Ghost Trigger

by Alex Lopes

Are you ready to join the fight against corporations? Witness an unlikely hero's rise in this prequel to the first Brazilian techno thriller series. In a future where corporations reign supreme, a brave hacker sacrifices his life to pass on damning documents to an unsuspecting ally, an employee of the very megacorporation that stands as a symbol of their oppression.

Teaming up with Marton from the enigmatic Victims and Families organization, she's thrust into a treacherous game of cat and mouse, shielded by the mysterious Jo, a mercenary with shadows of her own.

Start the journey for the independency from corporations and the future of labor with Ghost Trigger!

Perfect for fans of techno thrillers and cyberpunk stories, such us Mr. Robot, Little Brother and The Circle.

Genres: Science Fiction, Cyberpunk

145 pages, ebook

Published July 4, 2023

About the author

ALEX LOPES grew up in the periphery of Brazil, captivated from a young age by books and the computers in his father's repair shop.

Over 20 years, he navigated the universe of technology, moving through virtually all areas of IT, until finally finding himself as a software engineer.

A lifelong enthusiast of both literature and tech, he seeks to join these worlds in his writing.

Reviews

[Nadine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

While the premise of taking down a mega-corporation isn't a unique plot, Ghost Trigger does a great job of creating an engaging story for any Dystopian enjoyer. With well-rounded characters and an easy-to-follow concept, this novel effortlessly weaves fact and fiction together.

My main critique is the character of Draco. He is type-casted and stereo-typed as a Caribbean man with dreads who speaks in broken English/Patois. It felt borderline racist. He only appears in the final chapter but left a bad taste in my mouth. Instead of his dialogue being half-words and broken sentences, spending a few sentences emphasizing his accent, similar to describing his appearance, would feel less icky.

[Hannah Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ghost Trigger" is a smart techno-cyberpunk thriller that serves as a good intro to the sub-genre. The characters are relatable and have a humanity to them that I appreciate. While I also enjoyed the pacing of this story and its anti-corporation theming, it still lacked a grit to its world and a polish to its writing to make it a perfect read for me. The world felt a bit too surface-level for me to really dig my teeth into. It wasn't quite grimy enough or gritty enough for it to feel really lived in. I wish the author would have pushed the envelope even further because you can tell the talent is there. The funeral scene was so poetic and well done, in particular. Coco the cat was also such a smart addition that added distinction between the characters and a realness to the world.

This is a great, quick read if the blurb appeals to you or if the genre is of particular interest. 3.5/5 rounded up to 4 for Goodreads.

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although set in a futuristic world that is far advanced in a technological sense than our current one, in many ways the meat of this story, a thriller with a protagonist fighting back against an evil corporation, is one that could just as easily happen today. I found the story world interesting and it added to the story as well as made what might happen or what response the heroes of the story might try less predictable, but as a thriller lover it also satisfied those needs. An enjoyable and intense read.

**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **

[Ane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Livro de ficção científica, com enredo distópico na qual mega corporações dominaram várias camadas da sociedade. Leitura bastante fluida, com personagens interessantes e complexos. A leitura prende bastante e apresenta boas discussões políticas e sociais sobre mundo do trabalho, desigualdade, poder, limites do capitalismo, ética. Gostei muito do Cacau!

[Ane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Science fiction book, with a dystopian plot in which mega corporations dominated various layers of society. Very fluid reading, with interesting and complex characters. The reading is very gripping and presents good political and social discussions about the world of work, inequality, power, limits of capitalism, ethics. I really liked Coco!