Format: Paperback
Published by: Head of Zeus
Published: 14.09.23
Synopsis:
FBI Special Agent Ericka Blackwood faces off against criminal mastermind Dantalion in a race against time to save thousands of lives… and herself.
Following her harrowing pursuit of sinister cybercriminal Dantalion, and her life-changing decision to pursue personal vengeance over her case, Ericka Blackwood hit rock bottom. The only way she can find redemption is through the relentless hunting down of her former quarry.
But Ericka is not the only one seeking Dantalion, whose scope has extended from orchestrating murder via the Dark Web and entered the world of international terrorism. A series of explosions in Pakistan alerts intelligence services to the possibility of Dantalion’s involvement, and Ericka, and her old colleagues from the FBI, are hot on the criminal mastermind’s trail.
My Thoughts: (spoiler free)
Following from The Hacker (one of my favourite reads from last year), we see the return of Ericka Blackwood and her deadly foe Dantalion.
Again I have to say this is a standout read, a different type of thriller to the norm, focussing more as it does on cybercrime, it is a whipsmart intelliegent read, with a plot both slick and taut in its construct.
I found this to be a gripping and compelling read, with a strongly written narrative throughout, it is an addictive read, I was drawn into a world which I no nothing about, but the premise of what could happen makes for an engaging read, It is darkly sinister read. I found myself wanting to know how far technology can go.
The plot certainly takes many a twist and turn, in a cyber game of cat and mouse, it’s a dark world on the web and author explores these themes and the possibilities that are there to be had, seamlessly fitting this into the plotline, making for a plausible and scary scenario, the story flows and races along at a pace which befits the urgency that the plots demands
It is interesting to see how someone can find a persons weakness and manipulate and exploit them into undertaken the unthinkable, it shows the human fraility within some, for me the author really drew this out in the characters, you can feel the torment and anguish that they go through
The drama within only builds as the book moves on to its final conclusion
In someways a sobering read as you come to understand a little of the technology available and the devastating effects it can have in the wrong hands.
One area in which the book stands out in the author expertise and understanding, along with obvious research into the world of cybercrime and technology, which make for a plausible read
5* suspense driven read which will have you on the seat of your pants,
For me Daniel Scanlan is an author to watch out for
About the Author:
Daniel Scanlan is a lawyer who has practised extensively in the areas of cybercrime, digital evidence, wiretap, smuggling and money laundering. He wrote the non-fiction Digital Evidence in Criminal Law and contributed to The Lawyer’s Guide to the Forensic Sciences, winner of the Walter Owen Book Prize. He lives on Vancouver Island and enjoys ocean kayaking and hiking. When not outdoors, he is reading and will read almost anything, except books about lawyers. The Hacker is his first novel.
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