In the future, after a pseudo WW3, in which America was in a war with China, but their technology betrayed them (presumably because it was infiltrated/manufactured by them?), everyone uses a thing called Veils, a hybrid reality that allows people to apply filters to the world. There is no working class, just robots that do labour, and the super rich. Otherwise, just people squeaking by, unable—unwilling—to see the world for what it is. Sam is a detective who uses the “clear” filter, allowing him to see the world for what it is. Typically, he investigates men cheating on their wives. Beyond the usual, veils make it so a variety of cheating on partners exists.When his ex turns up dead, however, he begins to infiltrate a conspiracy that goes to the heart of Veils, and what they are capable of in society.

There’s some cool worldbuilding and a good, pseudo noir style narration, given Sam’s profession. There are some really great moments but the ending undermines some of the moments, as a couple a bit too incredulous for me, given the reveal around them later on. The artwork is great, it’s cyberpunk, really being about stratification of class and high tech, low life.

Considering I created a tabletop role-playing called The Veil, also about hybrid reality, also cyberpunk, you could say Clear was always going to be really appealing to me, and so it is. I find hybrid reality fascinating and the themes of cyberpunk some of the most compelling. I also tend to like noir stories. If not for the kind of clunky late reveals, this absolutely would have been a 5 star read, for me.