This is a cybercrime techno-thriller about a hacker who finds himself entrapped in an elaborate blackmail scheme. He’s forced to recruit old friends from his past in an effort to save himself.
What I liked most about the book was the setting. It’s a classic cyber-dystopia, with omnipresent surveillance and ongoing threats of pandemics. The atmosphere was creepy and disturbing, without being distracting.
Also, the technical details of all the hacking and counter-hacking were well done. I could follow what was going on without getting bogged down in the details.
I did struggle with some of the characters, in particular the protagonist. Let’s just say that, while he is the victim of a crime, he is far from innocent of wrongdoing himself. This made it hard for me to feel much sympathy for him.
However, if you can get past that, the book certainly makes for a fast-paced and exciting page-turner. Also, that cover is spectacular, isn’t it? Makes me think of Ghost in the Shell a little.
Sometimes having a flawed or even bad protagonist gives the reader pleasure in seeing them squirm when the shoe is on the other foot.
Very true.
The backdrop and circumstances sounds as if it’s one of those in which nobody is innocent; folk surviving as best they can.
Most certainly dystopia
Yes, it definitely is.
Ooooh…I like the sound of this one. Thank you!
I think you will enjoy it! 🙂