Ashes of the Fall by Nicholas Erik

In the year 2048, the crumbling remnants of western North America are suddenly buried in ash, weakening the grip of the brutal dictatorship. A factional landscape springs from the ashes, con man Luke Stokes artfully navigating the clash.

But he can’t remain above the fray for long, as each faction seeks the truth from Luke regarding his murdered brother’s final project. A neural-interface technology that will forever shift the fragile balance of the ashen plains.

With the true believers, desert nomads, survivalists and existing regime closing in, Luke must delve deeper into his genius brother’s secrets. And the truth about his last project will dramatically alter the remnants of civilization.