Northern Irish author Steve Cavanagh, known for his legal thrillers, is drawing attention to issues of extreme wealth, power, and alleged piracy in the technology sector through his latest novel, "One Of Us is Guilty." The book delves into the lives of the billionaire Vanderpool family, centering on a gruesome murder within their circle and questioning whether immense influence can shield individuals from accountability.
Cavanagh, who has sold over five million books globally and has works translated into 40 languages, stated that his writing increasingly reflects a concern that "laws don't matter to some people" in the face of significant power. He specifically voiced criticism towards artificial intelligence companies, describing the technology's foundation as being "almost entirely on piracy" due to the alleged scraping of millions of books without government intervention.
"It's almost the more powerful you are, the more you can get away with," Cavanagh remarked, drawing a parallel between unchecked power and a perceived lack of consequences. This theme is explored in "One Of Us is Guilty," where the patriarch of the Vanderpool family, Julian, controls a substantial portion of New York, raising questions about justice and culpability.
Prior to his current focus, Cavanagh's novel "Two Kinds of Stranger" examined the vulnerabilities created by oversharing personal lives online, a theme relevant to the digital age. His prolific career also includes a forthcoming Sherlock Holmes short story commissioned by the Conan Doyle estate, though he assures fans that his popular detective character, Eddie Flynn, will return after a brief hiatus.
Cavanagh's commentary on AI and wealth inequality touches upon contemporary debates regarding intellectual property, the ethical implications of emerging technologies, and the concentration of power in the hands of a few.