Barebones

Beneath the surface of humanity lies a secret so dangerous it could rewrite our very existence.

Dr. Alex Kade was once a brilliant surgeon with a sterling reputation, a man whose hands saved lives and whose name commanded respect. But a tragic mistake cost him everything—his career, his family, and his self-worth. Now, haunted by guilt and scraping by in the shadows of his former life, Kade is offered a lifeline he can’t afford to refuse: a high-paying job with Genesis Biotech, a shadowy corporation promising redemption and purpose.

The job? Extract encoded genetic data—the so-called Barebones Code—from human skeletons. At first, Kade rationalises the grisly work as just science, a necessary step in the march of progress. But it doesn’t take long before he begins to suspect there’s more to Genesis’s operation than they’re letting on.

When a cryptic warning from a rogue hacker named Samara Quinn points Kade toward a series of chilling discoveries, he uncovers a horrifying truth: Genesis isn’t just unlocking human potential—they’re rewriting it. Their experiments on the Barebones Code aim to engineer a perfect elite class, one immune to disease, pain, and aging. But the cost? Lives sacrificed in secret, families torn apart, and a world reshaped into one where only the chosen few survive.

Now, Kade finds himself hunted. Shadowy operatives, mercenaries, and corrupt officials are closing in, desperate to silence the one man who holds the key to exposing Genesis’s plans. With Samara at his side—an unpredictable ally with her own vendetta against biotech corporations—Kade must navigate a treacherous path through black-market organ harvesting rings, underground labs, and a global web of corruption.

The deeper they dig, the more they realise that the Barebones Code isn’t just a scientific breakthrough; it’s a Pandora’s box. Unlocking its secrets could mean freedom for millions—or total chaos. As the stakes escalate, Kade grapples with impossible choices: How far is he willing to go to stop Genesis? How much of his humanity is he willing to sacrifice in the process? And can he live with himself if he fails?

Barebones is a gripping medical thriller that blends cutting-edge science with pulse-pounding suspense. Through vividly cinematic scenes and emotionally grounded characters, the story explores the moral costs of progress, the blurred lines between hero and villain, and the resilience of the human spirit when faced with unimaginable odds.

Perfect for fans of Michael Crichton’s scientific intrigue, Gillian Flynn’s sharp psychological tension, and the high-stakes action of The Bourne Identity, Barebones pulls readers into a world where every decision has life-altering consequences, and every choice could mean the difference between survival and extinction.

As Kade’s journey hurtles toward its shocking conclusion, one question looms: Will he bury the truth to save himself, or will he risk everything to expose the conspiracy carved into the bones of humanity itself?

The truth isn’t just beneath the surface—it’s barebones.