The Preserve, By Ariel S. Winter ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction, Suspense, Techno-Thriller

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: November 3rd, 2020

256 Pages

Synopsis: Decimated by plague, the human population is now a minority. Robots—complex AIs almost indistinguishable from humans—are the ruling majority. Nine months ago, in a controversial movie, the robot government opened a series of preserves, designated areas where humans can choose to live without robot interference. Now the preserves face their first challenge: someone has been murdered.

Chief of police Jesse Laughton on the SoCar Preserve is assigned to the case. He fears the factions that were opposed to the preserves will use the crime as evidence that the new system doesn’t work. As he digs for information, robots in the outside world start turning up dead from bad drug-like programs that may have originated on SoCar land. And when Laughton learns his murder victim was a hacker who wrote drug-programs, it appears the two cases might be linked. Soon, it’s clear that the entire preserve system is in danger of collapsing. Laughton’s former partner, a robot named Kir, arrives to assist on the case, and they soon uncover shocking secrets revealing that life on the preserve is not as peaceful as its human residents claim. But in order to protect humanity’s new way of life, Laughton must solve this murder before it’s too late.

The Preserve is a fresh and futuristic mystery that is perfect for fans of Westworld and Bladerunner.

The Preserve is a fun, fast-paced futuristic techno-thriller that had me thoroughly engrossed for the couple of hours it took me to read it. While the storyline is fictional, some of the political and societal issues involved mirror what’s happening in the real world, and I appreciated their thoughtful yet not heavy handed inclusion. As I often find when reading a novella, I think the plot and its interesting characters especially Jesse and Kir, could have benefited from the book being a little lengthier, but this is strictly a personal opinion. Overall I highly enjoyed The Preserve and can easily picture it being adapted for a tv series or movie. I highly recommend this for fans of science fiction fare like Westworld and Ex Machina.

The Whispering Room (Jane Hawk #2), by Dean Koontz ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Techno-Thriller

Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Release Date: Available Now

512 Pages

Synopsis: “No time to delay. Do what you were born to do. Fame will be yours when you do this.”

These are the words that ring in the mind of mild-mannered schoolteacher Cora Gundersun—-just before she takes her own life, and many others’, in a shocking act of carnage. When the disturbing contents of her secret journal are discovered, it seems certain that she must have been insane. But Jane Hawk knows better.

In the wake of her husband’s inexplicable suicide—-and the equally mysterious deaths of scores of other exemplary individuals—-Jane picks up the trail of a secret cabal of powerful players who think themselves above the law and beyond punishment. But these ruthless people bent on hijacking America’s future for their own monstrous ends never banked on a highly trained FBI agent willing to go rogue—-and become the nation’s most wanted fugitive—-in order to derail their insidious plans to gain absolute power with a terrifying technological breakthrough.

Driven by love for her lost husband and by fear for the five-year-old son she has sent into hiding, Jane Hawk has become an unstoppable predator. Those she is hunting will have nowhere to run when her shadow falls across them.

The Whispering Room is the sequel to last year’s The Silent Corner and while I didn’t think it was quite as good as its predecessor, I still enjoyed it and had a hard time putting it down.

It picks up exactly where the previous book left off. Jane is still on her quest to track down the insidious group behind the suicides and deaths of those they’ve deemed to be undesirable in the new world they’re  planning. There’s very little development in regards to Jane. She continues to be a kick-ass woman who’s been put in the impossible position of hiding her young son with friends, while she travels all over the country trying to track these monsters down. I still like her, but I found myself wishing for more from her than her leapfrogging from one dangerous situation to the next. 

There are plenty of secondary characters and quite a few of them stand out. My favorite is Sheriff Lucas Tillman and his family. I loved their chapters as much if not even more than Jane’s. Their story has some heartbreaking moments and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens to them in the next book.

The plot itself is far-fetched yet somehow believable with all the new developments in nanotechnology. It’s a terrifying reminder of what scientific advances could be capable of in the hands of the wrong people. There’s a little more revealed about this conspiracy, but it’s obvious there’s much more to come. The ending has left me extremely curious as to where the next book will be headed.

Overall, The Whispering Room is a solid sequel in the Jane Hawk series. It has a quirky and interesting cast, some of whom will leave you laughing out loud. The pace is frenetically insane which makes it a quick read despite it being over 500 pages. If you’re a fan of Dean Koontz I don’t think you’ll be disappointed and if you’re new to him, this series is a great place to start. The Crooked Staircase is scheduled to be released in June of 2018, but I wish it was much sooner!

 

 

The Silent Corner (Jane Hawk #1) by, Dean Koontz ~ 4.5 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Techno-Thriller

Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: Available Now

464 Pages

Synopsis: “I very much need to be dead.”

These are the chilling words left behind by a man who had everything to live for but took his own life. In the aftermath, his widow, Jane Hawk, does what all her grief, fear, and fury demands: find the truth, no matter what. People of talent and accomplishment, people admired and happy and sound of mind, have been committing suicide in surprising numbers. When Jane seeks to learn why, she becomes the most-wanted fugitive in America. Her powerful enemies are protecting a secret so terrifying that they will exterminate anyone in their way. 

But all their power and viciousness may not me enough to stop a woman as clever as they are cold-blooded, as relentless as they are ruthless and who is driven by a righteous rage they can never understand. Because it is born of love.

I’ve been reading Dean Koontz since I was a teen, and while it’s been a rocky road at times–loved the Odd Thomas series and standalones like Watchers but had a difficult time with ones like The Darkest Evening Of the Year and Funhouse–he has still remained one of my favorite horror writers. The Silent Corner, the first novel in the Jane Hawk trilogy is less like Stephen King, and more like Michael Crichton. It’s a thrilling and pulse-pounding ride from start to finish and despite it being just under 500 pages, I read it over the course of two days because I literally could not put it down! Jane Hawk is a kick-ass heroine who ripped out my heart and stomped all over it. There’s no doubt she’s a tough cookie, but her heartbreak and anger over the loss of her husband resonates off the page. Her anguish is further compounded, when because of threats by this faceless sinister conspiracy, she is forced to send her sweet son into hiding while she embarks on a cross-country odyssey to uncover what’s behind the burgeoning epidemic of suicides by well-adjusted people, with no previous signs of depression. Jane is of course the star of the story, but there are a few quirky allies she meets along the way which make this story even more enjoyable. The villains are a little more two-dimensional, but they weren’t bad enough to spoil the book for me. The pacing is just insane and this, coupled with short chapters, makes it difficult to tear yourself away. The Silent Corner is a fantastic beginning to this new trilogy and thankfully the second book, The Whispering Room is due out in January, because I don’t think I could wait any longer. Longtime Koontz fans won’t be disappointed by this, and if you haven’t read any books by him, this is an excellent book to start with.

 

Trojans (The Devices Trilogy #3) ~ By Philip Purser-Hallard – 4.5 Stars

Tags

Action-Adventure, Adult Fiction, Fantasy, King Arthur, Techno-Thriller

I’d like to thank the Philip Purser-Hallard for sending me a copy of his book in exchange for an honest review.

538 Pages

Synopsis: For the first time since the Dark Ages, Britain has a High King. The Pendragon device has returned, wielded by former paramilitary officer and eco-activist Jory Taylor. Under his rule, the UK faces an unparalleled social, economic and artistic renaissance–and an unprecedented challenge, for the original King Arthur’s reign was a brief flowering ending in devastation and betrayal.

While a man claiming the device of Corineus the Trojan ferments political unrest, and other nations’ devicial agents prob the realm mercilessly for weaknesses, High King Jordan must somehow rewrite his story’s ending, and usher in a true new order.

One that stands some chance, at least, of outliving him.

Trojans is the final book in The Devices Trilogy and it goes out with a bang! It picks up seven years after The Locksley Exploit left off. Jordan Taylor is now High King of modern-day Britain, after ending the war between those who had inherited the identities of figures associated with Arthurian mythology, and those who were associated wit the Robin Hood legend. By accepting  the devices of both Robin Locksley and King Arthur, Jory saved England from being torn apart. So now, the country is flourishing under a new Camelot. But just like in the original legend, all is not well, and the peace that Jory fought for and sacrificed so much for is in jeopardy. Philip Purser-Hallard excels at perfectly melding classic mythologies with real world events which is what makes his books so captivating. There are many characters to keep track of, but they’re extremely well written which keeps the reader from becoming confused. The ending is bittersweet, not unlike the classic story it’s based on, but it’s satisfying nonetheless. At over 500 pages, I did find it a little long, but honestly, this is a minor complaint. Overall, Trojans is a wonderful ending to an imaginative and action-filled trilogy. If you’re a fan of mythology, fantasy, and techno-thrillers, I highly recommend this trilogy. 

 

Pressure ~ By Brian Keene – 4.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Adventure, Environmental Disasters, Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction, Techno-Thriller

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Dunne Books for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: June 21st, 2016

Synopsis: Off the coast of tropical Mauritius, an ecological catastrophe with global implications is occurring. The ocean’s floor is collapsing at a rapid rate. World-champion free diver and marine biologist Carrie Anderson joins a scientific expedition determined to discover the cause–and how to stop it. But what they uncover is even more horrific. Deep beneath the surface, something is awake. Something hungry. Something…cold. Now, the pressure builds as Carrie and her colleagues must contend with the murderous operatives of a corrupt corporation, an unnatural disaster that grows bigger by the day, and a monstrous predator that may spell the extinction of mankind.

Brian Keene is an author who I’ve always counted on to provide a good, tightly written suspense, thriller, horror story, and for the most part, Pressure does not disappoint. The action begins immediately and never lets up. Especially scary are the scenes where Carrie and her dive partner Paulo, are underwater in the area known as the “Mouth of Hell”. You can literally feel the cold blackness surrounding them, and I actually felt claustrophobic at times. While the first part of the novel focus on the environmental disaster and the monster(s) lurking in the depths off of Mauritius, the second part is set on land with all too real human monsters. This part of the story didn’t work quite as well for me. It was fast-paced, but the villains were a little too cartoonish for me in regards to their evil machinations. I kept wishing for more of the horror, gore and mayhem that was in the previous chapters. Instead there was your stereotypical evil conspiracy involving a shadowy corporation and its gun-toting minions. Don’t get me wrong. I love a good conspiracy as much as the next person, but there wasn’t anything new or especially creative about this one. I also wish the book had been a little longer than its 288 pages as I felt everything was wrapped up a little too quickly and predictably. Overall though, Pressure is a solid beach read, which you’ll breeze through in one or two sittings, although you may hesitate about going out on a boat after reading it!

 

Genius: The Game ~ By Leopoldo Gout – 3.0 Stars

Tags

Adventure, Mystery, Techno-Thriller, YA Fiction

Thank you NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for providing an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: Trust no one. Every camera is an eye. Every microphone is an ear. Find me and we can stop him together.

The Game: Get ready for Zero Hour as 200 geniuses from around the world go head to head in a competition hand-devised by India’s youngest CEO and visionary.

The Players: 

Rex– One of the best programmers/hackers in the world, this 16-year-old Mexican-American is determined to find his missing brother.

Tunde– This 14-year-old self-taught engineering genius has drawn the attention of a ruthless military warlord by single-handedly bringing electricity and Internet to his small Nigerian village.

Painted Wolf– One of China’s most respected activist bloggers, this mysterious 16-year-old is being pulled into the spotlight by her father’s new deal with a corrupt Chinese official.

The Stakes: Are higher then you can imagine. Like life and death. Welcome to the revolution. And get ready to run.

Genius starts with an interesting premise but in the end it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. The three main characters from whose POV the story is told, are interesting as far as their diverse backgrounds are concerned, but I was never able to become emotionally invested in them.  The concept behind the Game is quite different and unique, and once the competitors began playing I did enjoy some of the puzzles, but it was pretty obvious what the outcome was going to be, which took away some of the excitement. There’s also a lot of foreshadowing which made the story less suspenseful than I was hoping for. There’s a twist near the cliffhanger ending that didn’t really make sense to me and while I don’t have a problem with cliffhangers as long as most of the story is wrapped up, in this instance there are so many unresolved conflicts that when I got to the last page I was extremely frustrated. In my humble opinion Genius isn’t a bad book, but it’s not great either. I can see it appealing to tweens and teens that are into coding and gaming. Other readers may find themselves wishing for more plot and character development though.

 

The Chimera Vector (The Fifth Column #1) ~ By Nathan M. Farrugia – 3.5 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Adventure, Mystery, Science Fiction, Techno-Thriller

Thank you NetGalley and Momentum (Pan MacMillan) for providing an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: February 1st, 2016

Synopsis: The Fifth Column: the world’s most powerful and secretive organization. They run our militaries. They run our governments. They run our terrorist cells.

Recruited as a child, Sophia is a deniable operative for the Fifth Column. Like all operatives, Sophia’s DNA has been altered to augment her senses and her mind is splintered into programmed subsets.

On a routine mission in Iran something for catastrophically wrong. Bugs are beginning to appear in Sophia’s programming and the mission spins out of control. 

High-speed chases, gun fights, helicopter battles, immortal psychopaths, super soldiers and mutant abilities are all in the mix in this edge-of-your-seat, action-packed techno-thriller.

Holy Guacamole! Have you ever read a book that leaves you completely exhausted when you’ve finished? Or have you ever been on a ride like Aerosmith’s Rock ‘n Roller Coaster at Walt Disney World which goes from 0-57 miles per hour in just over two seconds? That’s The Chimera Vector in a nutshell. 

The book’s biggest problem are its characters. Except for Sophia, and her two besties Jay and Damien, everyone else, especially the villains are so one-dimensional that they’re unintentionally laughable at times. While it took me awhile to warm up to Sophia, as the story progressed I liked her more and more. She’s a “take no prisoners” kind of woman, yet underneath all that toughness is an equal amount of vulnerability. I kept picturing her as Scarlett Johansson aka The Black Widow, throughout the entire story. She shoulders the responsibility for not only her actions, but for other’s as well. I think all this guilt she carries is her greatest weakness. Jay and Damian are likable even when you’re not sure which side they’re on. The witty repartee between them provides for some of the story’s lighter moments.

The action starts on the very first page and NEVER lets up. While this made it an exciting read, it was also dizzying and confusing at times. In addition to all the chases, gun fights, etc. there’s a lot of characters to try to keep track of and because of the non-stop action sequences that’s not always easy to do. Making things more complicated is that there aren’t just double agents. No, there’s triple and quadruple agents!  It makes it difficult at times to remember which team certain characters are on. There’s a lot of twists and turns and just when I thought I had figured things out, another bombshell was dropped leaving me careening off in another direction. Having served in the Australian Army, Nathan Ferrugia clearly knows his stuff when it comes to the military, which gives a sense of authenticity to a story that’s filled with futuristic weapons, immortal bad guys, secret organizations, and out-of-this-world conspiracies.

While The Chimera Vector suffers a little from “everything but the kitchen sink” syndrome, it’s still a fun read that I think fans of Matthew Reilly and James Rollins will enjoy. There are two more books: The Seraphim Sequence and The Phoenix Varient that complete this trilogy. I don’t read much in the way of techno-thrillers, but I’ll definitely be checking these out after I’ve recovered from reading this first one.

The Pendragon Protocol ~ by Philip Purser-Hallard – 5.0 Stars

Tags

Adventure, Conspiracy Thriller, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Knights of the Round Table, Science Fiction, Techno-Thriller, Urban Fantasy

  I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I was a little nervous to pick up this book. Philip was so generous to send me an autographed copy even though I lost the Goodreads contest. Modern day Arthurian knights seemed just my cup of tea, but what if I didn’t like it? Lesson learned: I worry too much! This was honestly one of the most interesting books I’ve read all year! The premise is centered around this covert government agency in contemporary London called The Circle. Can you see where this is heading? It gets even better! The upper echelon of this group are the modern day incarnations of the original Knights of the Round Table. I’m not even going to try to explain how this comes about because I wouldn’t be able to do it justice. Let’s just say it’s not through reincarnation or any of the other ways that have already been written about. In addition to having all the memories and powers, (yes, powers!) of the original knights, they have all sorts of high tech gadgetry too which would make James Bond jealous! This is a good thing because they have to fight villains such as serial killers, eco-terrorists, and neo-nazis. The story is told by a narrator who calls himself Dale the Tale. The hero of the book however is Jory Taylor, aka Sir Gawain. Unfortunately for every modern day heroic knight there is his nemesis which in this case is The Green Knight who captures Jory. As he’s being held prisoner, Jory discover there is much more to the myths he has been told and always stood by. The more he discovers the more personal it gets and now he has to prevent a terrible plot that’s about to unfold. First, let me say that for anyone who’s read updated Arthurian stories before, The Pendragon Protocol is unlike anything you’ve ever read. I’m not even going to try to compare the writing to that of other authors because it wouldn’t be fair. It’s just that unique. I can say it’s a blend of science fiction, historical fiction, urban fantasy, fantasy, techno-thriller, and conspiracy thriller. It even has a dash of comedy in the form of Dale the Tale who I loved! I also liked Jory who’s not your stereotypical perfect hero. This is the type of character I wish I could meet in real life. In addition to being character driven it’s also plot driven which I truly appreciated. All too often I’ve found books being either, or. Being a Yank, I also liked the political overtones of England, both historical and contemporary. I cannot recommend this book enough! It’s exciting and suspenseful, and I finished it in two days. Best news yet: this is the first book in a planned trilogy. I don’t know when the sequel The Locksley Exploit is coming out but I cannot wait!

Update:

*** The Locksley Exploit will be coming out summer of 2015!***