Hack
A Nik Byron Investigation
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- $4.99
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- $4.99
Publisher Description
1st place award in the 2023 Feathered Quill Book Awards, Mystery/Suspense category
When a top secret and powerful US surveillance technology is stolen and offered for sale on the black market, an exiled reporter races to expose the theft and untangle the plot—before the story is spiked, and he is silenced for good.
Coming off a successful investigation into a major banking scandal, Newshound reporter Nik Byron arrives in Washington, DC, with high hopes for his career. But a disruptive corporate merger and a vengeful boss quickly dash his plans. Relegated to scut work and the graveyard shift, Nik’s career and emotions are in a tailspin. That is, until a late-night explosion levels a high-tech office park—home to some of the nation’s top clandestine programs—and provides Nik with an opportunity to reverse his fortunes. As Nik tries to unravel the mystery at the heart of the explosion, he suddenly finds himself confronting domestic terrorists, rogue American and Chinese spies, mercenaries, and a brilliant but temperamental computer expert.
With the help of a small team of colleagues and his new girlfriend, Samantha Whyte—the chief investigator for the Northern Virginia Sheriff’s Department, who has her own secrets to conceal—Nik follows a bloody trail of bodies from DC to the upper Midwest. But as word gets out that what he has dug up threatens to expose the theft of highly sensitive US technology, now being sold to terrorists and repressive regimes, new enemies close in. How far is Nik willing to go for a story, and how much is he willing to risk to reveal the truth?
Customer Reviews
Nefarious scheme vs. unstoppable reporter
Hack is a thriller that works on every level. Nefarious plot? Check. Far-reaching corruption? Check. Hilariously inept dirtbags creating mayhem? Yep. What's different here, and what I really like about the story, is that the hero is a journalist, not a CIA operative or FBI agent. Nik Byron's personal life is a mess, and he's down on his luck in myriad ways, but he is an investigative reporter with guts, and when he latches onto a story, he doesn't know how to let go, even if it kills him (always a possibility). The author, a journalist himself, obviously knows his stuff, and truly captures what it's like to be in a newsroom -- the rivalries, the joking around, the competitiveness, etc. The protagonist is too smart not to eventually unravel the conspiracy at the heart of this plot (no spoilers, but it's a good one), if he can avoid getting sidetracked by his love interests, or killed by the bad guys. The writing is muscular, fast-paced, and the author offers heavy doses of suspense, humor, adrenaline and danger, often on the same page. With its diverse cast of villains and strong female characters, it reminds me in a good way of the crime novels of Carl Hiassen and Elmore Leonard. An excellent read, highly recommend.
Perfect summer read
This book is one you’ll stay up late on a hot summer night to see how it ends. Filled with a mix of characters, including some of the best female characters I’ve read in a long time — savvy girlfriend Samantha, astute, impeccably dressed ex-wife Maggie, and rising star journalist Mia. It’s a terrific read.