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Syncing Back #1
Syncing Back: Act 1
Private Amara James is a brand-new recruit to the Department of Homeland Defense and already in well over her head. A Neo-Luddite group called Millennial has offered her a deal to save her father, the same group that attacked and debilitated him when she was nine.
Along the way, Amara’s investigations will uncover human trafficking and their grim use of nanotech, rogue government agencies and terrorist agendas. But nothing can prepare her for the boy: nine years old with no name, no history, and the same age she was when her father was attacked. All she knows is Millennial wants the boy dead, and they are willing to kill thousands to do it.
Along the way, Amara’s investigations will uncover human trafficking and their grim use of nanotech, rogue government agencies and terrorist agendas. But nothing can prepare her for the boy: nine years old with no name, no history, and the same age she was when her father was attacked. All she knows is Millennial wants the boy dead, and they are willing to kill thousands to do it.
291 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 9, 2024
3 people are currently reading
6588 people want to read
About the author
W. Lawrence
6 books93 followersW Lawrence was born in San Francisco, California, and moved two dozen times before settling in Pennsylvania with his extraordinarily patient wife, two precocious daughters, and two maniac dogs. He worked for nearly twenty years as a professional interrogator in both the U.S. military and the world of corporate security before hanging up his hat.
In 2014, his debut novel Syncing Forward became a time-traveling best seller and -with a second novel on the way- everything appeared to be heading to the top. Tragedy struck in 2017, plunging Lawrence and his family into a drama that is fit for the pages (and soon will be). Ten years later, he's taken to the keyboard again, with multiple novels completed and on the way.
In 2014, his debut novel Syncing Forward became a time-traveling best seller and -with a second novel on the way- everything appeared to be heading to the top. Tragedy struck in 2017, plunging Lawrence and his family into a drama that is fit for the pages (and soon will be). Ten years later, he's taken to the keyboard again, with multiple novels completed and on the way.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 31, 2025
Read the first one a while back and so glad I came across this one. Lots of action—it goes fast. Just what I needed.
December 31, 2024
To be honest, some of this book was over my head. I would put the book down, chew on it in my brain for a while, and then reread the parts that were difficult. That helped but some of the abbreviations and acronyms I just had to skip over.
The book was very entertaining and so believable one would think this is happening now instead of slightly futuristic. I thoroughly recommend reading this book and put on your thinking cap. That’s the best book there is… One that keeps you thinking long after the book is finished.
I thoroughly recommend reading this one and I’m purchasing Syncing Forward right away.
The book was very entertaining and so believable one would think this is happening now instead of slightly futuristic. I thoroughly recommend reading this book and put on your thinking cap. That’s the best book there is… One that keeps you thinking long after the book is finished.
I thoroughly recommend reading this one and I’m purchasing Syncing Forward right away.
September 18, 2025
As a sci-fi enthusiast, Syncing Back: Act 1 completely hooked me. It's a clever and intelligently written sci-fi thriller featuring not only unique concepts involving genetic engineering, time-syncing, and artificial intelligence, but also a very compelling, quirky female protagonist, and I just couldn't seem to get enough of her. She's sarcastic, awkward, and flawed, but also incredibly determined and will stop at nothing to save her father. Getting to experience the chaos of the dystopian future through her perspective draws you into all of the intense action and makes every poignantly emotional moment with her family hit that much harder. Amara is confronted with ethical dilemmas and personal challenges that shape her character throughout the story and cause you to sympathetically wonder what you might do in her shoes. I also found the story to be very well-matched with its diptych, Syncing Forward, which tells the story from her father Martin's perspective, featuring different challenges but sharing the unbreakable bond between father and daughter. One can clearly see how the two stories and characters are related to each other, making this a fleshed out and well rounded narrative that leaves you wanting to know what happens next. I simply cannot wait for Act 2!
November 3, 2025
Syncing Back by W. Lawrence is a darkly intelligent and emotionally charged near-future thriller that refuses to let go. Private Amara James is one of those rare protagonists who feels painfully real brilliant, haunted, and unraveling beneath the weight of her own mission.
The novel’s strength lies not only in its taut pacing and layered plot, but in how deftly it explores the human cost of technological progress. Lawrence builds a chillingly plausible world of rogue agencies, nanotech conspiracies, and moral gray zones, all rendered with crisp, cinematic precision.
By the time the boy enters the story, the same age Amara was when her father was attacked—the narrative tightens into something almost unbearable. Every revelation feels earned, every twist grounded in character and consequence.
Syncing Back is more than a futuristic thriller; it’s a meditation on grief, obsession, and the fragile line between justice and destruction. Bold, intricate, and unflinchingly human, it lingers long after the final page.
The novel’s strength lies not only in its taut pacing and layered plot, but in how deftly it explores the human cost of technological progress. Lawrence builds a chillingly plausible world of rogue agencies, nanotech conspiracies, and moral gray zones, all rendered with crisp, cinematic precision.
By the time the boy enters the story, the same age Amara was when her father was attacked—the narrative tightens into something almost unbearable. Every revelation feels earned, every twist grounded in character and consequence.
Syncing Back is more than a futuristic thriller; it’s a meditation on grief, obsession, and the fragile line between justice and destruction. Bold, intricate, and unflinchingly human, it lingers long after the final page.
December 18, 2025
Syncing Back: Act 1 is a fast paced and compelling techno thriller that balances high stakes action with emotional depth. W. Lawrence creates a protagonist, Amara James, who is both relatable and courageous, navigating her first major assignment while facing threats that touch her past and present.
The story excels in combining personal stakes with a broader conspiracy. The Neo-Luddite group Millennial, the human trafficking networks, and rogue government agendas create a tense and dangerous world, while the mysterious boy adds a layer of intrigue and emotional resonance.
The pacing is relentless, keeping readers on edge, yet there is enough character insight to give the story heart. The integration of advanced technology, particularly nanotech, feels believable and raises the suspense without overwhelming the narrative.
Syncing Back: Act 1 is a gripping start to a series that promises complex plotting, high-tech intrigue, and memorable characters. Fans of thriller and speculative fiction will find themselves eagerly awaiting the next installment.
The story excels in combining personal stakes with a broader conspiracy. The Neo-Luddite group Millennial, the human trafficking networks, and rogue government agendas create a tense and dangerous world, while the mysterious boy adds a layer of intrigue and emotional resonance.
The pacing is relentless, keeping readers on edge, yet there is enough character insight to give the story heart. The integration of advanced technology, particularly nanotech, feels believable and raises the suspense without overwhelming the narrative.
Syncing Back: Act 1 is a gripping start to a series that promises complex plotting, high-tech intrigue, and memorable characters. Fans of thriller and speculative fiction will find themselves eagerly awaiting the next installment.
January 9, 2025
SYNCING BAC ACT I by W. Lawrence is the beginning adventures of one woman Amara James seeking restitution for her family, especially her father who is struggling to recover from a debilitating attack that left him in a coma most of the time. All the powerful doctors and scientist have not been able to find a cure to rectify his condition. So Amar is determined to find the people behind this and retrieve the cure for her father. In her investigations, she discovers so many atrocities that make your head spin. If you love strongwomen who can really kick butt, you will love Amar. Her fight scenes are amazing. The real surprise is the young boy who is a clone of an evil famous scientist that the Millennian wants dead and others want him alive for their own evil purposes. Of course, now Act II and III are a must read to find of how Amara and her family fare. A very entertaining read.
Thank you, Goodreads, for this giveaway.
Thank you, Goodreads, for this giveaway.
May 22, 2025
Exciting read and I can't wait for the second part of this story. How soon will it be out?
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews