Voodoo, a gifted military technician, struggles with harrowing memories of war and the emptiness that comes with loss. To cope, he’s thrown himself into his work for a secretive military research organization, purposefully leaving little time for anything else. Until one night, a familiar voice from Voodoo’s past interrupts his recurring nightmares with a cryptic prophecy.
At the same time, across the ocean in Japan, two world-renowned scientists go missing along with the secrets behind a powerful form of artificial intelligence called the “God Algorithm.”
To Voodoo’s surprise, he soon finds himself on the front lines of an A.I. arms race with the future of freedom at stake. Will Voodoo find the scientists in time? Or will the “God Algorithm,” a piece of code so terrifying it has the potential to shift global power, fall into the wrong hands. Find out in this mind-bending, relentlessly paced techno thriller sure to please fans of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan and Jack Carr’s James Reece.
What did I think?
I really enjoyed The Hawk Enigma. It's not one of my usual genres so it took me a little while to get into it but once I did I couldn't put it down.
As it's a technothriller with a military slant, there are a lot of acronyms in the book but they are explained straight away so you don't even have to look them up yourself. I even learned the meaning of some common acronyms that I had heard before but had never really thought about what the letters actually stand for (such as RHIB - rigid-hulled inflatable boat).
There are some very intriguing flashbacks in the book and I loved the way it all came together with a number of shocks and surprises along the way. The action never stops and the characters are brought to life via J.L. Hancock's wonderfully vivid and descriptive prose. I really enjoyed the banter between the characters and the humorous way they referred to certain situations and items.
Grisly, evocative and action-packed, if The Hawk Enigma isn't made into a film it will be an absolute travesty. It's a very well-written and accomplished debut novel and I would highly recommend giving it a read.
I received a gifted paperback to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
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An escaped prisoner. A lab hidden in western China develops an AI weapon. A Russian special operator investigates a heinous crime scene.
In the stunning sequel to The Hawk Enigma, Voodoo and his team of special operators are thrust back into the heart of a global conflict. The stakes have never been higher as China’s Belt and Road Initiative pushes into Central Asia, exposing dark ambitions and a secret lab advancing AI warfare.
Set against the vast steppes of Kazakhstan, this story unfolds in the shadow of the former Soviet Union. Tensions rise as Voodoo’s team embarks on a covert mission. New team members add to the friction as more troubles from Voodoo’s past return to the present.
They soon find themselves on the brink of a perilous future the Western world is unwilling to face: a world where AI reigns supreme, and there's no turning back. Fans of Jack Ryan, Tom Clancy, and Clive Cussler will snatch this thriller and refuse to let go.
Will Voodoo’s team succeed? Or has his luck finally run out?
What did I think?
Voodoo is back! Having read The Hawk Enigma, I raced straight onto the sequel, The Spear and the Sentinel. Whilst I have read the books in order, you could pick up The Spear and the Sentinel as a standalone as the author includes a quick recap of The Hawk Enigma for anyone who hasn't read it.
The reader is plunged straight into the action and the pacing never lets up as the story progresses at an impressive rate of knots. There are a lot of close shaves that had me holding my breath in anticipation as I have really come to care about Voodoo and his team.
Some of the technology went way over my head but I still enjoyed the book and I really appreciated the way the author explained the myriad acronyms so quickly after they were mentioned.
The Spear and the Sentinel is a cracking sequel that is filled with tension, suspense and action. A highly recommended read that is unmissable if you love a military thriller and/or technothriller.
I received a gifted paperback to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
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