This book wasn’t one I enjoyed . I can’t recommend it as I struggled through it so no it’s not for me .

Er.........THAT ENDING!!!!! What the actual f......was that! I'm not as mad about the ending now that I know that there is a sequel to the book (The Exploit - out now), but at the time of reading it I had absolutely no idea and several expletives came tumbling out of my mouth (much to the shock of my daughter). If I wrote here that the loose ends were tied up prettily with a pink bow doused in copious amounts of glitter, I would be lying because what happened was the complete opposite. NO ENDS WERE TIED UP! For those who have already read 'The Hacker, you'll know what I am talking about. For those who wish to read it (and I suggest you do), I highly recommend getting the sequel ready and waiting. I didn't do that, in fact, I'm still yet to purchase it but lets not split hairs.

Anyway, this book.....I have no idea how I am going to review it without giving away every single detail of what happens, but I am going to try my best! I don't intend on spoiling the book for anyone else at all, so if you have to read between the lines and add in your own words, then yeah!

I think, going by the title, the storyline of 'The Hacker' is a bit self explanatory. Cyber crime. Dark web. It sounds so simple doesn't it? It's not...it's really not. People say that fact is stranger than fiction, and that is certainly the case here. A lot of the situations mentioned with technology seemed unbelievably farfetched. I mean, how could someone connect to a VR headset and control everything from a distance away? How could someone take over a huge piece of machinery, control it and move it, all without being right there? It doesn't sound possible does it?

There was a lot of hard hitting moments throughout this book, with crimes being committed that were just absolutely disgraceful and made me wonder how on earth could someone not have a conscience to do what they did as simply and nonchalantly as cleaning their teeth? Don't get me wrong, I know these things happen in the world, and much worse - I'm not that naïve. But still.

Despite all of the gut wrenching moments, 'The Hacker' had me liking it one minute, despising it the next, to then becoming its prisoner and loving it. I was confused at times due to all of the technical jargon and what not, however I was absolutely hooked and gripped by each turn of events. Who was behind it all? What were they trying to achieve? Would Ericka and her team get to the bottom of it before more damage is done?

I spent most of my time reading the book with many unanswered questions floating around my brain and, in all honesty, I finished the book with just as many, if not more questions floating around my brain. That being said and, even though I made such a song and dance about the ending, I've got to give 10/10 to Daniel Scanlan for putting his readers right where he wants them; at the edges of their seats wanting more. When I finished reading I needed my next fix like a drug dealer needs theirs. I don't know what spell I was put under, however the thrills of the storyline were just insanely good, so clever, intricate, chilling. Everything you would want from a thriller and then some.

I said above how I despised the book at one point, and I just want to clarify what I mean by that. At times I struggled to follow what was going on as Ericka and her team always had their sights set on someone but, just as quickly as they had focused on that person, they had yet another person in their eyeline, and another, and another. I was a bit overwhelmed which in turn made me a bit frustrated.

Like I said though, I ended up loving 'The Hacker' and the way in which the storyline chilled me to the bone and left me wanting more. That ending, thought whilst rather annoying if you didn't know that there was a sequel, was actually spot on and had the desired effect. I haven't stopped speaking about the book since I finished it last night, and I don't intend on stopping anytime soon! I do, however, need to read the sequel pronto!

Do I recommend 'The Hacker'? Yes, yes, and again, yes.

A frustratingly brilliant, cleverly written, stomach churning, blood pressure raising, thrilling novel that, if you're anything like me, will leave you on the edge of your seat with your head in your hands thinking 'what the fu....'.

This book tells the story of a detective trying to track down an online predator - but they are one step ahead. How will she catch them?

I enjoyed this book and especially the plot, I thought this was a great idea for a book and very modern. I think that there is due to be more books and I’ll definitely look to pick these up when I can.

An addictive thriller which is set within the dark web. The author brings this world to life within these pages of this book so well.
The characters are intriguing too. A real page turner

A fast paced darkly disturbing thriller that I devoured. The author creates a tech police procedural thriller that grabs you from the first page to the last. I can't wait to read more from this author.

A pacy, addictive thriller set within the dark Web, a scary and deeply disturbing place which the author brings to life with horrifying reality.

The characters are all intriguing, both criminal and investigators plus the central villain is an intelligent personality of pure evil.

What can be done remotely from behind a veil will genuinely unsettle you - its definitely worth reading the authors note at the end, to see what is fact and what is fiction. You may be surprised.

An excellent book. Looking forward to more.

I read this via NetGalley.

I really enjoyed this one! The book was fast paced from the start, and I liked the main protagonist. I enjoyed the descriptive way the story was told and how the author gave an insight into the job that our main character does.

I loved the techy aspect of the book and thought all the VR plotlines were well thought out. I like how our MC was penned to connect with the villain, I think it worked really well.

I can see elements of this occurring in the tech world and really appreciated the plot of this book!

FBI Special Agent Ericka Blackwood is tracking a murderer operating on the dark web. In places the book is relatively dark, but personally I think it is worth reading. The hunt to uncover a clever manipulative killer who always seems one step ahead of the pursuers. Intertwined with the chase is something in Ericka’s past which slowly comes to light. Fantastic, dark, captivating, a brilliant thriller would totally recommend.

I enjoyed this one, but it was hard work. Didn't quite click with Ericka, and the book felt like it was written by an Englishman but set in but set in USA. English slang terms littering the book felt quite out of place. I think the author is Canadian though, so they may use them there, no idea!

I felt like the book climaxed at around 85% and I skimmed up until then. Disappointing ending, afraid I won't be reading others.

The Hacker is the kind of nightmare thriller read about scenarios that you wish (hopefully) don't happen - but you know they probably do. This was very very dark and yet i know so many loved ones (mostly female!) will thoroughly enjoy it. As for me, it was at times a tough read, some of the scenarios were fairly unique let's put it that way. But they didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of this debut thriller. I have genuinely never come across such as unique protagonist - the mysterious Dantalion - who plays a cat and mouse game with FBI Special Agent Ericka Blackwood. Dark, brutal, scary - yet absolutely riveting read.

Difficult, compelling and dark; these are some of the words that pop-up in my mind when I think about “Hacker”. But be advised, this is not an easy read, it’s a tumultuous trip to the dark side of humanity, one that I wish that it would not exist but that sadly is there, hurting and damaging everyone that touches.
I have to say that I was really intrigued with the plot of this book, I am used to reading books from the detective perspective, but in this case, she works with computers, searching in the dark to find clues to catch the “bad people”. But don’t expect FBI Special Agent Ericka Blackwood to be boring; she is brave but has so much anger inside that is putting her job and life in danger. But Ericka has a motive for her dark feeling, she has seen so many abuse and rape victims that she can’t stop hunting for more. But this will not be an easy case, these hackers seem to have a wide web around her and around the world; a lot of money and people that follow orders without asking questions… This will be a war that Ericka can’t lose and she knows she is the only one that can find the “hacker”; but will she be able to share her deep and hidden emotions to accept her anger? You’ll have to read this book if you want to know all the answers!
Are you ready to search for the “Hacker”?

A complex crime story about the abominations that lie deep within the Dark Web. The story is twisted, dark and disturbing, definitely not for the faint of heart. An intense, clever and we'll written book.

FBI Special Agent Erica Blackwood is an expert in cyber crime and tracking down the criminals who operate in the sinister underbelly of the Dark Web. It is a job that comes with a price, and the sins she has uncovered have taken their toll on her mental state. When a video surfaces showing footage of one of the crimes that affected her the most, the torture and murder of a young girl, Erica is dragged back to the case that got her confined to desk duties. She cannot rest until she discovers who is behind the release of this footage.

As Erica immerses herself in her task, she discovers the existence of a hacker who calls himself Dantalion. This person has incredible skills, which he is using to direct the depraved to commit crimes for his own sadistic pleasure. As she gradually gets closer to finding out the identity of this evil mastermind, she finds herself becoming the target of his twisted games. Dantalion offers Erica the chance to find out information about the one thing that consumes her - the identity and location of the men responsible for her own sisters death. Will Erica risk her career for the chance of the vengeance she longs for?

The Hacker is a complex crime story about the horrors that lie deep within the pitch black morass of the Dark Web, and what they mean for us in the real world. If you thought you had an idea of the kinds of acts users of the Dark Web indulge in, then this book will make you think again, because Scanlan takes you into the horrifying heart of nightmare country by speculating about what might happen if there was a highly talented and profoundly damaged criminal mastermind, who knew exactly how to target people's weaknesses to direct operations from a virtual throne.

The story is dark and disturbing, and almost entirely within the realms of possibility, which makes it absolutely chilling. Perhaps the most discomfiting thing is how Scanlan makes you think about the difficulties involved in discovering the identities of wrongdoers in the virtual world, when they act in ways they would never do in real life. The characters are for the most part broken by the things that have shaped them, on both sides of the law, and the ghosts that haunt Erica make her a really interesting protagonist as it is easy to see how she might be tempted to wander from the moral path for her own ends: the will-she-won't-she element is deliciously compelling, as you are never quite sure whether she will choose between her job and her need for revenge.

Scanlan's background as a lawyer in cybercrime and digital evidence gathering comes through well in this novel as he takes you through all the processes and advanced technology required to go under the surface into the murky virtual world of criminal behaviour. It is completely fascinating, and builds up a detailed picture of how difficult it is to navigate the Dark Web, although at times this does slow down the pace of the story a little. Having said that, there are some exciting 'field work' episodes and real world moments of danger to get your heart racing. Scanlan certainly does know how to write a darned good action scene, so I would have liked to see him have more fun with this side of things, putting you 'in' the drama a bit more rather than looking on.

The plot twists and turns nicely, and the threads come together at the end in a cleverly conceived way that offers a glimpse of an exciting sequel, so I am very pleased to read in the Author's Note that Scanlan will indeed be revisiting this story. This is a highly enjoyable and impressive debut, that tells of a writer at the beginning of a shining career. I look forward to reading book two very much!

A dark, gripping, and twisty technothriller that kept me hooked and on the edge till the end.
It's well researched and it sound realistic even to someone who wok in high tech. Good storytelling, excellent plot and character development.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The Hacker by Daniel Scanlan.
He's online. He's anonymous. He's deadly.
When a video surfaces on the Dark Web showing a murder no one else could have witnessed, FBI Special Agent Ericka Blackwood starts tracking down the killer.
A very good read. Dark and twisted. Loved it. 5*.

As a book blogger and someone who loves genre fiction the internet is for me a great thing. It helps me find books; has made friendships and given me a hobby I really enjoy. But the net has a dark side. There are of course the trolls and bigots but there is online hiding in the shadows criminals and some people we would more likely label monsters. The net connects us all together but that can also lead to people being able to peel away our secrets and control all those many devices we now rely on so much. In Daniel Scanlan’s exhilarating thriller The Hacker we explore this hidden side of the world and face an extremely tense battle of cat and mouse being played across the world.

Ericka Blackwood is a thirty-something FBI Special Agent who deal in cybercrime but also struggles with her family secrets leading to a long list of disciplinary issues and knows she is heading towards the exit from this life of exploring the darker side of humanity. However, a haunting killing that is broadcast on the dark web draws her attention and reveals a disquieting trail of linked crimes where a showy presence spiralises in enabling terrible people to do terrible things for their own voyeuristic pleasure but also to fuel their own global game of terror and revenge. Ericka has always known she is one of the best there is but soon realises her opponent this time is proving more than a match and may know even her own secrets which could destroy her.

This is an intense, extremely well-paced and exciting thriller exploring the dark world of cybercrime that I hugely enjoyed and found very difficult to let go of to read anything else. It is though important to stress that this tale also deals with the dark side of humanity. There is exploration (but fortunately not a salacious one) of topics such as sexual violence, child abuse and murder. Scanlan explores how the internet scarily feeds these crimes and the market for people to view and trade in these secrets is vast and has little respect for borders. This is a world of the dark web and Scanlan very intelligently explains exactly what this is; how it works and why it is so hard to track and find the culprits. Impressively rather than just high tech infodumps it’s explained swiftly and helps the reader understand how tracing, VR, VPNs and even an AI can work in this context. Scarily the author’s afterword suggests that a lot more of this is possible than you’d think or ideally hope.

Ericka is a really interesting lead character with a family secret driving her but not always in a positive light. Her desire for revenge clouds her judgement and makes her reckless. While we want her to succeed, we know she can easily put herself in danger. The reveal of our villain named after the demon Dantalion who has equal (possibly greater skills) and as well as loathsome tastes is far more organised than Ericka means we have a well-matched battle of wits to enjoy with bated breath. This is where the highlight of the story is the set-pieces that slowly escape as Ericka and her suspect tussle digitally across the world. Gunfights, gang executions and then full-on vehicle takeovers culminate in one of the creepiest final acts when you see exactly how sophisticated Dantalion’s plans are…reading this on a plane may not be the best idea! The one drawback is after all of this you realise the story seems not to have enough time to wrap it all up and instead a few cliff-hangers await in the sequel.

The Hacker by Daniel Scanlan is a extremely enjoyable thriller delivering a fast, well plotted and surprising tale and at the same time opens up a new front in thrillers with the dark world of cybercrime calling. Very much the type of tale you stay up late to finish and well worth your time. Highly recommended!

A tech thriller that grabs you by the jugular and only lets go when you have finished the last page. Special Agent Ericka Blackwood is good at her job, some even say that she is the best. Until she comes up against a predator on the Dark web who has his own sick agenda. No matter what she tries he is still three steps ahead of her. Now he hastakena personal interest in Ericka. This is a hell of a ride and not for the faint hearted. You better strap yourself in because you are in for a bloody terrifying ride with echoes of the truth. Loved it and want now,but I think I need a lay down first.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

Not my type of book I am afraid. I just could not get into the storyline. Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy.
The writing itself was of a great standard

This book is an unapologetic techno thriller and it may not be everyone’s cup of tea but I loved it - even if I didn’t understand all the geek speak!

First Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ericka Blackwood of the FBI’s Dark Web Intelligence Unit (DIU) hunts the worst of the worst on the dark web. She is currently on desk duty after an incident but her partner Tim O’Connell gets to do the leg work. Ericka has come across a video that should not exist. She was there on the night, two years ago, when they were literally minutes too late to save a young being r@ped and tortured from dying. But they did manage to stop any footage from getting out. And now this - it is definitely the same girl, same night but there are subtle differences. Ericka concludes there must have been another person or camera present. How did they miss that?

And so starts the hunt for the man calling himself Dantalion. He is a hacker with skills she has not seen before. He is always several steps ahead of them. He has many failsafe scripts that wipe everything off his equipment if anyone gets too close and he does not fit the usual mold of bad guy. He is not in it for the money, he has no set victim type, he is not a se*ual sadist. It seems he is motivated only by seeing the fear in his victims and he has a literal army of ‘helpers’ to buy stuff and set things up for him.

This guy is going to be very tricky to catch. Ericka, the FBI’s best of the best will need to get into his head to have any hope of catching him. Meanwhile Dantalion is getting into her head. He knows all about her and what motivates her, why she joined the FBI from the more lucrative private sector. Ericka wants to, needs to, catch the three men who destroyed her sister 12 years ago while she was holidaying in Mexico. She was gang r@ped and beaten and left for dead. Eventually, her mind broken, she finished the job and killed herself.

So, this was pretty much all action and technical exploits. I could not put this book down, it was very compelling reading. The author’s note at the end of the book tells us that all the tech stuff is either already possible or very close to it. A sobering thought indeed. It sounds like there is to be a sequel which I will be very keen to read. Many thanks to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.

FBI agent Ericka Blackwood is chasing an online predator who directs the criminal actions of others. This was not really my type of book, a little too dark and relentless, but it was nonetheless gripping and scary.