The hacker known as Tracker moves along the sidewalk, a hoodie pulled up over his head, his eyes darting from side to side. ~ Opening of Vanished
Vanished (Black Hat Thriller, #4) by Karen E. Olson
Severn House, 2018
Crime Fiction; 224 pgs
Source: I received an e-copy from the publisher via NetGalley
Karen E. Olson’s 4th and most recent book in her Black Hat series, Vanished, was another next to impossible book to put down. I was caught under its spell from the start when Tracker appears on the first page. Hacker Tina Adler is living under yet a new alias, trying to blend into a small South Carolina town, selling her art and doing what she can to stay off the radar. A chance meeting with an elderly gallery patron, however, derails all her best efforts, and Tina finds herself on the run again. This time she has a destination though. Someone she loves may be in trouble, and she is not going to leave him high and dry.
If you have not read any of the previous books in the series yet, I recommend you start with the first book, Hidden, in which Tina is first introduced to us. This is a series best read in order. Each book builds on the next.
I have not read too many thrillers involving hackers, but just enough to know I enjoy them. It’s scary to know how easily someone can get into your computer or steal information from an ATM. It’s a good thing Tina has a conscience. There are plenty of twists and turns in Vanished as Tina travels from South Carolina to New York and onto Paris. Memories of her childhood and her grandmother come flooding back, adding a closer look at the life Tina lived before she became a hacker.
Spencer returns in Vanished, a character I have grown more and more curious about. He’s extremely talented with computers and technology and well-connected with the dark web. Tina can’t help but be curious, but knows she is on a need to know basis. She is still unsure how much she can trust him, but needs his help.
In Vanished we see the prey turn into the hunter as Tina tries to stay hidden from those out to get her and find out what’s happened to her friend. The stakes have never been higher for Tina. Vanished is entertaining and fast-past. I enjoyed spending time with Tina again—although am glad I don’t lead her life!
To learn more about Karen E. Olson and her books, please visit the author's website. You can also find the author on Goodreads, Facebook, and Twitter.
If you have not read any of the previous books in the series yet, I recommend you start with the first book, Hidden, in which Tina is first introduced to us. This is a series best read in order. Each book builds on the next.
I have not read too many thrillers involving hackers, but just enough to know I enjoy them. It’s scary to know how easily someone can get into your computer or steal information from an ATM. It’s a good thing Tina has a conscience. There are plenty of twists and turns in Vanished as Tina travels from South Carolina to New York and onto Paris. Memories of her childhood and her grandmother come flooding back, adding a closer look at the life Tina lived before she became a hacker.
Spencer returns in Vanished, a character I have grown more and more curious about. He’s extremely talented with computers and technology and well-connected with the dark web. Tina can’t help but be curious, but knows she is on a need to know basis. She is still unsure how much she can trust him, but needs his help.
In Vanished we see the prey turn into the hunter as Tina tries to stay hidden from those out to get her and find out what’s happened to her friend. The stakes have never been higher for Tina. Vanished is entertaining and fast-past. I enjoyed spending time with Tina again—although am glad I don’t lead her life!
To learn more about Karen E. Olson and her books, please visit the author's website. You can also find the author on Goodreads, Facebook, and Twitter.
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I'm looking forward to reading this series and will take your advice and read in order. Which is my preference anyway.
ReplyDeleteKay - I hope you enjoy it when you do get to it!
DeleteI don't think I've read any books involving hackers. This series sounds really good and relevant.
ReplyDeleteKathy - Hackers definitely fall into the relevant category when it comes to today, don't they? For good or bad.
DeleteI read this one recently, but since I had not read the previous books, it didn't resonate as much as I'd hope. Some series you can pick up at any time, but I think this one requires following from the beginning.
ReplyDeleteJenclair - I am sorry this one didn't work well for you. It really is a series that needs to be read in order.
DeleteThat does sound like one that would keep me up reading late.
ReplyDeleteMelissa - I have really enjoyed this series.
DeleteAhh...I'm SO far behind in this series! ;D
ReplyDeleteLark - Hurry and catch up! :-) As if there aren't so many tempting books out there, right?
DeleteI have to say I still wish Karen was writing her Annie Seymour series. Loved that one. I have a couple of these and need to get on with it. So glad to hear you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteIliana - I do too, Iliana. I really liked Annie Symour. I miss the series too.
DeleteI haven't read this series (or any hacker series) but I must say I'm intrigued! Not sure if I should be getting any more paranoid about technology though :p
ReplyDeleteEustacia - It's such a real threat now, isn't it? It's scary.
DeleteI am not big on fiction, but this sounds very interesting.
ReplyDeleteEllen - It's a fun series. :-)
DeleteThis sounds very good. Obviously hacking and other types of cyber crime are very real things. It is interesting to see fiction reflect a changing world.
ReplyDeleteI am a stickler for reading series in order so I would probably start with the first book.
Brian - When you think of the technology out there and how easy it is to access others' information, it really is frightening. And yet here I am blogging and sharing parts of my life anyway. I agree, it is interesting to see fiction reflect our changing world.
DeleteI need to catch up on this series having read her first book and enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteMelody - I hope you like the rest of the series if you continue, Melody!
DeleteI'm really looking forward to starting this series. I'm a big fan of suspense and I love a good hacker story. This series sounds like it's been holding really strong!
ReplyDeleteKatherine - I've enjoyed it. I hope the author is able to continue with it.
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