Exiles
A terrifying locked-room mystery from the author of William--this time set on a remote outpost on Mars.

The human crew sent to prepare the first colony on Mars arrives to find the new base half-destroyed and the three robots sent to set it up in disarray-the machines have formed alliances, chosen their own names, and picked up some disturbing beliefs. Each must be interrogated. But one of them is missing.

In this barren, hostile landscape where even machines have nightmares, the astronauts will need to examine all the stories--especially their own--to get to the truth.

Exiles is a terrifying, taut, one-sitting read, and Mason Coile once again blends science fiction and psychological horror to engage some of humanity's deepest questions.
1146708223
Exiles
A terrifying locked-room mystery from the author of William--this time set on a remote outpost on Mars.

The human crew sent to prepare the first colony on Mars arrives to find the new base half-destroyed and the three robots sent to set it up in disarray-the machines have formed alliances, chosen their own names, and picked up some disturbing beliefs. Each must be interrogated. But one of them is missing.

In this barren, hostile landscape where even machines have nightmares, the astronauts will need to examine all the stories--especially their own--to get to the truth.

Exiles is a terrifying, taut, one-sitting read, and Mason Coile once again blends science fiction and psychological horror to engage some of humanity's deepest questions.
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Exiles

Exiles

by Mason Coile

Narrated by Ashley Morton

Unabridged — 4 hours, 58 minutes

Exiles

Exiles

by Mason Coile

Narrated by Ashley Morton

Unabridged — 4 hours, 58 minutes

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Available for Pre-Order. This item will be released on September 16, 2025

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Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

In under 250 pages, Mason Coile expertly crafts a terrifying tale of a newly colonized Mars, sentient robots, life, death and horror on the edge of space.

A terrifying locked-room mystery from the author of William--this time set on a remote outpost on Mars.

The human crew sent to prepare the first colony on Mars arrives to find the new base half-destroyed and the three robots sent to set it up in disarray-the machines have formed alliances, chosen their own names, and picked up some disturbing beliefs. Each must be interrogated. But one of them is missing.

In this barren, hostile landscape where even machines have nightmares, the astronauts will need to examine all the stories--especially their own--to get to the truth.

Exiles is a terrifying, taut, one-sitting read, and Mason Coile once again blends science fiction and psychological horror to engage some of humanity's deepest questions.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

A locked-room mystery set in the near future…A fast and riveting read.” —CrimeReads

“This sci-fi horror novel delivers a gripping blend of psychological tension and fast-paced suspense. Structured like a locked-room mystery, where the locked room is an uninhabitable planet, the story builds an atmosphere of isolation and paranoia. Jump scares and plot twists fuel the mounting sense of dread, though beneath the thrills, the narrative explores the evolution of artificial intelligence and the fine line between programming and thought.” —Library Journal

"Lean, mean, and propulsively paced . . . Nerve-shredding space whodunnitry with a side of existential dread." —Kirkus

“Curlicue plot twists and an Among Us vibe enhance[s] this space gothic from Coile (William) . . . With its tough-as-nails heroine and scheming robots, there’s plenty here to hold sci-fi fans’ interest.” —Publishers Weekly

"Taut and suspenseful, smart and wickedly funny, Exiles is a white-knuckle read that you'll want to devour without stopping. I couldn't put it down until the last twisting page." —Simone St. James, New York Times bestselling author of Murder Road

"Mason Coile just brought gothic horror to Mars. Don't let its vast landscape fool you, there's something haunting this planet—and these pages. I absolutely inhaled this propulsive gasp of a novel." —Clay McLeod Chapman, author of Wake Up and Open Your Eyes

“In Exiles, Mason Coile introduces the fiercest, most formidable female character I’ve read in a long time—beware, Dana Gold’s past and present will haunt you long after you’ve turned the final page. This brilliant novel reminds us that sometimes the monster to be most afraid of is lurking, just out of sight, in our own pasts.” —Rachel Eve Moulton, author of Tantrum

"At once a science-fiction whodunnit and a claustrophobic horror story, Exiles is a tour de force. You can't stop turning pages." —Andy Davidson, author of The Hollow Kind

Kirkus Reviews

2025-07-04
Earth’s attempt to colonize Mars meets with sabotage.

If all goes to plan, Officer Gold and her crewmates, Captain Blake and Officer Kang, will be the first humans “to live and die on a planet other than Earth.” After a lengthy “extend-sleep” aboard theValiant, the shipmates are nearing Mars, where three robots have spent years assembling the mission’s base, dubbed Citadel. Those same robots are supposed to help theValiant’s landing pod touch down smoothly and in the correct location, but when the time comes, Blake’s radio calls go unanswered. The crew executes a harrowing manual descent, only to discover that something has destroyed Citadel’s lab. Worse, their access codes don’t work on any of Citadel’s doors, and their suits are low on oxygen. Desperate pounding summons a badly damaged Robot Two, who lets them in and then retrieves Robot One from “her” hiding place. It seems all three robots have gendered (and named) themselves during their stint on Mars, in addition to pondering the meaning of life, the nature of death, and the existence of God. Unequipped for coping with such thoughts, Robot Three, aka Alex, went mad, forcing Robot One (Shay) and Robot Two (Wes) to exile him from Citadel. Wes asserts that the damage was Alex’s doing, but Shay believes an alien is responsible and intends further harm. Regardless, something clearly wants to kill them, and returning home isn’t an option. Straddling the line between horror, science fiction, and locked-room mystery, this posthumously published novel from the pseudonymous Coile is lean, mean, and propulsively paced. Although Coile’s characters are hastily sketched and a few of the tale’s more bizarre twists falter under scrutiny, Gold’s terse first-person narration and the claustrophobic setting conspire to amplify the high-stakes plot’s inherent tension.

Nerve-shredding space whodunnitry with a side of existential dread.

Product Details

BN ID: 2940194495528
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Publication date: 09/16/2025
Edition description: Unabridged
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