Guest Review: Lethal Code

Summary: America’s worst nightmare has come true: a “cyber–Pearl Harbor” attack by unknown terrorists has crippled the nation’s power grid—and brought the land of the free to its knees. As widespread panic and violence ravage the country, its ruthless captors issue their ultimatums…and vow an apocalyptic reckoning.

A defenseless nation scrambles to fight an invisible invasion. Chief among America’s last line of defense is Lana Elkins, head of a major cyber-security company—and former top NSA operative—who returns to her roots to spearhead the Agency’s frantic efforts to combat the enemy’s onslaught on its own terms. While she and her superiors take action to infiltrate a terrorist hotbed overseas, much closer to home ruthless jihadists with a nuclear bomb hijack a busload of schoolchildren—including Lana’s daughter—and race toward a rendezvous with Armageddon in America’s greatest city.

With Lethal Code, Thomas Waite raises the international techno-thriller to dangerously exciting levels—introducing a valiant new action heroine, and initiating a series that brings a harrowing new edge of realism to sensational speculative fiction. - 47North

Booking Pap Pap has another great review. This time it's for a cyber thriller called LETHAL CODE by Thomas Waite. Here are his thoughts:

LETHAL CODE by Thomas Waite begins with a cyber-attack on the United States power grid that places the country in total chaos resulting in significant death and destruction. The United States government must identify and track down these unknown terrorists before they turn our own weapons on us and completely destroy the country. There are several suspects with sufficient technical know-how such as Russia, China, North Korea, Arab terrorists or even a disgruntled American.

The U.S. government assembles an unusual team to identify, locate, infiltrate and destroy the enemy before they do further damage. Heading up the team is Lana Elkins, head of a cyber-security company and former NSA operative who is joined by FBI agent Candace Anders and prior suspect in the cyber-assault, Ruhi Mancur, a Saudi born American citizen. While the team searches overseas for the terrorists, panic and violence continues at home with jihadists kidnapping a busload of children, including Lana Elkins’ daughter, and the planned nuclear destruction of a major U.S. city.

The novel, while starting out with some high-tech computer security concerns quickly changes to a low-tech search and destroy operation with plenty of shooting and killing. The team members are exposed to brutal environments, threatened, shot at, captured and tortured; assisted by U.S. Special Forces and challenged by several foreign governments’ agencies in carrying out their objectives.

The author notes up front that most of the technologies, cyber-attack vulnerabilities, and cyber-war scenarios he uses are based on fact. But it is still difficult for me to believe that a cyber-attack could reach this level of sophistication and complete control.

However, once the plausibility of such an attack is put aside, LETHAL CODE is a face-paced thriller with great characters that comes to an exciting conclusion. Additionally, the book provides plenty of food for thought concerning contemporary terrorism.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel and to Booking Pap Pap for his review.

Mystery Mondays is a regular feature where I review all types of mystery books -- traditional mysteries, suspense/thrillers, and even cozies! Please feel free to share your thoughts on any recent mystery books that you've read. Mystery Mondays is a regular feature where I review all types of mystery books -- traditional mysteries, suspense/thrillers, and even cozies! Please feel free to share your thoughts on any recent mystery books that you've read.