situation.
Blake is a highly skilled secret agent, a man trained to handle the toughest missions. His latest assignment? To rescue Dr. Bachira Aditi, a brilliant scientist who holds dangerous secrets that could change the world. But something doesn’t go as planned. The mission is ambushed, and before she dies, Aditi whispers one word to Blake: Leveller. That one word sends him down a rabbit hole of conspiracy and betrayal, making him question everything he believes about his job and the organization he serves.
As Blake digs deeper, he finds himself caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse. His journey takes him across the globe, forcing him to navigate a world filled with powerful enemies, dangerous technology, and allies who may not be as trustworthy as they seem. Every step brings him closer to the truth, but it also brings more danger. With each chapter, the tension builds, keeping you hooked as Blake fights for survival and searches for answers. The story moves at a breakneck pace, with short, punchy chapters that make you say, Just one more page… until you realize it’s 3 AM and you can’t put the book down.
More Than Just Action
This book isn’t just about gunfights and explosions—it also makes you think about real-world issues. It delves into themes like government surveillance, artificial intelligence, and the spread of misinformation. Instead of giving easy answers, Leveller challenges you to ask difficult questions: How much freedom should we sacrifice for safety? Can we really trust those in power? Are we being watched more than we realize?
Another compelling part of the story is Blake’s struggle with addiction. He relies on a drug called Statera, a performance-enhancing substance that helps him stay sharp but also takes a heavy toll on his body and mind. His battle with this addiction isn’t just a small subplot—it’s a powerful part of his character development. It highlights the dangers of relying too much on artificial control and how easy it is to become trapped by something that once seemed to help.
Strong Characters with Real Problems
Blake is far from the perfect, invincible spy we often see in action stories. He’s tough, smart, and highly skilled, but he’s also deeply flawed. He struggles with trust, addiction, and the weight of his past mistakes. This makes him feel real, and it also makes the action scenes even more intense because you know he’s not unstoppable—he’s vulnerable, and every fight could be his last.
Dr. Aditi is another fascinating character, though she doesn’t get as much time in the story as she deserves. The villains are sinister and mysterious, but their backstories could have been explored more. There’s a sense that there’s more to them than what we see, which leaves you wanting to know more about their motivations and history.
Writing That Feels Like a Movie
Lerwill’s writing style makes the action come alive. Every fight scene is brutal and cinematic—you can practically hear bones breaking and feel the tension in the air. The settings are vivid, making you feel like you’re right there with Blake as he sneaks through dimly lit alleyways or engages in high-speed chases. The dialogue is fast, sharp, and realistic, and the technology is written in a way that feels believable without being overwhelming.
If there’s one small issue, it’s that some parts of the story follow familiar spy thriller tropes—the rogue agent, the hidden secret, the unstoppable enemy. However, Lerwill’s execution is so strong that you won’t mind. Even if you’ve seen similar elements before, Leveller presents them in a way that keeps them fresh and engaging.
My Thoughts On Leveller An Exciting Read
I Read Leveller in just two sittings because it was so intense. Blake’s struggles pulled me in, and the fast-paced plot made it impossible to stop reading. The book surprised me with its deeper themes about addiction, power, and control—elements I didn’t expect in a high-action thriller.
However, some twists were a little too easy to predict. Sometimes, it was obvious who the bad guy was. And the meaning of Leveller was never fully explained. Is it a weapon? A movement? A symbol for something bigger? The book leaves it open to interpretation, which some readers might love, but others might find frustrating. Additionally, while the agency Blake works for is interesting, its history and internal politics could have been developed more to add more depth to the world-building.
Rating: 4/5
