Here's the thing, if you Google the meaning of thriller, the result is "a novel, play, or movie with an exciting plot, typically involving crime or espionage." If you read further, you'll see things about putting a reader or viewer on the edge of their seat. Net Force: Dark Web has the crime or espionage part of that, but the exciting plot or edge of my seat storyline? Not so much. The blurb sounds exciting, and I was certainly hoping for an edge of my seat read, but this book was the complete opposite for me. It's about 700 pages of way too easy to put down and even harder to pick back up. Only sheer determination and a bit of OCD about finishing things kept me pushing through to the end. The story is snail's pace slow, tedious, and wordy. There are numerous characters and subplots to keep track of, and we meet those characters in info dump like fashion. Those things combined made it hard to get invested in any of it. It's been a long time since I read anything by Tom Clancy, but I don't remember having this much trouble with those books. Maybe my tastes have changed, or maybe this one just isn't for me. Either way, this one came up sorely lacking, and this is one Clancy world that I won't be revisiting.

This book did not grab my attention as I hoped it would. I received a copy from the publisher who thought that this book would interest me. The plot looked interesting but I had trouble relating to the characters.

I was provided an ARC of this book by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I listened to the final production copy of the audiobook.

I found the premise of this book to be very interesting. I thought this was a standalone in a long running series, but it definitely felt like I should have known the characters and their backstories going into this book as well as some of the plotlines. I'm not sure if that is the case, but it felt that way when I was reading/listening to the book. I don't think I would have taken the ARC had I known that it were part of such an established series. I feel that way because it doesn't end as a standalone. It ends as though you need to read the next book to find out what happens next.

Again I found the plot to be very interesting, but I lost interest because there were far too many plotlines and characters to keep track of. This made the pacing very slow and the book very long. I expected this to have a much faster pace considering it was a cyber security thriller. While in reality cyber attacks probably have many more people involved than we meet in this book, I think I would have enjoyed this had I not met every single player in the game. I would have preferred more developed characters, and perhaps they are more developed throughout the series as this is book 12 and I've missed out. I also would have preferred a more focused plot, this just jumped around too much for my taste and it was hard to keep track of who was who and what they were doing.

I'll be honest - I struggled to finish this book. While the story is compelling and packed with action, it gets a bit slow at some points. It's like I enjoyed more the idea of the book - a cyberattack and a special Net Force trying to unveil it - than the actual book itself. But if you like this type of action stories, you might like this book and appreciate it more than I did.

Net Force: Dark Web is a fast paced, action packed thriller that keeps the reader engaged page after page. With a compelling cast of characters, the story drops you into the dark and dangerous world of cyber crime and the dedicated, and complicated, people who keep us safe. For lovers of Jack Reacher novels or James Pattereson, Net Force: Dark Web is perfect for those who like non-stop action from start to finish.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions are my own.

Wow! Tech can be hard to write about understandably. I'm not tech-y, but thought I understood a lot of the tech scenarios in this book. They were explained clearly. I'm sure this is the first of a series, though, as there were a lot of unanswered questions and loose ends by the end of the book.

I wish this book had focused a bit more on just a few characters, instead of some of the brief intros of the experiences of some, without making them an actual character in the storyline. I kept reading in hopes of more characters tying together, but they didn't.

By the end of the book, I had a few favorite characters, who I'd expect to see in a follow-up. I'll certainly keep an eye out and still want to hear more of the story, but was a bit disappointed with the lack of closure in what I read in this book.

This was my first book from a publisher widget, the publishers added they felt this was my type of book.

So firstly thank you to the publishers, and of course Net Galley, and the publisher.

Next I apologise, as I appreciate being offered this book, but a first book that I tried to read but had to give up, I tried very hard to keep going, eventually I had to give up.

The return of the cutting-edge thriller series Net Force, created by Tom Clancy and Steve Pieczenik and written by Jerome Preisler, but no to my liking.

The number one threat to our nation’s security is in cyberspace. The new US president wants to tackle the urgent problem head-on and launches a top secret line of defense: Net Force. But before the organisation can be announced, the country is hit by an unprecedented, two-pronged terror attack.

Not yet empowered by Congress nor embraced by a dubious intelligence community, still untested, unproven and officially unnamed, Net Force’s elite group of cyber experts and field operatives must lead the fight against the ongoing waves of hacks while tracking down the mastermind. Their failure could mean global catastrophe. Success may lead them to become the highest-level security agency in the United States.

Yes the story is all there, but lost on the flipping around of the story lines, the many different characters, the basis of the story, exhausting and predictable.

Maybe If I stuck to it it may have grown on me, but felt my time was too valuable and to start on the next book, as under so much pressure with so many books through publishers, authors and Net Galley, as I try to catch up (apologies Net Galley).

Apologies to the author, publishers, just sadly not my type of thriller.

Two stars

The Review
An exciting relaunch of a series co-created by icons Tom Clancy and Steve Pieczenik, Net Force: Dark Web is an exciting thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seat throughout the entirety of the novel. Full of action from the book’s first pages, the story is equal parts narrative and character development, giving readers plenty to engage with throughout the novel.

Employing the same beloved military action, espionage and thriller aspects of any good Tom Clancy novel and incorporating modern day technological warfare and diving into how intimately technology has become a part of our everyday lives, the author does a brilliant job of analyzing our dependence on technology and the next era of terrorism and security around the world. As technology and our society evolves, so to will those seeking to use the good aspects of technology for their own nefarious purposes.

The Verdict
A well-written, lengthy yet action-packed and engaging read. Author Jerome Preisler has done a marvelous job of creating a cast of characters that feel real and personal enough for readers to feel connected to, like one protagonist named Kali, who’s story evolves greatly from the first page of this novel all the way to it’s end. With the United States facing a dangerous new threat, with government officials in the crosshairs and cyberthreats everywhere, it’s up to a new elite task force to stop the threat before its too late. Find out for yourself why this is the next chapter of an exciting new action-thriller series by preordering your copy of Jerome Preisler’s novel “Net Force: Dark Web” today!

A Technothriller That Could Happen Today

A devastating cyberattack cripples the US just as President Focillo is set to announce the creation of a cabinet level group, Net Force, to deal with the cyberthreats posed by all the non-secure device in the US. She knows that the nation’s number one threat will undoubtedly come from cyberattacks, but she has not been able to persuade Congress or the skeptical intelligence agencies of the seriousness of the threat.

This is a very detailed look at cyberattacks. It is closely written, packed with information, but it is easy to read because the author keeps the technical detail at a manageable level for the average reader. The plot is complex with plenty of action and the cast of characters very large. However, I found it easy to follow. The major characters are threaded through the action with chapters devoted to scenes in other countries and organizations.

One of my favorite characters is Kali, she appears in the opening of the novel. She’s young, but she has an obvious skill in cybertechnology. She’s tough, able to cleverly use judo to disable a strong man. She also wants to maintain her independence.

The setting moves through various countries. Each area is well described. You could almost be there and the characters are well developed so you feel as if you know them. My only real criticism is that the ending felt unfinished. I suspect that’s because another book is planned.

If you enjoy technothrillers, this is a good one. It’s long, but it keeps your interest.

I received this book from Harper Collins for this review.

Likes: The writing was really well done and easy to follow. When the action picked up, it was non-stop. I also liked the plot. It was really scary how accurate it could be! A cyber threat is really scary especially with the fact that almost everything runs through the system now. I really liked reading about the HIVE and how Alex gave it an Audrey Hepburn voice. What HIVE could do, a very real seeming virtual reality, was awesome! I liked that the author and creator came up with a plot so vast and intelligent that it seemed so real.

Dislikes: It was really slow until a little over 50% of the way through. Then it was really interesting. I also didn’t connect with any of the characters. I just didn’t feel for them.

Final Thoughts: I did like this overall. It ended on a cliff hanger! I really want this to be a movie. I think I would like it even more!

Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Author: Jerome Preisler

Rating: 2/5

Publication Date: November 26, 2019

Genre: Thriller (?)

Recommended Age: 18+ (terrorism, cyber attacks, frightening things and slow pacing)

Publisher: Hanover Square Press

Pages:704

Amazon Link

Synopsis: The number one threat to our nation’s security is in cyberspace. The new US president wants to tackle the urgent problem head-on and launches a top secret line of defense: Net Force. But before the organization can be announced, the country is hit by an unprecedented, two-pronged terror attack.

Not yet empowered by Congress nor embraced by a dubious intelligence community, still untested, unproven and officially unnamed, Net Force’s elite group of cyber experts and field operatives must lead the fight against the ongoing waves of hacks while tracking down the mastermind. Their failure could mean global catastrophe. Success may lead them to become the highest-level security agency in the United States.

A story that seems ripped from tomorrow’s headlines, Net Force: Dark Web relaunches one of the most prescient thriller series at a time when cybersecurity is more vital than ever

Review: I thought the overall plot was really good and the writing was pretty good. However, unfortunately, that's all I liked about this book.

I thought the book was way way way to lengthy for what it should have been. The book had too much going on in my opinion. The book pacing was really slow too and I felt like I was running a marathon reading this. I felt mentally exhausted and I was so confused throughout the whole book. I really thing it should have been split up into multiple books or something because how it is isn't working for me lol.

Verdict: Not my cup of tea.

I was really excited to see this story available from HQN for review. I’d been reading a lot of romance lately and needed a break. I thought this thriller would be it, unfortunately it was not. I couldn’t really get into the story. It was confusing at times, with all the subplots and characters. I’d have to keep going back to find out which characters were with what subplot. You’re lead through so many dark alleys, countries, and streets in each different one that I felt I should have made a map of the characters. The story gets convoluted and the characters get murky after a while.
I should have stopped reading it when I realized the headache it was going to induce with the different stories all trying to coalesce into one. I was told many times when I would have to stop reading, that I should DNF but I didn’t, I stuck through to the very end and I was not happy with the ending either. It just ends. You read just over 700 pages (YES 704 pages per Amazon!) and the story just stops, but there’s really no ending. I won’t be reading any more of this series, it’s just not for me. There’s little character development and it takes entirely too long for the story to pick up the pace. With so many subplots and characters that was brought in, I don’t think there’s anyway to do the story justice. And the story could be a good one. With today’s society, everything from the microchips in our pets, to our mobile devices, to our debit/credit cards, everything is attached to the web. If something bad gets in, it could knock everything out. This book goes through that possibility.
This book is set a couple years into the future, and there’s a lot of technical aspects to it. I would suggest this book to someone who normally reads international thrillers heavy with technology. If you’re looking for a nice, relaxing, take your mind off of work read, this 704 page behemoth of a story might not be for you.
**I received an ARC of this story and this is my honest review

An action packed, fast paced, gripping and entertaining novel that kept me on the edge till the end.
I loved the well crafted and engrossing plot, the well thought cast of characters and the solid mystery.
It's the first book I read in this series and won't surely be the last.
It was a fun read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

BOOK REVIEW⠀
BOOK: Net Force: Dark Web
AUTHOR: Jerome Preisler
#JeromePreisler

This might be the first book in awhile that I have had difficulty reading. I don’t really enjoy some spy novels but I thought I would give this a chance. And honestly, my head is still reeling from the complexity of this book. I couldn’t keep the characters straight and it was just a struggle to get through. I hate having negative things to say about a book, but I really struggled to enjoy this book. Please don’t shoot the messenger.

Short Synopsis (from Goodreads):
The number one threat to our nation’s security is in cyberspace. The new US president wants to tackle the urgent problem head-on and launches a top secret line of defense: Net Force. But before the organization can be announced, the country is hit by an unprecedented, two-pronged terror attack.
⠀
I received this book for review purposes from NetGalley. ⠀

An enjoyable read with a huge cast of characters with an international scope. I really enjoyed the technological aspects of the story from future technologies to the intricacies of cyberhacking. It helped that there was a set of core characters on which to focus. I would definitely read future books set in this thrilling universe!

Book: Net Force: Dark Web
Author: Jerome Preisler
Rating: 2 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Hanover Square Press, for sending me an ARC.

I am actually really upset with myself that I didn’t like this one as much as I thought I would. I mean, this isn’t a genre that I normally read and I thought it would do me some good to venture out. The summary sounded great and I know a lot of people are big fans of this series. Sadly though, this just didn’t do it for me.

I found the characters to be really difficult to connect to. Don’t get me wrong, they were developed very well, but there was just something about them that made it really hard for me to relate to them. I have read a lot books with very bright characters, so that wasn’t the problem. They just didn’t seem like read people is what I’m getting out. It was like the author was trying to bring them in for us, but failing to make them seem so very real. It was like they were completely disconnected is what I’m getting out.

The plot was kind of a slow burn. It seemed like it was going to move very quickly, but it didn’t. there was some aspects of the plot that I really enjoyed. All of the tech and government stuff was really engaging to me, but the other parts of it, just didn’t do it for me. I know this has a lot going on in it, but it felt a little uneven to me. I did like that everything was a little open ended at the end. This is a series, so I do like having a reason to read the next book-which I don’t think I will be doing so.

I really don’t know. I wanted to like it, but I just really couldn’t get into it. I think I was just the wrong reader for this book. I do think that a lot of other people will really enjoy this one.

This book comes out on November 26, 2019.

This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own

Net Force, is an intense, and suspenseful psychological thriller novel that immediately drew me in and held my interest right until that shocking and action-filled ending. This book was so entertaining and extremely hard for me to put down. I raced through this one!

The return of the cutting-edge thriller series NET FORCE, created by Tom Clancy and Steve Pieczenik.This a wonderful thrill ride of a read, a multifaceted book with creative dialogue. Net Force's elite group of cyber,experts along with field operatives, lead the fight against the ongoing waves of cyber hacks.. A failure to track down the mastermind behind it all could mean global catastrophe.
Fast paced this book wit great details and action, also addressing the number one threat to our nation's security is in cyberspace. The present U.S. president wants to tackle the urgent problem head on and launches a top secret line of defense.
Net Force, but before the organisation can be announced, the country is hit by an catastrophic, unprecedented, two-pronged terror attack.

The new U.S. president wants to tackle the urgent problem head-on and launches a top-secret line of defense: Net Force. But before the organisation can be announced, the country is hit by an unprecedented, two-pronged terror attack.

Released November 26, “Net Force” is a major relaunch of the long-running series created by Tom Clancy and Steve Pieczenik.

This was so long. I mean, I think it could have been a bit shorter and still have been just as exciting. It was a little confusing at times, but overall I liked it.

This is the first book that I have read by this author and I DNFed at 60% of the book I thought that it was going to get better. I just couldn’t get into it. I know that there are other that will like this book but it just wasn’t for me. I thought that it was a bit tedious at points.

*I recieved this book from HQN Books in exchange for an honest review*

The first thing you need to know is this book is about 700 pages long! There are multiple characters, plots, sub-plots concerning our nation's cyber safety. 

The President wants to go full out on Net Force, believing we are or will soon be under attack by hackers looking to implant malware and basically cause chaos.

For me, this was a tedious read. Most of the operations were illegal but no one seemed to mind. The hunt for who was hacking and the brain behind it was exhausting and predictable. 

I can't say I would recommend it unless you are really bored and have nothing else to read.

NetGalley/ November 26th, 2019 by Hanover Square Press