Thank you Netgalley and Spiegel & Grau by Spotify Audiobooks for the ALC.

Story: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Narration: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

An interesting story that analyzes moral responsibility when a family gets into a car accident that kills two other people. Their teenage son was driving a self-driving car and an investigation is completed to find who or what is at fault.

I read this story very quickly, but I would say it’s a bit of a slowburn. I am always interested in AI and the wide-ranging ramifications it can have, so this story kept me listening. Very different from my usual read, but I was entertained.


ALC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a truly, truly well written book. The suspense was palpable and the plot was unique, with a mixture of genres that molds itself into a sci-fi/suspense/drama fiction that I was absolutely captivated by. It raises the question of who is truly culpable in any situation, especially one that is enhanced by technology such as AI, and all of this is told through the story of the Shaw-Cassidy family, a family of 5, who all collectively experience a devastating and traumatic event. that seems to snowball itself among each family member. This book really highlights the ethics and morality of AI technology and the impact it makes into our world and individual lives. Among that, it dives into themes of familial relationships, guilt, privilege, secrecy, and responsibility.

This one hit so many different areas, but Holsinger was able to weave through all of these topics so effortlessly, leaving a trail of bread crumbs that you didn't even know were left until you got to the answer. Very, very well done. The audiobook was narrated by Stacy Carolan and January LaVoy, who both performed this story excellently!

I really cannot recommend this one enough, and I think many different readers would enjoy this book!

Thank you NetGalley, Bruce Holsinger, and Spiegel & Grau by Spotify Audiobooks for this ALC in exchange for an honest review. This one is out NOW!

This is such a great thought experiment of a book. It takes an extensive look at the moral culpability when AI is running the show and tragedy strikes. The characters are written is such a compelling way, I was drawn to each and had to keep going to see exactly where their stories led.

This is an incredibly relevant book for our world today that will ask hard questions about consequences and the role AI is playing today.

Big thanks to Spotify Audiobooks for the alc via Netgalley!

Culpability might seem to be just another thrillery family drama with unlikable characters (but not all of them!). But Holsing's writing and choices bring something more to the plot. It sounds very contemporary with all the AI discussions and even though this story leans more to drama and thriller, I could graspe a touch of horror, too.
It's easy to relate to the characters and care for them, even the ones who are the 'villains', because everything discussed here is very realistic.
The audiobook narrators are really good and made the story even more dynamic to follow.
I listened to this whole audio in one single day. I highly recommend it.

Are you looking for a summer read that doubles as a thought-provoking book club pick? Look no further than Culpability.

The story opens with the five members of the Cassidy-Shaws en route to a lax tournament when they are involved in a devastating accident in their self-driving car. Now the family is headed to the Chesapeake Bay for a week to recoup before facing the aftermath of the accident back at home.

But each family member is hiding secrets about the accident. Noah, our protagonist, is grappling with being distracted in the passenger seat when his 17-year-old son, Charlie, is behind the wheel. Lorelei, his wife, is an expert in the field of AI morality, and she was the one insistent that the car they were in was safe.

Scattered throughout the book are interviews on the effects of AI and quotes from Lorelei’s fictional book, which explores the moral consequences of machines without morals. Each family member is reacting differently to the accident, and their week on vacation has the power to push them together or drag them apart.

Why Kirsten loves it
This novel ponders the very real human culpability when AI is involved. And it’s not just examined via the autonomous car — bots, drones, and even smart home systems are examined with a critical eye throughout the story. I love how Lorelei and Noah’s relationship was depicted – while they struggle throughout these events, it was refreshing to see a man supporting a woman who is a rockstar in her field.

Holsinger was able to frame the abstract complexities of the consequences of AI into a compelling story that was as entertaining as it was demanding of deeper study. I hope this book gets into the hands of readers everywhere so that we can all ponder the message within.

I really love how this came together thematically! Well-paced and great writing, too.

This is about the aftermath of a family’s accident in a self-driving car that kills the passengers in the other car. As the title suggests, “culpability” for the accident is the question, and it’s explored through the whole family. AI is touched in multiple other ways as well with the inclusion of transcripts with a chatbot, excerpts of the mother’s book on ethics and AI, discussion of the use of AI in warfare, etc. Beyond the AI is some marriage and family drama that is exacerbated by the situation. I was invested the whole time!

I don’t know how relatable or likable Noah (the father and narrator) was supposed to be, but he was at times a pretty insufferable head to be in. 😂 But because I was in his head, I felt that desire I assume parents do to protect their children from the consequences of their mistakes, which felt icky (and thought provoking!).

A very timely book as we rush headlong into all these uses of AI seemingly without much care or thought. 😬

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Do you remember the first time you read about the pandemic in contemporary fiction? Culpability gave me a similar feeling as Al is recently explicitly present in almost every aspect of our lives.

A family of five traveling in their self-driving minivan to an out-of-town lacrosse tournament is in an accident that results in two deaths. Who's at fault? The other vehicle that appeared to be drifting in their lane? The minor sitting in the driver's seat? The adult riding in the passenger seat? The car's "brain?"

These events are complicated by the parents' occupations (lawyer and Al expert), how each person involved copes with the incident, and a further spiral of poor teenage decision-making that threatens the security of some powerfully connected people.

This was a really enjoyable read. It was the right balance of smart and suspenseful and would make a great discussion. In a way it reminds me of Angie Kim’s effortless blend of science and fiction.
Thanks to @netgalley and Spotify Audiobooks for the ARC!

A novel that deals with some of the problems of AI, in our cars, on our phones, and when deployed in “smart” weapons. In this case, a teenager about to start college is in the driver’s seat of a self-driving car for a family vacation when there’s a collision and two people in another car (oncoming traffic) are killed. Is it the boy’s fault? His father’s who was in the front passenger seat but working on his laptop, or was it the autonomous driving software? The novel is a story of the family dynamics as well as offering food for thought about how we train and deploy AI without being too academic. Good narration and a good story.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @SpotifyAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #Culpability for review purposes. Publication date: 8 July 2025.

I love family dramas, but I wasn't drawn into this story. It started out as a page turner but then felt flat and went in too many directions. I couldn't connect to any of the characters. I thank Bruce Holsinger for writing a timely story about AI's impact on our lives, but I am probably not the right audience for this book.

After reading part of the print version, I switched to the audiobook. The audiobook was much more enjoyable. The narrators are superb. They made the story much more interesting.

Thank you, Spiegel & Grau and Spotify Audiobooks for the advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest comments.

On the way to 17 year old Charlies Lacrosse tournament the Shaw family gets into an accident with their self driving minivan, fatally killing an older couple. The novel is the story of how each of the 5 family members cope as well as the secrets they keep in regards to both the accident and other issues.

This novel tries to be so many things, and it mostly succeeds. It is a story of ethics and AI, but also is a family drama, a discussion of parenting, and of the privilege of white rich people. I didnt really like or connect with any of the characters, and parts of it really creeped my out, yet I found it very compelling and never wanted to stop listening to the wonderful audio production narrated by January LaVoy and Stacey Carolan. I did not have any trouble keeping the characters straight on the audio and thought it was very well done. If you are a fan of family drama, or ethical conundrums I would encourage you to pick this one up. I think it would make a great book club or buddy read pick.

Thank you to net galley and Spotify Audiobooks for the audio copy of this book.

What did I just read? Culpability by Bruce Holsinger, narrated by Stacy Carolan and January LaVoy is one of those books which is hard to review. First, I won't be discussing details of the plot because going in cold is a gift to the reader. All you need to know is a family of 5, a self driving car, and an accident are at the core of the novel.

While listening I kept changing my opinion about the book. Was it good? Yes. Is it great? I don't know. Did I give it 5 stars - absolutely. Goodreads tracks my ratings and, after almost 1,500 reviews, tells me my average is 3.36 stars, so to say this one deserves all of them is a big hit for the author.

There are several things going on with Culpability which kept me listening - AI and the fact that but for the grace of God, any of us could experience this tragedy. Days after listening I am still thinking about the premise of the book and my poor husband attended the equivalent of a one hour Ted Talk when I went through everything I was feeling after reading. That is a 5 star book. To read it, and then want to tell it to others, discuss the emotions brought to the brain and heart, to be thinking of it days later.....and to look at your Echo Dot and side eye Alexa while having the discussion. Stellar. Exquisite.

2.5 stars. Holsinger is a good writer, which is what kept me listening to this audiobook, but, as with previous books of his, I tend to really dislike his characters. In this novel, which is an examination of AI and its moral responsibility, or lack thereof, the reader spends the whole time inside the head of a middle-aged mediocre white man, and I know that I've mentioned in other reviews that that is a place that is really, really not working for me in 2025. Noah's weird blend of insecurity and arrogance was exhausting, and I kept hoping bad things would happen to him. His son, a "golden boy" type, does have bad things happen to him, and I only wished that they were worse. The premise of this novel is certainly interesting, and it could have led to a deep look at the responsibility of AI and its creators, but instead most of the observations were fairly facile and lacked any keen insight. I think perhaps Holsinger tried to cover too much ground in this family drama - there was a lot going on and so nothing had the space to be deeply explored because it was right on to the next dysfunction or issue. Thank you to NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau by Spotify Audiobooks for an audiobook review copy.

CULPABILITY
By Bruce Holsinger

An of-the-moment novel.
If only I hadn’t …
If only she had …
If only he hadn’t …
If only we had …
If only.

Culpability is both a family drama and thriller as it builds tension around an accident—an emotional heart-wrenching story that also explores life in the digital age. It follows the Cassidy-Shaw family as their lives are upended by a tragic accident involving their self-driving minivan. Teen Charlie is at the wheel, his father, Noah, is riding shotgun and his mother, and teen sisters are in the back. As blame shifts and secrets began to surface, each family member must confront their role in what happened. AI weaves through the plot in numerous intriguing ways.

It explores grief, responsibility, and the ethical challenges of life in a world shaped by advanced technology—blending intense emotion with gripping suspense.

I really enjoyed this novel and thought the writing was clear and emotional. He kept the story moving with suspense while also showing the deep feelings and struggles of the characters. So many emotions and questions after the final page This is my first read by Holsinger and look forward to reading more of his work. Would be a great choice for book clubs discussing the ethics and legalities of artificial intelligence.

Thank you to NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks. Pub date July 8, 2025
The narration by Stacy Carolan, and January LaVoy was good and fit for the tone of the book for me.

Originally I requested this book because of the cover and the narrators. They are two of my favorites so it was no surprise their performance was a solid 10/10. I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into. It was the best impulse decision I’ve made in a long time. I listened to this in one sitting because I was absolutely entranced. Amidst the never ending discourse of AI, Culpability tackles it effectively yet with an entertaining tone. The family tragedy, secrets and drama appears as the forefront of the story, but the author effectively implements hard hitting themes. AI freaks me out. This author made me think long and hard about possible scenarios that I had never even pondered previously. I walked away feeling more imformed even though this is fiction. “no matter what parents do, their children’s outcomes are neither predictable or inevitable. Life is not an algorithm.” Oof. That got me.

What the reality is when AI moves faster than humans - the results of tragedies caused by AI, the ethics of what AI is doing in our world from children to adults, the lawsuits that will spring up one after another.

So if your 17-year-old is sitting in the drivers seat of a driverless car with a parent in the front seat. Both are distracted by electronics and a car accident happens. This is just the set-up for this story as there is so much more that happens, leaving the reader with so much to ponder. Despite this being a fictional story, there is so much is coming our way in this world of AI. This is a book to read and really think about.

My thanks to Net Galley, Spiegel & Grau, and Spotify Audiobooks for advanced copies of this e-book and audiobook.

This one took me a bit to get into, but once it clicked, I was hooked. The premise is super creepy and thought-provoking—AI & morals, how much we end up relaying on AI?
Wild. But what really pulled me in wasn’t just the tech or the dystopian angle—it was the raw, emotional heart of the story, especially the complicated sibling dynamics.

Holsinger takes on some big, timely questions about technology, moral responsibility, and the limits of human control, and wraps them in a family drama that’s both creepy and compelling.

It’s marketed as a psychological thriller, and it is, but it also dives deep into grief, guilt, and what it means to live with the choices we make. If you like your thrillers with a side of existential dread and emotional depth, this might be your thing. Definitely left me with some lingering questions.

I scooped this up as soon as I saw it because I adored The Gifted School and was hoping for another smart literary commentary on how wealthy families insulate themselves from consequences. I sort of got that here, but it felt like a poorly executed version of something I feel like I've read before.

At the start of this book, the Cassidy-Shaw family is going on a road trip in their smart autonomous SUV, with their seventeen-year-old son Charlie in the driver's seat. Dad Noah is in the passenger seat, working on his laptop, while his wife and two teenage daughters are immersed in their phones in the backseat. All of a sudden, Charlie swerves the car and they get into a massive wreck, instantly killing the retired couple that they crash into. In the aftermath of the accident, the family goes to a Chesapeake Bay vacation house to decompress and prepare for the inevitable investigation into who's at fault for the collision. Every member of the family holds a secret regarding the accident that they're terrified will come out.

The book was told almost entirely from Noah's perspective, which certainly colored my perception of the plot since I disliked his character so much - he's an insecure yet egotistical dad with a strangely jealous relationship with his athlete son and an anxious attachment to his wife. If Holsinger was really going to lean into how unsympathetic his narrator was, I wish that he went in even more on the problematic dad a la Teddy Wayne. The "secrets" that the family harbors about the accident end up being middling reveals of little consequence, sort of a failed attempt to throw in thrilling twists that end up not contributing to the intrigue of the plot. Finally, I don't think the commentary on the ethics of AI and LLMs was as astute as the author was hoping – there are some interesting tidbits in the interstitial chapters with excerpts from a fictional book on algorithmic moral philosophy, but the takeaways just didn't hit home for me. Maybe I did myself a disservice by comparing it too much to my favorite book that deals with autonomous vehicles and morality, The Passengers.

Woah, what a novel! This book will make you think about AI, liability, and consequences. 17 year old Charlie is driving the family's minivan when he gets into a car accident and the couple in the other car is killed. The van was running on self driving mode. Everyone in the van is hiding something and they all must recover. The take a vacation 5 weeks later and end up having property right next to a millionaire known for his tech companies. His daughter just happens to be Charlie's age....

Thanks to NetGalley, Spotify Audio, and Spiegel & Grau for the advanced reader copy and audiobook.

When Noah and his family are driving to a lacrosse tournament, his son Charlie behind the wheel of an autonomous driving vehicle, Noah is thinking of nothing more than completing a task for his job as a lawyer and thinking about how Charlie will leave home soon to play lacrosse for UNC. Everything changes when Noah's daughter Alice screams for Charlie to watch out and Charlie overrides the autonomous setting to jerk the wheel over; the result is an accident that causes broken bones, a severe concussion, and the death of an elderly couple who were in a car coming in the opposite direction. In an effort to decompress before Charlie has to leave for North Carolina, and to get away from the dark cloud hanging over them while the police investigate the accident, the family heads to a rental house on Chesapeake Bay. Once there, the family encounters Daniel Monet, a tech billionaire who moves in the same circles as Noah's wife Lorelai, a leader in discussions around AI usage. As the week of vacation unfolds, each of the family members secrets about the accident come to light and when another horrible accident happens the family must either pull together or fall apart.

I started out reading the ebook of CULPABILITY but the formatting was too confusing to follow (moving between Lorelai's written work, chats between Alice and an AI "friend" and the general storyline), so I moved to the audiobook, which was much easier to navigate and kept me more engaged with the story. That said, this novel takes a while to get going (other than the accident that starts the whole thing) and it's unclear exactly how all the discussions around AI and its ethical use are relevant until the end of the story. I really enjoyed Holsinger's previous novel, THE GIFTED SCHOOL, and prefer that one to this newer story, but CULPABILITY does leave the reader with lots of questions about the impact of AI on our daily lives and what it means about who's making decisions and therefore who's culpable when things go wrong.

Culpability is out July 8, 2025.

4 stars

Those of us who work in fields that require creativity and what we currently consider to be a particularly human touch are both intrigued by the ways A.I. can enhance our efforts and experiences and deeply suspicious of the horrible avenues through which it may end up dehumanizing and destroying our abilities to think critically and relate to each other. For those reasons, some readers may find this bordering on thriller/suspense versus just general fiction. I know I did.

A family of five lives in a world that isn't too dissimilar to ours. There are all kinds of chatbots, self-driving cars, and A.I. home aids who help you keep track of your roasting asparagus but also know way too much about your habits. When a terrible accident occurs in their autonomous car, the entire family has to deal with the implications and try to grasp (as the title suggests) who is culpable. Is the A.I. responsible? If a person isn't following the rules, are they? What role did each of the characters play in this outcome, and why do they all have so many sinister secrets?

This is a thought-provoking novel based on the time in which we exist and the questions many of us are asking ourselves. While I am very unintentionally childless and thus cannot say empirically, I think folks who do have children will really respond to the ways that parenting in this environment changes. I suspect it is always difficult when your child does something wrong, but there is an added layer here that complicates things even more.

This content made me uncomfortable but in a way I found engaging and entertaining. I'm looking forward to more books with related motifs in play. Also, this is my first read by this author, and I enjoyed the experience, so I'll also be back for more from Holsinger.