(Reviewed by JD Jung)
“Assuming her stalker stayed true to his word, he would reveal all her secrets. There was a reason why his delving into her life gnawed at her gut. It was like he could sense the sins in the darkest corners of her soul. And he knew she deserved to be punished.”
Teenage runaway, now adult hacker/social engineer/cyber-criminal, Alanna Blake, holds a lot of secrets from her past as well as her present. She’s always running away from something or someone and those around her seem to wind up hurt or even dead.
When the hacktivist group, AntiAmerica, claims credit for a bombing in Miami, the FBI accuses her ex-boyfriend Javier of being involved. Alanna is still in love with him, so when the Feds track her down and demand that she assists in finding him, she doesn’t want to cooperate. However, when she discovers that he has been kidnapped, her only goal is to get him back…alive.
Not only does Alana have to constantly dodge the Feds and the stalker, but also the Russian mob. It may seem convoluted, but it does all come together.
This story starts out quickly right out of the gate and never stops. Yes, there’s a lot going on—maybe too much and too many characters—but the story keeps you guessing the entire time. AntiAmerica is more plot than character driven except for our protagonist. We slowly learn about her past, how she got to where she is today, and why she is always trying to rationalize her guilt. Not only does she keep her secrets from those closest to her, but also from us, the readers. We gradually learn them as the story progresses, which adds to the suspense.
I did have to pause numerous times while reading in order to google certain cyber-related terms that I was unfamiliar with, but that’s a good thing. I enjoy novels that teach me about unfamiliar subcultures.
If you are interested in cyber-crime with some violence and unsavory characters thrown in, this fast-paced thriller will keep you engaged until the very end.
