1st Case by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts
Overview: A computer genius pulls off her greatest hack yet — and her skill might just get her killed.
Angela Hoot’s government career begins with an ending. Her unorthodox programming skills get her kicked out of MIT’s graduate school and into the Bureau’s cyber-forensics unit.
A messaging app with sophisticated tracking capabilities surfaces. Its beta users, all young women, are only identified as they turn up dead in their bedrooms. As Angela races to crack the killer’s digital code, their technical rivalry escalates. She must deny the killer access to her personal life, or risk losing her life to the underbelly of the Internet.
Pages: 352 Pages
Writer: James Patterson & Chris Tebbetts
Recommendations: 17th Suspect by James Patterson, The 8th Confession by James Patterson
Let’s kick things off by saying Angela Hoot, the main character, was an absolute hoot! I found her to be a fascinating character – a genius on her way to MIT until a costly mistake changes her path. Thanks to a good friend, she lands an internship at the FBI and quickly finds herself entangled in a case that is both heart-wrenching and perilous. Armed with her brilliance, Angela must navigate through danger to save herself and those around her. Can she outsmart the hacker who seems to have control over everything, even the camera on your phone?
While I thoroughly enjoyed the story, I must admit that there were a few instances where the writing fell short. It would have been more satisfying if Angela, the genius herself, had been the one to crack some of the tough puzzles instead of relying on others. However, I did appreciate Angela’s fearless nature, even when she knows she’s walking into danger.
As for the big reveal at the end, I was left wanting more. I had hoped it would tie back into the story in a more meaningful way, perhaps involving a rival from MIT trying to one-up Angela. Despite these minor letdowns, the story was engaging from start to finish.
Overall, I found this book to be a delightful read, and I’m disappointed to hear that there may not be any more adventures starring Angela Hoot in the future. Here’s hoping for more thrilling tales featuring our favorite genius!