Cypher

by Matt Ryland

Brent Savage, code name Cypher, is Operation Darkwater’s deadliest assassin. Unseen. Unheard. And never spoken of. He’s the U.S. government’s latest attempt to engineer the perfect weapon. He possesses extraordinary strength and agility, is impervious to pain, and feels no remorse. What’s more, he always obeys orders without fail. Until now.

For Savage, it’s just another routine hit. Snipe Eliana, the beautiful $2000 an-hour call girl in her high-rise Miami condo, and slip away into the night. Problem solved. But Savage has always been so focused on the how he’s never stopped to think of the why.

This suddenly feels wrong. Eliana is not a known terrorist. Nor is she a spy, traitor, or head of a crime syndicate. Why is the government so determined to eliminate her?

When Savage hesitates, they send in a backup agent to finish the job. Now, he must make a choice. Fulfill his contract by killing the woman. Or betray his country by saving her life.

Whatever his decision, Savage knows the government will stop at nothing to keep Eliana’s secret from getting out, even if that means eliminating their perfect weapon to do it.

455 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 31, 2025

About the author

Matt Ryland is the author of the Brent Savage series, including Cypher and Fallout, two emotionally charged thrillers that blend cinematic pacing with character-driven depth.

A self-proclaimed "hometown orphan," Matt moved six times before the age of eleven, eventually finding his emotional anchor in the Rocky Mountain West and the written word. He studied English and creative writing at the University of Wyoming, where his love of storytelling took root—not in lecture halls, but in the quiet corners where fiction became refuge.

When he’s not writing, Matt is a self-professed computer geek who finds peace in the outdoors, whether hiking through quiet trails or chasing the perfect landscape photo. He lives with his family in Northeast Ohio.—for now.

Reviews

[Anke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brent Savage, also known as CYPHER or NT-Zero, is the deadliest assassin of Operation Darkwater, a unique weapon with extraordinary abilities. Like all NTs, he exhibits superior strength and stamina, feels no pain, needs little sleep, has incredible healing powers, and always obeys orders, all thanks to nanobots in his system. However, what sets Cypher apart is the absence of two nanobots, one designed to sup

press his moral sensibilities and the other to manipulate his memories. This unique trait of Cypher is what makes him different from other NTs and perhaps the reason for his hesitation during his current kill order, Eliana Bautista.

The story, narrated from various perspectives, unfolds into a high-octane, action-packed suspense narrative. With unexpected twists and a rising body count, the reader is thrust into the heart of the action, gaining intrigue and momentum as the plot thickens. Cypher, utilizing all his acuity and survival skills, embarks on a mission to save Eliana and expose Operation Darkwater, all the while evading the police, the FBI, and the cunning NT-8 (code name Ghost) assigned to neutralize him. As the journey progresses, deceptions mount, and the story takes a darker turn, revealing that everyone harbors secrets. The characters, as unique as the setting, bring the story to a satisfying conclusion.

Thank you to Matt Ryland; your book held my attention from beginning to end. It's definitely worth reading, and I can’t wait for the next boo in the series!

I extend my gratitude to BookSirens for the opportunity to review this book.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC through "Booksirens" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

The story begins with Davage in Miami to perform an assassination. He has been observing his target for a couple of weeks. The time has come for Savage to complete his mission. He gets Eliana, his target, in his sights but is unable to fire. His actions raise all sorts of red flags because he has been programed to follow orders. In this instance he let his conscience guide him. His handler didn't understand and the head person on site directed that other people finish the job. Savage made sure that Eliana was not hurt and took out those individuals who had come to kill her.

As a result of Savage's actions, all sorts of law enforcement came into the picture resulting in Savage and Eliana going on the run. The two were able to avoid being taken and killed, but DCS, the govt. agency, sent another assassin known as the Ghost. Soon Savage and Eliana were followed to Chicago where a confrontation between the Ghost and Savage took place.

To discover why Eliana was targeted, who the Ghost was and how everything worked out in the end, then you need to read this book. You won't be disappointed.

[Dionne Muller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matt Ryland's thriller novel Cypher is a gripping, fast-paced read that will keep you glued to the pages from start to finish.
The story centres around a government-engineered assassin who struggles against his programming, grappling with existential questions of identity and free will.
Ryland masterfully establishes his characters with stunning efficiency right from the opening pages, painting vivid personalities that make you deeply invested in their fates.
The plot moves at a breakneck pace, wasting no time sucking you into the assassin's high-stakes world of espionage and deadly cat-and-mouse games.
Intense action sequences are deftly interwoven with moments of poignant character development, making for a captivating narrative that never lets up.
Ryland keeps you on the edge of your seat with unexpected twists that upend your assumptions and raise the stakes ever higher.
Cypher is a smart, propulsive thrill ride that action fans will devour; while also pondering the fascinating philosophical questions it raises about the nature of humanity and agency. An all-around impressive and wildly entertaining adventure.

[Lori Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received as a review copy from Booksirens, this an honest review. If you've enjoyed adrenaline heightened shows such as 24 then Cypher would be the perfect fit for you. It's a story that beautifully mixes the cat and mouse and face against the clock that the assassin Cypher faces when he changes the nature of why he's hired to do and decides not to kill a woman named Eliana, that to this supposedly soul less killer; doesn't fit why this woman is a target. Both find themselves roped into a dangerous new reality as the shadowy organization, Cypher has been involved are now willing to enact their kind of justice to a man they created to fulfill their deeds; because if he escapes... a hornet nests could explode. The only caveat to this story is a bit long with seventy-eight chapters and an epilogue and I believe the book could have been shortened and not lose its ability to captivate the reader.

Highly recommended.

[Ganesh Subramanian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cypher, an assassin, without any emotion, unheard and unseen is part of the US Government’s secret project to create a Robot assassin that they can control and manage. At the same time, they are normal humans but all their work is directed by feeding them a complete profile of the person to be eliminated. They were planning to get rid of terrorists, However, the principal scientist besides a few others is against this turn of events and the scientist deprograms Cipher so that he can start feeling human emotions again. Cipher refuses to carry out the last assignment where he has to get rid of a call girl who was involved with a senator at a high-end party. He rescues her and then both are on the run with the entire state and Federal agencies hunting them down. The story is captivating and keeps you engrossed. It is a non-stop thriller that one would enjoy reading especially over the weekend.
Thank you ‎for providing this book for review via Booksirens. All opinions are my own.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was high level intense all the way through. Imagine saving someone that your boss wants you to kill, so they want you killed too!! It's not that simple but there's corruption at the top level and betrayals everywhere. It's action packed, but in the end I think it was a deep evolving love story that drew me in, and it happened quickly. I guess near death experiences will do that to a person, and it's a fight or flight response. The ending left me with hope for the future, but alas the love story continues from a distance and deep in their heart of hearts. *tears*. I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest opinion.

[Carl Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent first novel in this series, if it ends up being a series. Great characters, and a scary plot line. A little futuristic and maybe just a little “far fetched” for my taste, but I would read a followup based on the strength of the main characters. The scary part is what might be the potential technology wise now, or in the near future, and whether it’ll be used for good or evil.

[Philip Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good

A very enjoyable futuristic read. The main characters gelled very well within a techno type plot. A nice easy to read book. Highly recommend