The Forgery Algorithm

In the wake of a catastrophic fire, the Zheng capital is gripped by terror—the ghost of the disgraced noble Boyou is said to have returned, cursing the living through malignant bronze vessels. Prime Minister Zichan discovers that the hauntings are a screen for an audacious transnational fraud: a shadowy cabal exploits an ancient calculus of desire to craft counterfeits so psychologically tailored that they ignite the darkest greed of every buyer. As noble families slaughter each other for these cursed antiques, Zichan must carve through superstition and bloodshed with chilling rationality. A Stuart MacBride-infused historical noir where an algorithm made of bone and blood knows your secret hungers better than you do.