I've read several of Mr. Pennington is works and have enjoyed them all. Take them at face value or make assumptions. You'll never know for sure. This book is a thriller with a lot of imagination and computer science minutia included that obviously took considerable research. Various professions are given stereotypical characteristics and dialogue that are probably true to a degree, but as noted, you can just take them at face value and enjoy the book and not get all political about it as others have noted. A little magical comic book action along with some 'Twilight Zone' possibilty is included. All the while you might wonder, could this really be done? Either way, its a great fun read, with interesting characters with lots of twists and turns to keep you engaged. Read and enjoy.
I was provided an advanced reader copy and was under no obligation to review the book. The opinions expressed are my own. Many thanks to those who made that possible.

I was not aware of this author before reading the book. The synopsis sounded like something I'd like - a techno-mystery-thriller. What I was not counting on was the dialogue. And this book is like 95% dialogue between men who like to trash talk and try to be funny with each other. It is an old-school style crime book with old-school style male protagonists, and therefore it was not to my taste. The premise was interesting. If you know what you are getting into you would enjoy this book.

This book starts out with quite the hook then settles into everyday investigative work. It’s a locked-room mystery, although that part is discoverable fairly soon and then becomes a techno-thriller—which is okay by me—an opportunity to learn.

I’m pretty torn on this one, about evenly distributed between liking and not. First, I had a problem with Pryor, mid-life macho coming off a suspension well deserved. Since I wasn’t a particular fan of Pryor, I had to balance that with those characters I did like. Pryor is paired with Cummings, who is young and a grandson of Pryor’s academy instructor. He also dated Pryor’s daughter. Cummings is predictably the sharp computer, technology half of the team. There is the promise of an active canine in the storyline as well, but it wasn’t as strong as I’d hoped.

There are just too many close links here to buy; first being the owner of the underground computer lab and his ex-wife and then his daughter and Cummings.

The plot steers into the future of bots and the manipulation we’ve confronted before. Then postulation goes beyond that. I did enjoy some of the lively dialogue but it is tempered with soap box discussions that veer into current political hot bed issues.

Relationships get tangled and there are twists and plot puzzlers that eventually get channeled into a satisfying conclusion. Interesting and well-plotted, but not real fast-paced.

The cover of this book showing a German Shepherd in K-9 vest almost caused me to skip reading this doomsday thriller. It appeared to be a simple-minded comedy adventure along the lines of the Beethoven, the St. Bernard movies. Fortunately, against my better judgment, I started reading and got hooked almost immediately by a story of old-fashioned police work by a cop who has trouble with authority figures. Add to that a crew of computer hackers and a megalomaniac computer genius who just happens to be married to the cop’s ex-wife and you have an entertaining story full of unique characters and satisfying conflicts. This particular end-of-the-world scenario involves volcanic activity and its impact on humanity but almost any dystopian threat could be plugged in. with just as many thrills and chills.
This may not be great literature, but it is fun read, and, just to be fair, the dog does play a small but enjoyable part in the drama. With this rather generic title, I’m guessing there will be other thrillers involving this uber-cop and his young partner, with or without the dog.

The GAIA Incident is my first book of Rod Pennington’s, but after checking out his list of books on Goodreads, and how much I liked this one, I don’t think it will be my last

Pryor’s ride of choice is a restored cherry red 1958 F150 pickup. I am a bit of a car buff, so one that stands out does catch my attention. His look is blue collar and he is no 20 something hottie, but entering mid life. I do love the hottie’s, but a character that is not perfect, and he is not perfect, is just as interesting.

I love Pryor & Holden’s antics while standing in a coffee line. It put a big smile on my face.

The GAIA Institute is the college’s cash cow. President Joan Winston’s success is linked to it and murder is not conducive to her success.

Pryor has been called back from suspension for the high profile murder…and assigned a new partner. the son of the man who trained him, Max Cummings. His ex father in law used his influence to pull him in. His daughter Brooke gets caught up in the investigation. The more I learn about her, the more I love her. What a fabulous character.

Pryor & Brooke’s dialogue is hilarious, when he found out who she really was.

The technology involved…could it be our future? Anything good can be used in a bad way and this scenario is frightening. Rod Pennington took it even further than I thought and if you ever wondered how a closed room murder could happen, this might help give you an answer. Could we be creating our own doomsday weapon? A wild version of ‘the butler’ did it.

Proper use of the brain is not endorsed by federal government. Timothy Leary…and I agree completely. Think about recent events.

R2D2, C3PO, Brooke, the ultimate Alpha female… I love books with fun critters and Blitz, a retired K9, shows bravery and humor.

After watching the TV show, Person Of Interest for years, I think this could be our wake up call.

The more I read, the better it got. The dialogue, the characters, the mystery and suspense, the pacing…it’s alllllll good!

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The GAIA Incident by Rod Pennington.

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I truly enjoyed all the twists and turns, the crazy antics, and the multilayering of the characters. The story was fun, easy to follow, and kept me engaged throughout. I look forward to reading more from this author.

(Note: I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.)

A computer hacker sneaks is killed in a room while he’s by himself. There’s no sign of people coming or going on the surveillance tapes, so how does this happen? The police detective assigned to the case is very old-school, although he's teamed up with a younger, rookie cop, along with a retired K-9 dog. Between the three of them and some solid leads from family and friends, they are able to figure out what happened, as well as who else is still in danger. I requested this book on NetGalley because the idea of someone being killed while they are 100% alone was intriguing to me. Unfortunately, the whole plot became a bit muddled, with a predictable ending to boot. Not a bad read, but definitely not a favorite.

Special Note: Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Pryor and Cummings is a troublesome book. By about 8% into the book most of the rest of the plot was pretty obvious. At about a third of the way in when the cops caught up with the first part I audibly said, “Finally!” And then I had to explain to the others in the room what I was talking about. Add to that some fairly racist, sexist, anti-LGTBQ+, body shaming, and boomer BS and you’ve got an eye-roll of a story.

Pryor & Cummings by Rod Pennington is an odd mix of 1950's police procedural and AI. Albert Pryor is an old fashioned cop, tough and no nonsense, who in another live had been a soldier on special assignment. The assignment was redacted as well as his official rank and status; and Kevin Cummings, the grandson of Pryor's instructor at the academy, who barely looked 18. They spoke two different languages, until Pryor discovered this guy had dated his daughter, then they barely spoke at all. The murder had taken place at the underground computer lab of Dr. Plato Vane, a man who claimed he could predict earthquakes, and the second husband of his wife, Melissa, and the stepfather to his daughter, Brooke. The security cameras showed nothing or were turned off. The entry log showed no one had entered or left. The man killed, Nick Blake, had been on the computer and had found something, seconds before he was shot. They didn't know what but it was to lead them on a merry chase for days.

Albert was difficult and stubborn. Kevin was pretty easy going and brilliant with electronics and computers. He'd heard stories about Albert Pryor and believed them all. Now they were playing out in front of him. The man didn't follow rules, but then neither did he. He wasn't really a detective yet but had been pulled out of uniform just for this case. He didn't know why . . . yet. The mystery was a good one for modern times and should really throw some panic into anyone who reads it, between all that computers can do and be made to do, and the people who claim to be running the country and the people who really are. It was intriguing and hard to follow occasionally but kept my attention throughout. The new world we're living in is frightening.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Pryor & Cummings by the author, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #rodpennington #pryor&cummings

This book is a bit of a mixture of a murder investigation and a techno/AI thriller with a little family dynamics thrown in for good measure. The character interactions are interesting and entertaining. Blitz is a great addition to the storyline! In some respects there were things that were over the top and require some suspension of belief, but it is fiction and we generally read fiction for entertainment - the author did a very good job of providing an entertaining and engaging book!

What a bunch of fun characters who play off each other and give depth to the story. The story itself is a tangled mix of plot and subplots all adding up to a great read. It touches on all genres that I enjoy reading. Look forward to reading more from this author.

An old school homicide detective gets paired with a young nerdy detective in Pryor & Cummings The GAIA Incident.

A computer scientist is found dead locked within a school lab. Video shows him getting shot but no one left the lab afterwards. Can Pryor and Cummings determine how the murder was committed and by whom?

First of all, I really enjoyed the dynamics between the characters in this police procedural. I also liked the idea of a techie locked room mystery.

However, I disliked two aspects of the plot. The mystery of where the weapon had been hidden only revealed its clues after the detective solved it. There is no way for an armchair detective, like me, to determine the answer before the detective’s reveal. On the other hand, how the murder was committed (the locked room puzzle) was obvious to me, which ruined the twist a third into the book. Luckily, the action-filled conclusion made up for both of these negatives!

If you are looking for a modern police procedural with a technological, almost science fiction, focus, Pryor & Cummings The GAIA Incident is highly recommended. 4 stars!

Thanks to Integration Press and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

I read and reviewed another book by Rod Pennington about a year ago, and enjoyed it very much so I jumped at the chance to read his new one and review it. Like the other this one was characterized by his sense of humor (I liked it but others could feel differently) .

I thank Netgalley for the chance to read it before publication.

I enjoyed this mystery with its many twists and turns. The book is schedule to be published on May 24 so you can plan ahead if interested.

This is a new to me author and I will definitely be looking for more of his books. I was so intrigued that I didn’t want to stop for anything not to go to the bathroom, not to eat, and not to go to bed. I am looking forward to more stories with Pryor & Cummings!!


I received a complimentary copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

When I started reading this book, I wasn't sure I was going to like it. To my great surprise as I got further and further into the story I didn't want to put it down I had to know what happened next. I truly hope that what happened in this story is truly fiction, I would not want it to really happen! Some twists and turns, most of them unexpected really kept my attention throughout the story. Wondering if this is the start to a series, I could see Pryor and Cummings as a really good series.

This review is based on an ARC from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Pryor and Cummings by Rod Pennington

While this was not a book in my wheelhouse, it will appeal to many techies. Androids and computers take center stage in this story, while some on again off again relationships develop.

Detectives Albert Pryor and younger Kevin Cummings are teamed to investigate a murder in a secured lab facility. I counted the introduction of fourteen characters in the first four chapters alone. Who will be important to the investigation is yet unknown.

The writing is simplistic and the dialog leans toward banter, wisecracks and one upmanship throughout. When young Brooke, Pryor’s daughter, is introduced, it’s hard to imagine a brattier and more disrespectful character. She is, of course, brilliant and beautiful.

Tension cleverly builds toward the last quarter of the book as Pryor and Cummings work the case. The conclusion will be a delight to true lovers of artificial intelligence.

My thanks to #IntegrationPressLLC and #NetGalley for this ARC.

In Rod Pennington’s “Pryor & Cummings,” Albert Pryor is a homicide detective who came close to losing his job; he is still treading on thin ice. Pryor is surprised to learn that he is getting his gun and shield back and will partner with Kevin Cummings, a wet-behind-the-ears rookie with amazing technical skills but no real-world experience in policing. The duo will look into the death of a graduate student who was shot and killed after sneaking into the lab of Plato Vane, a renowned scientist and entrepreneur. Pryor’s daughter, Brooke, who knew the victim, pulls strings with her wealthy and connected grandfather to get her father assigned to the case.

This talky novel is overloaded with cutesy banter, constant put-downs, and repeated attempts at one-upmanship. The members of the large cast include FBI agents, bodyguards, Pryor’s fellow cops, and a conspiracy theorist, Crazy Norman who, it turns out, is not as unbalanced as his name suggests.

When readers finally learn whodunit, they may roll their eyes at the plot’s outlandishness. However, the author has the wisdom to include a lovable dog named Blitz, a retired K-9 who steals every scene in which he appears. In addition, some of the novel’s scientific elements may be implausible, but they are also provocative and frightening. This action-adventure novel might appeal to die-hard fans of this genre, but it will disappoint those who prefer a coherent story with well-rounded characters and realistic dialogue.

This was a very fun read! The characters were multilayered, and the interplay between them was very entertaining. I loved all the crazy antics and all the crazy personality quirks. And the androids! I loved the idea of a self-sustaining research facility - or any facility! This is a techno-thriller on a cozy scale. If you like whodunits or cozy mysteries with a screwball cast of characters, you will love this book! I look forward to subsequent stories with this crew!

Pryor & Cummings by Rod Pennington is a well written locked room techno thriller mystery.
This was an interesting mystery with well written characters that I enjoyed.

The AI angle was different, and I enjoyed that.

This is an excellent investigative novel. It is witty, funny and intriguing. The characters are magnificent. Pryor is a detective who is very intense when doing his job. He loves his daughter and doesn’t care for bureaucracy. He is wonderfully old school. Cummings is rookie and a technology wizard. The story reveals several interesting details about police procedures and also artificial intelligence. The plot is super interesting and makes for a page turning reading event. There is also romance between Cummings and Pryor’s daughter which makes for some hilarious interactions. This is definitely a great story that could be read more than once.