‘Ghost’ by James Swallow

HB Published by Zaffre,
31 May 2018.
ISBN: 978-1-78576374-8

Marc Dane is a former British intelligence officer who now works for Ekko Solomon, an African billionaire.  Solomon owns a large corporation called Rubicon, and he uses part of his wealth to challenge those who pose a global security threat that individual states are either unable or unwilling to cope with. Part of Solomon’s creed is that he believes everybody should be given a second chance.  Kara Wei was just one such person. Before joining Rubicon she had worked with a collection of mercenary hackers known as Ghost 5. Top of the US and British intelligence’s most wanted list, Ghost 5 are a deadly bunch of crooks who are headed by the mysterious Madrigal.

Kara remains loyal to her colleagues at Rubicon until Ghost 5 kills her boyfriend.  At that point, seeking revenge on those who had eliminated the only person she had ever loved, Kara returns to Ghost 5. To win back Madrigal’s trust, Kara then betrays her colleagues in Rubicon. This has disastrous consequences for Marc and his partner Lucy as they race across the world to mitigate the threat of a major international disaster. The Ghost 5 hackers penetrate South Korea and manipulate Seoul’s secure facilities and generally reap havoc as they obey the evil wishes of their paymasters. Can Marc and Lucy prevent total armageddon?

With its high tech - but perfectly comprehensible background - and high body count, Ghost makes for absolutely compulsive reading. It paints a vivid picture of what might happen if the wrong mercenary groups or governments gain access to other nations vital internet systems, especially ones that control their water, power, travel and weapon systems.  It makes you feel that bespoke terror attacks and the chaos resulting from them could so easily become the norm. James Swallow is simply too good at his art.

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Reviewer Angela Crowther

  

James Swallow is a New York Times, Sunday Times and Amazon bestselling author, a BAFTA nominee, a former journalist and the award-winning writer of over forty-five books, along with numerous scripts for videogames, radio and television. His latest novel Ghost - the next in a series of fast-paced action thrillers featuring protagonist Marc Dane - is out now from Bonnier Zaffre. For exclusive content, information on new releases and a FREE deleted scene from his novel Nomad, sign up to the Readers’ Club here: www.bit.ly/JamesSwallow

Twitter at @jmswallow

Angela Crowther is a retired scientist.  She has published many scientific papers but, as yet, no crime fiction.  In her spare time Angela belongs to a Handbell Ringing group, goes country dancing and enjoys listening to music, particularly the operas of Verdi and Wagner.