This author is one I've enjoyed in the past. My fave book of hers was The Turn of the Key. Out of the 8 books she's written (including this one), I have read 4. There have only been 2 though that I have really loved. This one was interesting and fast paced. But it's definitely not a fave.
STORY SUMMARY
Gabe Cross and his wife Jacinda (Jack) have difficult careers. They are both security penetration specialists (pen testers). This means that companies hire them to test the strengths and weaknesses of their computer/security systems. Gabe does all the digital aspects and Jack handles the actual physical break-ins. Companies hire her to "break in" to their systems so Gabe can then find the issues digitally and help them become secure. They make an excellent team and their marriage is strong.
After a routine assignment on a Saturday night goes horribly wrong, Jack arrives home to find her husband dead. His throat has been slit. She is in shock and it takes her a while to call 999. (England's equivalent to 911). To make things worse: the police are closing in on their only suspect-----her.
Now Jack is on the run and she's running out of options. She must decide who she can trust as she digs out clues from family and friends...and even an old enemy who happens to be on the police force. As she gets closer to the truth, she begins to question if there could be far more things at stake. What was Gabe really working on?? And how does Cole, his very best friend, play into all of this??
MY THOUGHTS
This was just a far fetched story in my opinion. I mean, the character Jack is only supposed to be about 28 years old yet has all this computer knowledge AND is physically fit to the point she she crawls through narrow windows, drops down many feet and survives. Just too far fetched for me. But I reminded my brain it's fiction not based on fact.
I asked my husband what zero day means regarding computer technology and wow....it really is a thing. So on that, the author was spot on. I don't want to reveal everything my husband said about it because it would ruin the plot for you. (My husband is a software developer so did verify that the computer tech ideas in the book were legit although far fetched in how it played out).
The author has the main character solving this mystery within one week. Again, so far fetched!! But it makes for an exciting, turn the page again and again, to see what's going to happen.
The best part of the book for me was the character development and the relationship between Gabe and Jack as well as the relationship between Hel (Jack's older sister) and Jack. I also loved the ending. It was well done.
One thing I absolutely despised about this story was the constant use of the F word. It's SO unnecessary and makes my rating drop. I can understand setting up this character, who is in the age of a young millennial or an older Gen Z, with a couple of the f bombs at the beginning of the story, but it continues over and over. It's just crass to me, and also uncreative. Authors just use it so much these days. Where is their creativity with other words that are less crass??
I did like that the themes in this book are love, friendship, trust, betrayal, and what grief does to one. It's also about the downside of technology/computers/the digital world.
If you like fast paced thrillers that are a bit "out there" you will like the story.
Personally I prefer the author's style in The Turn of the Key and In a Dark, Dark Wood.
In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 17 and older (due to mature content).
On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 7.
1 comment:
I've never been drawn to this author because of the mixed reviews but I did find one in a little free library so grabbed it to give it a try, can't remember which one it is though.
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