I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.  All opinions are my own. 

A hacker races against the clock to stop a terrorist organization targeting him and those closest to him for revenge in author Allen Wyler’s “Deadly Odds 9.0.”

The Synopsis

When white-hat hacker Arnold Gold feels that unmistakable prickle of danger crawl up his spine, he knows the past has finally caught up with him. The ruthless terrorist cell he thought was dismantled is back-and this time, they want him dead. Every routine moment becomes a potential ambush, every shadow a watching eye, and one bad decision could be his last.

Outnumbered and hunted, Arnold turns to the one ally he can trust: SAM, his self-built artificial-intelligence network. While SAM races to unmask the cell’s new leadership and hiding place, Arnold must stay a move ahead of enemies who are as patient as they are lethal. The more SAM uncovers, the clearer it becomes that this isn’t just unfinished business-it’s a meticulously planned reckoning.

Set against the tech-savvy backdrop of Seattle, Deadly Odds 9.0 is a high-velocity techno-thriller where dark money, data trails, and jihadist revenge intersect. As the net tightens and time runs out, Arnold Gold has to gamble everything on his skills, his instincts, and a machine intelligence that may be his only chance at survival-because this time, the odds aren’t just deadly. They’re personal.

THE REVIEW

This was a powerful and gripping international tech-thriller. The author’s ability to delve into imagery and atmosphere to immerse readers in the edge-of-your-seat thriller vibes this story provided was incredible to read and gave an almost cinematic experience that readers can visualize as they read. The story does act on a lot of information from previous entries in the series, but the author does a good job of laying down some of that foundation in the buildup to the inciting incident in this novel and giving new readers like me enough backstory to feel engaged with these characters.

The strong character development and world-building the author brings to this story were important and memorable. The evolution of politics and mandates within government agencies, which play a role in how threats are treated, was touched upon, as were the haunting realities of being targeted and hunted from the shadows that the author brought to life on the page. The inclusion of AI and the system the protagonist created, along with the bond between the protagonist and Prisha, made this story a narrative readers will feel completely enthralled by.

THE VERDICT

Thrilling, compelling, and entertaining, author Allen Wyler’s “Deadly Odds 9.0” is a must-read tech-thriller meets revenge story. The twists and turns this story takes, the losses that the characters experience, and the somber yet rewarding finale will stay with readers long after the narrative ends. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

Allen’s thrillers have twice been nominated for the prestigious Thriller Award. He has served on the Board of Directors of the International Thriller Writers and is also an active member of the North American Crime Writers and Mystery Writers of America. He lives in Seattle.

Go to: allenwyler.com for more details.