Reviewed by Kristin
A computer hacker named Odin and an artificial intelligence
called Frigg—what could go wrong in this scenario? Odin does feel as powerful as a Norse god
with goddess Frigg by his virtual side.
He is on a mission, and it will certainly end with death.
Roger McGeary is nervous about going on a cruise, but he
begins to hit his stride with the older women surrounding him and eventually (with
a little liquid courage) loosens up enough to enjoy himself. Roger was the classic Dungeons and Dragons
nerd in high school, where he and his friend Stu Ramey had their own little
world, far from the popular kids and pretty much any girls. Now they are both well-paid cybersecurity experts,
even if still socially awkward.
Roger has come a long way from his childhood spent with an
emotionally abusive mother. As a teen, Roger’s
family life spiraled downward. After a
suicide attempt, his mother even had him committed to a psychiatric institution
for years. Although Roger’s life has
improved, a sudden burst of words across the screen of his phone shocks and
sends him into crisis mode.
It turns out that Roger is not the only target of the
hacker. More lives are at risk as Odin
preys on the weaknesses of others as well.
Although I prefer Jance’s Joanna Brady series (a woman
sheriff in Arizona) and her J.P. Beaumont series (a private investigator in
Washington state), I have grown fond of the characters in the Ali Reynolds
books. Ali and husband B. Simpson (just
don’t call him by his first name: Bart) are a team working well together at
their investigation firm High Noon Enterprises.
Stu Ramey and Cami Lee are the very talented hired help. I really liked that we got to know Stu better
in this book. His character was given
more layers through his childhood friend and family circumstances. Cami seems to gain confidence as she jets
around the world investigating what may have been a suicide. Another interesting character is Leland
Brooks, Ali’s longtime house manager, who may need to find a replacement for
himself as he cares for a long term companion who has fallen ill.
The character of Frigg is also intriguing. “She” is an artificial intelligence, an AI
who begins to develop direction of her own as Odin’s thoughts and actions verge
toward the dangerous. The world of
cybersecurity is portrayed well here without being too detailed for the average
reader.
Man Overboard is the twelfth in the
Ali Reynolds series. I recommend starting
at the beginning with Edge of Evil and getting to know Ali and her whole crew.
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