A $10 billion conspiracy.
A cursed entity lurking in the shadows.
Some truths should never be uncovered.
AVERUS
Debut Novel by Chris Staefe
Available in ebook and print March 15, 2025.
A $10 Billion Lie.
A Fractured Past.
A Shadow That Follows.
Mara Keller uncovers secrets for a living. As an intelligence analyst, she tracks corruption, untangles deception, and brings order to chaos. But when a $10 billion tangle of deceit tied to elusive hedge fund mogul Arvid Brander lands on her desk, the case defies logic. The deeper she digs, the more Brander seems less like a man hiding his crimes—and more like a man running from something he can’t escape.
What begins as an investigation into financial fraud fractures into something far darker. The deeper Mara goes, the more she realizes the corruption isn’t just tangled. It’s alive. And no matter which way she turns, the trail twists through missing people, shattered lives, and whispers of something lurking just beneath the surface, waiting to be found.
With every step forward, the truth pulls her deeper. She’s not uncovering it; it’s swallowing her whole.
Some truths can’t be unseen.
Some forces can’t be ignored.
Be a Beta Reader for AVERUS
I’m excited to share my upcoming novel, AVERUS, with a select group of beta readers. This is an opportunity to read the book before its release and share your thoughts on the story, characters, and overall experience.
Your feedback is invaluable—it will help refine the book and prepare it for publication. If you enjoy thought-provoking fiction and would like to be part of this process, please sign up below.
As a thank-you, I’ll send a final copy of the book once it’s published and welcome your honest review.