Review: Vanished by Karen E. Olson

Title: Vanished by Karen E. Olson
Black Hat Thriller Series Book Four
Publisher: Severn House
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 224 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Computer hacker Tina Adler heads to Paris, France in search of the truth – but discovers that someone is close on her trail in this tense and twisting thriller. 

With a price on her head, computer hacker Tina Adler is determined to stay offline. Only one person knows how to reach her – and he’s in as much danger as she is.

A chance discovery leads Tina to abandon her South Carolina hideaway in search of her old flame, undercover FBI Agent Zeke Chapman. What is Zeke doing in Paris, France? And what is his connection to the disappearance of American college student Ryan Whittier?

En route to Paris in search of answers, Tina realizes that someone is on her trail: someone who’s getting disturbingly close. Has she been set up??

Review:

Vanished by Karen E. Olson is another enthralling foray into the world of hacking. Although this newest addition to the Black Hat Thriller series can be read as a standalone, I HIGHLY recommend the previous novels as well.

Tina (Adler) Jones is now living a quiet life off the grid in South Carolina. A former hacker with a price on her head, she is staying off line while establishing a name for herself in the local art world. At a gallery show, she crosses paths with Madeline Whittier, who is convinced she recognizes Tina from somewhere. During Tina’s quick internet search to see if there is a connection between them, she makes a stunning discovery about someone from her own past. Zeke Chapman, the FBI Agent whose history with her is extremely complicated, is a person of interest in the missing person’s case of Ryan Whittier. Both men were last seen at an ATM in Paris and Tina quickly uncovers a perplexing and somewhat bizarre link to another friend of her and Zeke-fellow hacker Spencer Cross. When the situation in South Carolina turns treacherous, Tina and Spencer decide to head to Paris where they hope they will find Zeke along with the answers to some very distrubing questions.

Tina and Spencer literally hit the ground running as they try to avoid both the police and a possible hit man. Luckily for them, Zeke set up the documents they both need to flee the country but for part of the journey, Tina is on her own. Her return to Paris is rather bittersweet since the city of lights holds both happy and very dark memories for her. Despite her mixed emotions, she is certain that Zeke is in some sort of trouble trouble so Tina remains fully committed to figuring out exactly what he is mixed up in.

Spencer knows Zeke’s current assignment is a case about selling hacked credit card information on the dark web. Zeke was caught on video tape planting a device to steal info from unsuspecting users and  Spencer has also uncovered CCTV footage that puts Zeke willingly going into a vehicle owned by nemesis Tony DeMarco. Needless to say, in light of this troubling knowledge, both Spencer and Tina are extremely concerned about what this might mean for his safety. This information along with the discovery that someone has been surreptitiously taking pictures of Tina makes her suspicious that someone might be manipulating the situation for nefarious purposes.

Vanished is an action-packed and exciting addition to the Black Hat Thriller series. Tina has been living on the edge for so long that she does not know whom she can trust.  Karen E. Olson keeps the series fresh with a new setting and a clever mystery that relies on going deep into the dark web and savvy hacking skills to solve. Although the current adventure is completely wrapped up by the novel’s thrilling conclusion, several key people manage to evade capture leaving Tina and Zeke hot on their trail.