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Pyramid Lake
Lies and deceit abound at a Top Secret research laboratory in Nevada, where DARPA's most advanced artificial intelligence can read your darkest secrets and hidden intentions right off your face.
The AI technology's manipulative inventor, however, fears no future Big Brother surveillance state. He built it for his own secret reasons--and now there is no untruth he won't tell, no subterfuge he won't pull, to help his estranged young daughter.
To protect his troubled little girl, Trevor Lennox will change our world.
He will give Amy what no one else can: a world without lies.
But there are some secrets that should stay buried forever... When the base around him erupts in murder and mayhem, Trevor himself must face the horrifying truth.
The lies we tell ourselves can be the deadliest of all...
"Original and profound. Deliciously complicated... Trevor is an alluring protagonist." --Kirkus Reviews
The AI technology's manipulative inventor, however, fears no future Big Brother surveillance state. He built it for his own secret reasons--and now there is no untruth he won't tell, no subterfuge he won't pull, to help his estranged young daughter.
To protect his troubled little girl, Trevor Lennox will change our world.
He will give Amy what no one else can: a world without lies.
But there are some secrets that should stay buried forever... When the base around him erupts in murder and mayhem, Trevor himself must face the horrifying truth.
The lies we tell ourselves can be the deadliest of all...
"Original and profound. Deliciously complicated... Trevor is an alluring protagonist." --Kirkus Reviews
428 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 12, 2013
46 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
About the author
Paul Draker
2 books50 followersPaul Draker writes tightly-plotted, gritty modern thrillers that combine a well-crafted mystery whodunit with gripping psychology and relentless suspense. Each novel is an immersive roller coaster thrill ride, filled with twists that keep the reader guessing, right up until the last page.
Writing and storytelling are nothing new for Paul. In sixth grade, when he was nine, a classmate liked a story he wrote, and took it home. The horrified parents called the school and demanded that whoever wrote it be sent to see a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist asked Paul if he could keep a copy of the story... and then asked Paul to sign it for him.
Paul currently lives in Palo Alto, California, with his wife and three daughters. An avid scuba diver, he has spent much time underwater in Palau, Yap, Honduras, Thailand, Hawaii, the Florida Keys, the cenote caverns of the Yucatan, the Caribbean, the Virgin Islands, Caicos, and the "Red Triangle" off California's coast. He also enjoys skiing, swimming, and windsurfing, and has had extensive tactical training in firearms. After one too many high-speed motorcycle crashes, he is no longer allowed to own open-class sportbikes, which is probably a good thing for him and everyone else.
Paul has worked in the aerospace/defense industry on a variety of classified and unclassified programs for DARPA, Navy, Army, and Marine Corps, ranging from strategic national missile systems to technology augmentation for small-team tactical infantry units. He has also led a Silicon Valley technology startup delivering massively-scalable custom Internet software to Fortune 500 clients including Hewlett Packard and Robert Half International, and headed a leading videogame studio developing mobile games for top-tier publishers such as EA, Disney/Pixar, Sega, Warner Brothers, THQ, and Glu. He holds advanced degrees in electrical and aerospace engineering from MIT, Stanford, and U.C. Berkeley. This broad-ranging engineering expertise lends impeccable technical authenticity to his stories.
Writing and storytelling are nothing new for Paul. In sixth grade, when he was nine, a classmate liked a story he wrote, and took it home. The horrified parents called the school and demanded that whoever wrote it be sent to see a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist asked Paul if he could keep a copy of the story... and then asked Paul to sign it for him.
Paul currently lives in Palo Alto, California, with his wife and three daughters. An avid scuba diver, he has spent much time underwater in Palau, Yap, Honduras, Thailand, Hawaii, the Florida Keys, the cenote caverns of the Yucatan, the Caribbean, the Virgin Islands, Caicos, and the "Red Triangle" off California's coast. He also enjoys skiing, swimming, and windsurfing, and has had extensive tactical training in firearms. After one too many high-speed motorcycle crashes, he is no longer allowed to own open-class sportbikes, which is probably a good thing for him and everyone else.
Paul has worked in the aerospace/defense industry on a variety of classified and unclassified programs for DARPA, Navy, Army, and Marine Corps, ranging from strategic national missile systems to technology augmentation for small-team tactical infantry units. He has also led a Silicon Valley technology startup delivering massively-scalable custom Internet software to Fortune 500 clients including Hewlett Packard and Robert Half International, and headed a leading videogame studio developing mobile games for top-tier publishers such as EA, Disney/Pixar, Sega, Warner Brothers, THQ, and Glu. He holds advanced degrees in electrical and aerospace engineering from MIT, Stanford, and U.C. Berkeley. This broad-ranging engineering expertise lends impeccable technical authenticity to his stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
June 2, 2016
Brilliant!! Now hurry up and release the fucking sequel.....
I started reading this book straight after finishing New Year Island, which I thought was very good. I didn't think the author could top his debut novel, but this book is even better. It's sort of a horror/techno-thriller told in the first person, which I don't usually like, as I feel its restricted, but it actually works here.
Anyway, that being said: this is one hell of a scary book - that kept me guessing throughout; with the twists and turns, mystery, intrigue, conspiracy, suspence and an ending that was quite emotional.....yet again, I didn't see that coming..... and I can't wait for Mount Terror to be released....
I started reading this book straight after finishing New Year Island, which I thought was very good. I didn't think the author could top his debut novel, but this book is even better. It's sort of a horror/techno-thriller told in the first person, which I don't usually like, as I feel its restricted, but it actually works here.
Anyway, that being said: this is one hell of a scary book - that kept me guessing throughout; with the twists and turns, mystery, intrigue, conspiracy, suspence and an ending that was quite emotional.....yet again, I didn't see that coming..... and I can't wait for Mount Terror to be released....
April 12, 2014
Review with spoiler: I enjoyed Pyramid Lake - thought it was well plotted, the story feeling like a mix between a government conspiracy thriller and a Longmire mystery with some Indian lore. The research, pace, and twists to the novel were great. It would have been amazing to me if there had been some character transformation for the protagonist, Trevor Lennox. At first, the unpredictable nature of the uber-obnoxious character was kind of funny. My curiosity about his outbursts helped turn pages. But this soon hurt in the believability of the character and plot, and to my surprise I found myself rooting against Lennox. I was hoping that Frankenstein, in its higher level of intelligence, would exercise some kindness (transcend Lennox's cycle of abuse - ha) and completely dress down Lennox at some point, causing that transformation. But that never happened, and the last scene just seemed to reinforce Lennox's callousness. Ultimately the novel worked and held my interest until the end but I only wished I cared about Lennox when I was done. I hope to see that in Draker's next Lennox effort!!
January 29, 2018
Hmmm...who would have thought I'd become a fan of psychological techno-thrillers. Thanks Paul Draker - you have kept me up in the wee hours of the morning when I couldn't get back to sleep and made it impossible for me to put Pyramid Lake down when I got to probably the last 50 pages or so. Thanks a lot. Seriously. P.S. Don't tell Stephen King I'm falling in love with someone else - LOL!! OK, OK, there is room on my bookshelf for yet another great story teller so all should be well amongst my favorite authors. Keep up the good work!!
December 18, 2013
Don't start this book if you have to get up early. I did and I was sorry the next day because once I started Pyramid Lake, I had to keep reading until the very end, right into the wee hours.
Paul Draker grabs you by the throat with his second thriller and never lets up although the setting is radically different from his first book New Year Island (also excellent). The action takes place in a secret DARPA research installation where Trevor Lennox is a scientist working on the world's most advanced lie detection software called Frankenstein.
At first introduction, Trevor has to be one of the most unlikeable characters in recent fiction, supremely arrogant, abrasive and violent. He is disrespectful to his superiors, nasty to his colleagues and gets into an ugly bar fight right off the bat. As we grow to know him, however, we see that Trevor has another side that few are allowed to see. He loves his little girl Amy (from whom he is separated by divorce) and is willing to do anything to protect her and ensure her happiness. When that happiness appears to be threatened, he diverts the entire processing power of Frankenstein in a desperate search for a solution to her problems.
Not only does Trevor have to come up with a solution for Amy's troubles, but Frankenstein's future is also in doubt as people close to Trevor are murdered and shadowy forces grapple for control of the project. Cassie Winnemucca is assigned to be his co-lead and eventually works in tandem with Trevor to uncover the secret plots to use Frankenstein's power in ways both believe to be immoral.
Anyone who loves intelligent thriller writing should pick up this book, you won't be sorry.
Paul Draker grabs you by the throat with his second thriller and never lets up although the setting is radically different from his first book New Year Island (also excellent). The action takes place in a secret DARPA research installation where Trevor Lennox is a scientist working on the world's most advanced lie detection software called Frankenstein.
At first introduction, Trevor has to be one of the most unlikeable characters in recent fiction, supremely arrogant, abrasive and violent. He is disrespectful to his superiors, nasty to his colleagues and gets into an ugly bar fight right off the bat. As we grow to know him, however, we see that Trevor has another side that few are allowed to see. He loves his little girl Amy (from whom he is separated by divorce) and is willing to do anything to protect her and ensure her happiness. When that happiness appears to be threatened, he diverts the entire processing power of Frankenstein in a desperate search for a solution to her problems.
Not only does Trevor have to come up with a solution for Amy's troubles, but Frankenstein's future is also in doubt as people close to Trevor are murdered and shadowy forces grapple for control of the project. Cassie Winnemucca is assigned to be his co-lead and eventually works in tandem with Trevor to uncover the secret plots to use Frankenstein's power in ways both believe to be immoral.
Anyone who loves intelligent thriller writing should pick up this book, you won't be sorry.
December 22, 2013
Paul Draker always writes fast- paced , action-packed books. You'll find yourself staying up later and later just trying to finish one more chapter. New Year Island and Pyramid Lake will not disappoint.
August 1, 2021
Very engaging read. Had some unexpected twists and turns.
February 25, 2016
I finished this latest techno-thriller from Paul Draker a few minutes ago and thought I'd try posting a review while everything is fresh in my mind. First, I liked it. Quite a bit. The first-person narrative style worked well, giving me as a reader an unfettered glimpse of the at-times-unlikable main character Trevor Lennox. Trevor creates an AI that can read micro-expressions and is a nearly infallible lie detector for DARPA, a research arm of the federal government. It all takes place at Pyramid Lake, a base located on Paiute land. Along the way Trevor alienates most everyone he meets at some point. He's previously alienated his ex-wife, Jen and has left a daughter who is brilliant (like him) but also has social problems (again, like him). His co-workers and other research leads hate him because he belittles them and their research at every turn. His bosses hate him because he's smarter than they are and very manipulative, and he usually gets his way. The one other researcher who seems to be his friend, Roger, and Trevor go to a bar where he promptly gets into a fight with another patron (okay, the other guy starts it, but Trevor certainly finishes it) and in the process of trying to defend a beautiful young Native American woman from the bully, he alienates her.
Except that, as he finds out soon enough, she is now his co-lead on his project, and she's just as smart as he is, and to top it off, she does the same thing as his computer does.
So when people start dying at the base, starting with the guy who's sort of the administrator to the researchers and progressing to a Homeland Security guy. Something is going on at the base, and Trevor is absolutely intent on finding out what it is, because his computer creation, who he has named Frankenstein, is working on something very important to him -- his daughter's psychiatric evaluation. She's having tons of trouble in school and she's lying and causing others to be hurt, and they want to send her to a psychiatrist who will undoubtedly put her on drugs, and Trevor doesn't want that.
The story is great and I liked the characters a lot, but the pacing drags at times. It felt like the book could have been quite a bit shorter. At times I found myself looking at the Kindle's progress indicator and thinking, wow, I'm only at 40%? Feels like I've read a whole book already!. Also the end feels a bit dragged out, and like Draker's first book NEW YEAR ISLAND, the whole thing gets a little preposterous and sensational as the story finally nears the end. But the story was strong enough to pull me through those flaws and it delivered a good, if partly unexpected, conclusion.
I would love to give it five stars, but because of the pacing issues and the sensational ending, I have to go with four. Still, it was a great ride and I'll read the sequel, MOUNT TERROR, when it comes out.
Except that, as he finds out soon enough, she is now his co-lead on his project, and she's just as smart as he is, and to top it off, she does the same thing as his computer does.
So when people start dying at the base, starting with the guy who's sort of the administrator to the researchers and progressing to a Homeland Security guy. Something is going on at the base, and Trevor is absolutely intent on finding out what it is, because his computer creation, who he has named Frankenstein, is working on something very important to him -- his daughter's psychiatric evaluation. She's having tons of trouble in school and she's lying and causing others to be hurt, and they want to send her to a psychiatrist who will undoubtedly put her on drugs, and Trevor doesn't want that.
The story is great and I liked the characters a lot, but the pacing drags at times. It felt like the book could have been quite a bit shorter. At times I found myself looking at the Kindle's progress indicator and thinking, wow, I'm only at 40%? Feels like I've read a whole book already!. Also the end feels a bit dragged out, and like Draker's first book NEW YEAR ISLAND, the whole thing gets a little preposterous and sensational as the story finally nears the end. But the story was strong enough to pull me through those flaws and it delivered a good, if partly unexpected, conclusion.
I would love to give it five stars, but because of the pacing issues and the sensational ending, I have to go with four. Still, it was a great ride and I'll read the sequel, MOUNT TERROR, when it comes out.
June 3, 2016
Disclaimer: Review originally posted at www.audiobookreviewer.com
Trevor Lennox, a very brilliant computer engineer working at the Top Secret research laboratory of DARPA, creates a very powerful computer, able to read micro expressions and discern whether people are telling the truth or not. Trevor is an antisocial and violent person, but his goal in life is to fight for the greater good, to create a world without lies, so that her seven year old daughter will be able to have a normal life despite her issues. Trevor names his computer Frankenstein, and it slowly becomes more and more powerful and smart. Things start to get complicated when several people appear dead in the most gruesome ways at the Top Research facility.
This book is full of geeky and highly technological details, delighting those who enjoy programming on their computer, but maybe boring those who are not interested in this. But do not be deceived, this book is also much more. It is a mix of science fiction, thriller and horror, with some elements of Indian lore. The story is quickly paced, and it has several unexpected twists that will leave you open-mouthed. Trevor is one of the less likable people in the world, reckless, rude, violent, and with a very high IQ, but as we start to know him more, we see that he has good reasons, while maybe not the right means to pursue his goals.
This is quite a long book, but it will not bore you, and I wished I did not have to sleep or work so that I could continue listening to it. Frankenstein's name is not just a coincidence, this story has many parallelisms with Mary Shelley's but it is also a different one.
Some secondary characters are one-dimensional but the main ones have strong personalities and they are alive. Gabriel Vaughan becomes each one of them making the story easily to follow. The emotions are palpable and the narration is fluid. Gabriel Vaughan does a good job at holding your attention without letting go. I noticed slight changes in a couple of audio inserts but nothing too distracting.
If you are into geek stuff, heard about terms such as Touring test or SSH, and enjoy an action packed book with science fiction and horror elements, this book is for you. If violent and gore scenes is not your thing, you may want to pass on this one.
Trevor Lennox, a very brilliant computer engineer working at the Top Secret research laboratory of DARPA, creates a very powerful computer, able to read micro expressions and discern whether people are telling the truth or not. Trevor is an antisocial and violent person, but his goal in life is to fight for the greater good, to create a world without lies, so that her seven year old daughter will be able to have a normal life despite her issues. Trevor names his computer Frankenstein, and it slowly becomes more and more powerful and smart. Things start to get complicated when several people appear dead in the most gruesome ways at the Top Research facility.
This book is full of geeky and highly technological details, delighting those who enjoy programming on their computer, but maybe boring those who are not interested in this. But do not be deceived, this book is also much more. It is a mix of science fiction, thriller and horror, with some elements of Indian lore. The story is quickly paced, and it has several unexpected twists that will leave you open-mouthed. Trevor is one of the less likable people in the world, reckless, rude, violent, and with a very high IQ, but as we start to know him more, we see that he has good reasons, while maybe not the right means to pursue his goals.
This is quite a long book, but it will not bore you, and I wished I did not have to sleep or work so that I could continue listening to it. Frankenstein's name is not just a coincidence, this story has many parallelisms with Mary Shelley's but it is also a different one.
Some secondary characters are one-dimensional but the main ones have strong personalities and they are alive. Gabriel Vaughan becomes each one of them making the story easily to follow. The emotions are palpable and the narration is fluid. Gabriel Vaughan does a good job at holding your attention without letting go. I noticed slight changes in a couple of audio inserts but nothing too distracting.
If you are into geek stuff, heard about terms such as Touring test or SSH, and enjoy an action packed book with science fiction and horror elements, this book is for you. If violent and gore scenes is not your thing, you may want to pass on this one.
December 17, 2013
The future is here already. Be afraid, little human. Be very afraid. - Paul Draker
I am a bumbling fangirl of author Draker's first book "New Year Island" and was a bit apprehensive about reading his second offering. I was afraid it wouldn't live up to the first book. I needn't have worried.
"Pyramid Lake" takes us to a top secret DARPA facility located in the Nevada desert on a Paiute reservation. Enter Trevor Lennox, the thoroughly unlikable, brilliant, captivating creator of FRANKENSTEIN, a beyond high-tech supercomputer that can read people's expressions and tell what they are feeling. In other words FRANKENSTEIN is a humongous lie detector.
Trevor has a problem playing well with others so another brilliant computer nerd is brought in to co-lead his project with him - Cassie - Paiute, emo and brilliant in her own right.
Trevor has a wee bit of a problem with authority figures (and others) in his life but the one person he doesn't have a problem with is his seven year old daughter, Amy. He would do anything for her. And this story tells us the lengths Trevor would actually go to for Amy.
Meticulous world building, in-depth character development, a thoroughly jaded view of the world of government research - Draker brings all these elements to this tale, ties them together in one big non-stop rollercoaster of a read, and left me wanting more.
And I understand he is working on a Trevor Lennox sequel called "Mount Terror." I can hardly wait to find out what extraordinary circumstances Trevor gets dumped into in this next offering.
I am a bumbling fangirl of author Draker's first book "New Year Island" and was a bit apprehensive about reading his second offering. I was afraid it wouldn't live up to the first book. I needn't have worried.
"Pyramid Lake" takes us to a top secret DARPA facility located in the Nevada desert on a Paiute reservation. Enter Trevor Lennox, the thoroughly unlikable, brilliant, captivating creator of FRANKENSTEIN, a beyond high-tech supercomputer that can read people's expressions and tell what they are feeling. In other words FRANKENSTEIN is a humongous lie detector.
Trevor has a problem playing well with others so another brilliant computer nerd is brought in to co-lead his project with him - Cassie - Paiute, emo and brilliant in her own right.
Trevor has a wee bit of a problem with authority figures (and others) in his life but the one person he doesn't have a problem with is his seven year old daughter, Amy. He would do anything for her. And this story tells us the lengths Trevor would actually go to for Amy.
Meticulous world building, in-depth character development, a thoroughly jaded view of the world of government research - Draker brings all these elements to this tale, ties them together in one big non-stop rollercoaster of a read, and left me wanting more.
And I understand he is working on a Trevor Lennox sequel called "Mount Terror." I can hardly wait to find out what extraordinary circumstances Trevor gets dumped into in this next offering.
May 25, 2015
Is it a Thriller? A Horror? Or a Sci-fi?
Yes. All of the above. I don't know how Paul Draker pulled it off but he managed to cook up a psychological tale with a pinch of slightly futuristic technology, gruesome horror and a sprinkling of romance to give a don't-turn-the-lights-off, can't-put-it-down gripping thriller that is set in the desert of northwestern Nevada.
Do you hate being scared? Do you faint at the mention of guns and violence? This book is not for you.
Do you like to stretch your imagination a little? Do you like protagonists who have character flaws but still seem to overcome impossible obstacles? High IQ doesn't always translate into real world smarts. To see what that means, get this book!
It is hard to believe this book came from an indie author. Well-written, well-edited, unpredictable and fresh... Before you crack the first page, prepare to have an open mind about a gritty, unconventional, modern day "Frankenstein meets the military with a western flair" experience.
I am an older woman who has been reading a lot of thriller and sci-fi themed books lately. Too many of them start to blend into a same-oh, same-oh level of mediocrity, even though well-written. Over time, I can't even remember what most of them were about, but I will most definitely remember Pyramid Lake.
Yes. All of the above. I don't know how Paul Draker pulled it off but he managed to cook up a psychological tale with a pinch of slightly futuristic technology, gruesome horror and a sprinkling of romance to give a don't-turn-the-lights-off, can't-put-it-down gripping thriller that is set in the desert of northwestern Nevada.
Do you hate being scared? Do you faint at the mention of guns and violence? This book is not for you.
Do you like to stretch your imagination a little? Do you like protagonists who have character flaws but still seem to overcome impossible obstacles? High IQ doesn't always translate into real world smarts. To see what that means, get this book!
It is hard to believe this book came from an indie author. Well-written, well-edited, unpredictable and fresh... Before you crack the first page, prepare to have an open mind about a gritty, unconventional, modern day "Frankenstein meets the military with a western flair" experience.
I am an older woman who has been reading a lot of thriller and sci-fi themed books lately. Too many of them start to blend into a same-oh, same-oh level of mediocrity, even though well-written. Over time, I can't even remember what most of them were about, but I will most definitely remember Pyramid Lake.
January 4, 2016
OMG, this books is so totally twisted. It is a tense suspense / thriller filled with hours and hours of fantastic drama, action and humor too. It is a conspiracy of the worst kind and life as we know it could come to an end! I was very much impressed with this book and found myself gripping the arms of my chair many times. The ending is mind blowing.
Trevor Lennox is building the most sophisticated computer ever. A super computer that can think like a human. As great plans go, something always goes wrong.... I highly recommend this book, you won't be disappointed! I loved all the twists and turns this story took me through! Every time I thought that had to be all that could happen, more things would happen. There is no way anyone can guess how this will turn out!
The author, Paul Draker did a fantastic job writing this book. It is original, refreshing and never a dull moment in it. What an incredible imagination it took to write this. The narrator, Gabriel Vaughn nailed the delivery of this story. With so many different voices and accents. I found this book to be very entertaining and I could see it happening in real life too!
I received this audio book as a gift so I could review it.
Trevor Lennox is building the most sophisticated computer ever. A super computer that can think like a human. As great plans go, something always goes wrong.... I highly recommend this book, you won't be disappointed! I loved all the twists and turns this story took me through! Every time I thought that had to be all that could happen, more things would happen. There is no way anyone can guess how this will turn out!
The author, Paul Draker did a fantastic job writing this book. It is original, refreshing and never a dull moment in it. What an incredible imagination it took to write this. The narrator, Gabriel Vaughn nailed the delivery of this story. With so many different voices and accents. I found this book to be very entertaining and I could see it happening in real life too!
I received this audio book as a gift so I could review it.
March 4, 2014
I've read a lot of articles written by forensic experts that talk about reality in forensics being bastardised in fiction. Cops talking about police procedures being mangled. Lawyers complaining laws and court room dramas being unrealistic. But no one ever complains about the joyride anything slightly tech-related takes down the wormhole of popular fiction, often resulting in story segments that are entertaining for all the wrong reasons.
But I really don't mind, and my assumption is that anyone else that has grown up in the IT industry really couldn't be bothered to write a blog post complaining about it either.
Then a book came along where it was plainly obvious that the author actually understands technology. It was oddly comforting. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a dry book that reads like a computer manual. This book is all about the story, just like any good fiction should be, but the tech details are actually believable.
I really enjoyed this one - entertaining, occasionally gruesome, and really intriguing.
But I really don't mind, and my assumption is that anyone else that has grown up in the IT industry really couldn't be bothered to write a blog post complaining about it either.
Then a book came along where it was plainly obvious that the author actually understands technology. It was oddly comforting. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a dry book that reads like a computer manual. This book is all about the story, just like any good fiction should be, but the tech details are actually believable.
I really enjoyed this one - entertaining, occasionally gruesome, and really intriguing.
October 2, 2015
PYRAMID LAKE...Paul Draker has wowed me once again. The first bit of the book was a bit draggy and techy for me...but I never lay a book down and walk away. And in this instance, it paid off deliciously. As soon as the meat of the story got started, I realized that in the draggy part I had met most of the characters. The main character, Trevor, is a brilliant psycopath who has found his way to cope in the world (or so you'll think). He is a computer programmer (at the least LOL)(kind of for the government). Pyramid Lake is the government base where he does his work. My mind raced ahead while reading, trying to figure out who was the bad guy. At times I thought it was Cassie, then Roger, then Kate, then back to Cassie.....on and on like this. Almost up to the end of the book, I was changing my mind over who was actually causing everything to happen. Lovely book. If you've read Draker's New Year Island, you will know to expect blood and gore, but expect 10 times worse. And love every minute of it!!
January 20, 2014
Author Paul Draker's second thriller is almost completely the opposite of his first. They do have a few things in common though: well-written, a terrific plot, and relentless action from beginning to end, with twists tossed in for good measure along the way.
It's the story of a young programmer Trevoe Lennox working on a secret project for the gobernment at Pyramid Lake. But hr makes enemies easily and he's afraid he's being replaced before he can finish the real project: saving his seven year old daughter. Every bit as brilliant as he was at that age, she has a mental problem that he hopes Frankenstein, his massive computer that's a bit more than everyone knows.
And now someone is murdering people on the base, Trevor's boss, a Homeland Security official, and trying to place the blame on Trevor.
An engrossing thriller.
It's the story of a young programmer Trevoe Lennox working on a secret project for the gobernment at Pyramid Lake. But hr makes enemies easily and he's afraid he's being replaced before he can finish the real project: saving his seven year old daughter. Every bit as brilliant as he was at that age, she has a mental problem that he hopes Frankenstein, his massive computer that's a bit more than everyone knows.
And now someone is murdering people on the base, Trevor's boss, a Homeland Security official, and trying to place the blame on Trevor.
An engrossing thriller.
December 15, 2013
-beaming with excitement from ear to ear- Pyramid Lake took me on an exciting journey into a savvy techno-thriller world with heart pounding action laced in suspense.
Trevor! -shakes head and chuckles chuckles- Trevor... Trevor ... Trevor. If a picture of a person was next to the word jerk with a capital J, it would be Trevor because he was a jerk! And yet, he was by far my favorite character.
Everything he did when faced with heart ache, or knocking people down a level with his words was brilliant. I was team Trevor from the very beginning.
The author is a prolific and energetic writer! And the tale he weaved had me wrapped around his story telling with cringe worthy delight. Another wonderful read from this author!
Trevor! -shakes head and chuckles chuckles- Trevor... Trevor ... Trevor. If a picture of a person was next to the word jerk with a capital J, it would be Trevor because he was a jerk! And yet, he was by far my favorite character.
Everything he did when faced with heart ache, or knocking people down a level with his words was brilliant. I was team Trevor from the very beginning.
The author is a prolific and energetic writer! And the tale he weaved had me wrapped around his story telling with cringe worthy delight. Another wonderful read from this author!
December 12, 2014
I liked this one, although not quite as much as 'New Year Island'. Paul Draker thinks up some interesting, theoretical type plot lines - a little bit like Dean Koontz on steroids. As usual we are not sure of the agenda or true personality of any of the characters - even the narrator. This time we are asked to suspend our disbelief about how far computer generated artificial intelligence can be taken. Happily (for me at least)this is easily done as I have little knowledge in this area. Draker's books really get you thinking about the human mind and if any of us really even know ourselves, let alone those around us. It is quite brutal and graphic, so not for the squeamish. This definitely keeps the pace right up until the end - another winner.
August 23, 2014
Poor character development
This book leaves much to be desired. The main character is so flawed that I found myself not caring what happened to him. There is little background given on the characters, and I felt like the book started in the middle of a story line for which I had no frame of reference. Finally there is way too much technical language. It is boring, unnecessary and detracts from the plot. I found myself skipping over whole pages just to get to relevant portions which moved the plot along. I almost gave up reading several times, but hate to not finish a book so I plodded on. The ending was OK, but I will not be reading another book by this author.
This book leaves much to be desired. The main character is so flawed that I found myself not caring what happened to him. There is little background given on the characters, and I felt like the book started in the middle of a story line for which I had no frame of reference. Finally there is way too much technical language. It is boring, unnecessary and detracts from the plot. I found myself skipping over whole pages just to get to relevant portions which moved the plot along. I almost gave up reading several times, but hate to not finish a book so I plodded on. The ending was OK, but I will not be reading another book by this author.
December 9, 2014
I really enjoyed reading Pyramid Lake. There was plenty of techno- and thriller- included to keep me interested until I could get sucked into the twists and turns of the story. Mr. Draker's writing is smooth enough to let me fly through it as fast as I could read. I ended up letting this book take me well past my bedtime because I just didn't want to put it down. Some readers do that often, but I usually don't, which speaks well for Mr. Draker. Nicely done! I will be seeking out his other works and watching for more from him.
March 4, 2014
I couldn't even make it 10% into this book. I don't understand the good reviews. It is SO poorly written as to actually be painful to try to read. The dialog is ridiculous and the little bit I did read was all cliche, stereotypical macho bullshit: egomaniac being completely arrogant about his technical knowledge and picking bar fights after blackmailing politicians, all the while hating his ex-wife for preventing his beloved child from visiting him. Insipid tripe. Horrible.
March 27, 2015
Violent
I did enjoy this,an interesting slant on computers having feelings.But there is a lot of hate in this book,so I probably will not read a sequel.Having said this,the story hung together well,despite so many departments and characters involved.Trevor came across particularly well,almost too much so.
I did enjoy this,an interesting slant on computers having feelings.But there is a lot of hate in this book,so I probably will not read a sequel.Having said this,the story hung together well,despite so many departments and characters involved.Trevor came across particularly well,almost too much so.
June 7, 2015
I have no mouth but I must scream
I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. The characters and their motivations were logical and realistic. The slow burner techno thriller got to be a macabre treat of nihilism and Gore towards the end, which was out of the ordinary. The book had many interesting twists and turns.
I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. The characters and their motivations were logical and realistic. The slow burner techno thriller got to be a macabre treat of nihilism and Gore towards the end, which was out of the ordinary. The book had many interesting twists and turns.
July 11, 2015
Riveting until the end
Wow. I love finding new authors that can soon a good yarn. Psychology, military, Native American, political, tech, love, family. This could have been a story with too many ingredients. But the author interiors then in a believable story.
If you like thrillers, check this out.
Wow. I love finding new authors that can soon a good yarn. Psychology, military, Native American, political, tech, love, family. This could have been a story with too many ingredients. But the author interiors then in a believable story.
If you like thrillers, check this out.
July 12, 2015
Very good techno-suspense novel
Surprisingly suspenseful with a lot of twists and turns to the story. Trevor Lennox develops as an anti-hero that you seriously don't like until the last third of the novel. He then seriously redeems himself. Read this book for yourself, I recommend it.
Surprisingly suspenseful with a lot of twists and turns to the story. Trevor Lennox develops as an anti-hero that you seriously don't like until the last third of the novel. He then seriously redeems himself. Read this book for yourself, I recommend it.
December 30, 2013
Wow, another mammoth read from Paul! Well done!
Anyone who enjoyed New Year Island will certainly get a kick out of this one as well!
Can't wait for the sequel (yes, Trevor does live to tell another tale!)
Anyone who enjoyed New Year Island will certainly get a kick out of this one as well!
Can't wait for the sequel (yes, Trevor does live to tell another tale!)
Read
January 24, 2014Powerful story
I was thoroughly engrossed in the story. I could not spp reading.
I thought that I was a part of the story. I strongly encourage anybody interested in a solid, well written'techno' thriller to read this book. I will be looking for more books from Paul Draker.
I was thoroughly engrossed in the story. I could not spp reading.
I thought that I was a part of the story. I strongly encourage anybody interested in a solid, well written'techno' thriller to read this book. I will be looking for more books from Paul Draker.
April 15, 2014
Had difficulty sleeping after reading, ...
Should I wipe my computer's drive while I still can ?
I would have given 5 stars, but couldn't after hating the hero for more than half the book. Waiting for the sequel. Hope to only hate him for a quarter of the book...8D
Should I wipe my computer's drive while I still can ?
I would have given 5 stars, but couldn't after hating the hero for more than half the book. Waiting for the sequel. Hope to only hate him for a quarter of the book...8D
May 8, 2017
This book was extremely technical and was difficult to read. It had a very slow beginning and took a while to get going. The second half was much better than the first, however the ending sequence was fantastical and gruesome. An ok read but not great.
January 2, 2015
Too violent,but a compelling read
Taut, well written, and scary. The hero is too violent and anti-social for me, but I couldn't stop reading. I recommend this for the excellent storytelling.
Taut, well written, and scary. The hero is too violent and anti-social for me, but I couldn't stop reading. I recommend this for the excellent storytelling.
July 8, 2015
Enjoyable read, characters were well defined and believable. The action was riveting, I thought about the story line even between reading events. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys speculative science fiction.
September 10, 2015
Well written and fast paced
Good science and characters in a believable environment of a DARPA lab. Story gets a little out of control towards the end but recommend you judge for yourself by reading it
Good science and characters in a believable environment of a DARPA lab. Story gets a little out of control towards the end but recommend you judge for yourself by reading it
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews