Murder in Heliopolis: A Solarpunk Mystery
Community Rating
Description
A solarpunk murder mystery.
A murder, a disappearance, and a seemingly infallible AI…
The year is 2504, and sprawling eco-cities built over the ruins of fallen metropolises have created a haven for the people. In the most prosperous areas of the world, skyscrapers bursting at the seams with vibrant green life and towering turbines litter the cityscapes. Heliopolis is one such supercity, renowned for its spectacular architecture, sun-drenched climate, and numerous natural reserves.
But beyond this futuristic utopia lies a darkness: the Ruins. Cities, long abandoned, crumbling and wild, where the forsaken survive on the waste of the flowering megalopolises beyond.
When businesswoman Cassia Grove is found murdered in her home, even PATET can't help the police solve this mystery. It isn't long before the investigation reveals a sinister link between PATET and the devils which dwell in the Ruins. But is it too late to stop them?
Information
- Status
- Ongoing
- Year
- 2021
- Author
- HybaIsWriting
Royal Road Stats
- Rating
- 4.8/ 5.0
- Followers
- 21
- Views
- 16,523
Chapters(34 total)
- 32. Lions and CubsApr 5, 2026
- 31. What the Body ForgetsMar 29, 2026
- 30. The Detective ReturnsMar 22, 2026
- Notice: Murder in Heliopolis is Undergoing EditsFeb 9, 2024
- BONUS: The History of PATETApr 22, 2022
- 29. A Strategic RetreatApr 8, 2022
- 28. The Blackmailer's MedicineApr 1, 2022
- 27. In Broad DaylightMar 25, 2022
- 26. Nighttime IntruderMar 18, 2022
- 25. Hollow WallsDec 30, 2021
- 24. A False Man's TruthDec 4, 2021
- 23. Pulling StringsDec 3, 2021
- 22. Implausible and Impossible to ProveNov 29, 2021
- 21. A Story of BetrayalNov 27, 2021
- 20. Interview with Patina GroveNov 25, 2021
- 19. Destruction of EvidenceNov 25, 2021
- 18. A Hospital Room InterrogationNov 21, 2021
- 17. The Erasure of InformationNov 20, 2021
- 16. A Rogue Comes Out of the WoodworkNov 16, 2021
- 15. One of Two, But Who Is Who?Nov 15, 2021
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!
Community Reviews(1)
- Mike SpivakRoyal Road★★★★★ 5.0Murder in Heliopolis is a murder mystery in the tradition of the greats: Sherlock Holmes, Poirot or Nero Wolfe. It starts with a police detective being called to investigate a murder and goes from there to a really interesting plot of conspiracy and intrigue.
The best feature of this story, by far, is its setting. From the omnipresent eco-friendly technology to the wonderful descriptions of futuristic architechture to the omnipresent security system that registers who enters or leaves anywhere and has curbed crime so much this is the first murder registered in years. It's all believable, but still very different from our present, and makes for a fantastic setting.
The plot is tight, but starts quite slow, with the main character, detective Laith, slowly gathering evidence and learning more about the case. Characters are believable, but few of them really stand out unfortunately, which contributes to the slow start. But around chapter 12-14 the story picks up speed, with things becoming more complicated and the stakes being raised higher as the case becomes more complicated than a simple murder.
As of this review the story hasn't ended yet, although there are only a few chapters left and I eagerly await very single one, which means the story succeeded in getting me invested. If you like mystery novels or cool sci-fi settings you should defintely give it a try.