When a reckless young hacker sets out to earn fame on the dark web, his escalating attacks move from petty disruptions to an incident prompting a riot that leaves a college dean hospitalized. To him, notoriety is the prize. To Agent Persephone “Seph” Carano of the Cyber Security Agency, he’s a ticking time bomb.
Seph sees what others don’t—the hacker’s growing skill, his hunger for recognition, and the chaos he’s willing to unleash to get it. While the FBI dismisses her warnings, Seph and her team race against time to track his digital footprints before his next strike turns deadly.
From small clubs to large public arenas, the chase intensifies into a battle of wits between a desperate criminal and the agent determined to stop him. Cyber Case Thorn delivers a pulse‑pounding cyber thriller where ambition collides with justice, and one keystroke can ignite disaster.
Ken's latest books are a series of novellas featuring Persephone "Seph" Carano, an agent of the (fictional) Cyber Security Agency who leads the charge against cybercrime. Find the books and the scoop on Seph at https://cybercase.tech
Ken began his writing career as the author of a series of six historical thrillers set in the Italian Renaissance that have earned an Elit Silver Book Award, the Indie Reader Discovery Award, a Book Excellence Award finalist, a Publishers Weekly starred review, and the 2023 Next Generation Indie Book Award mystery winner, and and 2024 Independent Press Award favorite.
Ken's seventh book, The Blackest Time, a novel set during the Black Plague, is available from publisher Black Rose Writing.
Ken Tentarelli is a frequent visitor to Italy. In travels from the Alps to the southern coast of Sicily he developed a love for its history and its people. He has studied Italian culture and language in Rome and Perugia. When not traveling, Ken and his wife live in New Hampshire. He is a strong advocate for his local library.
4 stars Cyber Case Thorn is the first book in The Cyber Case series by Ken Tentarelli and is a fast‑moving cyber‑thriller that drops straight into the tension from page one. Ken keeps the pace tight with the high stakes, and the whole cat‑and‑mouse chase kept me hooked through all 139 pages of this short tale. What is scary is that it does and could happen.
The narrative follows Agent Persephone “Seph” Carano, whose instincts are miles ahead of the normal bureaucracy. Seph sees the pattern forming; the hacker is escalating, he is hungry for attention, and he is willing to drag real‑world chaos into the mix. Seph’s urgency gives this tale its drive, especially as she and her team race to catch someone who always seems one keystroke ahead.
The hacker is unsettling in a way that feels uncomfortably believable. He is young, reckless, and desperate to be noticed, a dangerous combination. As his stunts become bolder and more dangerous, the game shifts from small disruptions to full-on public threats, turning the tale into a tense back-and-forth between his ego and Seph's, and the team's expertise.
Because it’s a novella, everything stays focused—no filler, no wandering, just a steadily tightening, cleverly woven tale. It’s intriguing, high-pressure, and incredibly easy to inhale in one sitting, especially if you enjoy procedurals with a tech‑thriller edge to them, and Ken does it well.
A quick, engaging read where ambition, obsession, and digital danger collide. This is one you will not want to miss. I look forward to reading more of his work.
To think that hackers have the skill and most of the time they don’t even care about the consequences of their actions. It is all about the fame and notoriety. Sometimes it is money or revenge. Interesting to see into both sides of the view. The hackers view and why they wanted to do it and also Seph and how she caught him…the way her mind also works to break down the case and share the setbacks and successes. Very interesting. I would definitely read more like this and by this author.
Agen Persephone Carano, or Seph as she is better known is an agent with the Cyber Security Agent and she is one of the best, so she is surprised when she is called in as a favour to take a look at a local club which had some technical difficulties during a bands performance, but when she digs into the small incident, she discovers that the place was hacked and that the companies software has some issues, which she informs them of, she then feels that it is a one off, but when another call comes in from another small target, she becomes suspicious.
As Seph investigates, the hacker is in the background learning and increasing their skills on the dark web and gaining the notoriety they are craving ever since reading about a famous hacker in a school class, but as they move to more difficult targets, their mortality shifts to the dark side instead of the morally grey line they are treading.
As the cases of this hacker increase in both size and severity, Seph tries to warn the FBI and those who are dealing with other cyber attacks, unfortunately nobody listens to her, apart from her team of experts so she decides to catch them herself, especially when someone gets hurt and the pattern is developing at an alarming rate. Can Seph and her team catch this cyber criminal before someone else gets hurt, or will they gain that infamous level before it is too late? This is a gripping thriller involving technology at its heart where you see the process from both sides and just how dangerous the desire for fame doesn't just warp the mind, but the soul as well.
Cyber Case Thorn was different for me. I do enjoy suspense thrillers but this one didn’t have me on the edge of my seat, like books in that genre usually do. However it does have lots of promise for a potential series to come. The author brings the reader into a world of cyber security and hackers. Which is intriguing in its own right. Just scratching the surface on what these books can turn into, it seemed like a story that could’ve been a little more drawn out. But lots of promise. I enjoyed the story. I enjoyed what was presented, but I know it could be so much more. Seph has been tasked with clearing the name of the CSA office director’s nephew. Not realizing that it would lead to a bigger case. Thinking it’s a waste of time she goes about the task anyway. Only to discover an amateur hacker that may be holding a grudge got in. It wasn’t till the 2nd attack on the dog show that they realized there was more to the picture. Now it’s a race against time for her and her team to figure it out before the hacker strikes again, going even bigger. Do they succeed? Will her team catch the hacker? The answers come quick in this shorter novel. Just stay focused so you don’t miss them. Me, I’m going to sit back and wait for the next book in the series. The author has me intrigued but I want more meat to the story. So while I’ll sit back and wait you take a dive and come to your own conclusions. Enjoy it!
Cyber Case Thorn is the first book in the Seph Carano Cyber Thriller series by Ken Tentarelli. This is my first read from Mr. Tentarelli, so I really wasn’t sure what to expect from one of his stories – but I love a great techno-thriller, so I snapped up a copy and jumped right in. This is a novella-length book - short and snappy - which made for a quick and easy read. That’s not to say that it was ‘lightweight’ in content though – as it packs all the edgy, sharp, fast-paced, high-stakes techno-thriller drama that you could want from a cyber-novella. Because this is such a short story, I don’t want to give too much away and accidentally spoil it for you, but cyber security agent Seph Carano has her work cut out for her tracking a dangerous hacker who is causing chaos in his relentless game of seeking more notoriety. A cat and mouse game ensues, in a race against time to put a stop to his attacks – which resulted in a gripping read. Looking forward to the rest of the series. Happy Reading…
Cyber Case Thorn (The Cyber Case series Book 1) by Ken Tentarelli. 4 of 5 Stars This is an exciting novella and a great start to a new series. Agent Persephone ‘Steph’ Carano of the Cyber Security Agency, knows that a young, reckless hacker, wanting fame on the dark web is a ticking time bomb. Seph can see that the hacker is growing more confident as his skills grow and that he’s enjoying the recognition and notoriety. Although the FBI dismisses her warnings, Seph is not surprised when the hackers attacks escalate. When a riot leaves a college dean hospitalised, Seph and her team track his digital footprints. A cat and mouse game begins between the desperate criminal and the agent determined to catch him. I really enjoyed this gripping cyber thriller, and the suspense grew as the story developed. Seph is a very realistic and relatable main character, and I enjoyed getting to know her and the team. I was hooked throughout and I look forward to the next book in this new series.
I enjoy reading a good thriller book so when I discovered this one, and saw that is was about hackers and cyber security, I knew it was one I would have to try. The story is great from the moment you start reading. As it is a short story, it is fast paced and exciting to read. The author manages to pack so much into the book without overwhelming the storyline. I was pulled into the story with ease and enjoyed going on the ride with the characters. Seph was a brilliant character, and for me she is what this book was all about. Her determination to find the hacker came through in everything she did and I really enjoyed watching her try to piece together all the information she had. As the first book in a new series this promises to have more exciting things in store and I cannot wait to see where Seph goes next.
Cyber Case Thorn follows agent Seph Carano as she tracks down a young hacker whose need for attention starts turning into real world danger. It is a short read so the story jumps right in and keeps moving, showing both the investigation side and the mindset of the hacker.
That said, this one just was not totally my thing. The writing itself is solid and easy to follow, but cyber crime thrillers are not really my favorite corner of the genre. I personally wanted a bit more action and higher stakes danger to keep me fully hooked. The ending also came very quickly and did not feel as big or climactic as I expected.
Overall it is a quick, interesting read with a good foundation for a series, especially if you enjoy tech focused mysteries. Just not quite a perfect fit for my reading tastes.
I have been on a streak of finding some amazing authors lately! This is the first book I had picked up by this author, and it took me for a ride. If you’re in the mood for something fast-paced and intense, Cyber Case Thorn is such a gripping read. It follows a reckless young hacker chasing fame on the dark web, and watching his stunts spiral from annoying pranks into full-blown chaos is honestly chilling. The story really captures how one careless keystroke can snowball into real-world consequences. Even though it’s a novella, it doesn’t feel small because the author was a genius at making the stakes feel huge and urgent. The battle of wits between ambition and justice kept me flipping pages way faster than I expected. If you like smart thrillers with cybercrime, strong leads, and nonstop momentum, I think you’d totally devour this one.
This is the first book in this series in which I enjoyed reading from beginning to end. This is also a shorter story where the author packed a lot of detail in a short time. I enjoyed this author’s use of details that made this story come to life. This is a story about a hacker who is searching for fame. Steph and her team from the Cyber Security Agency are on the hunt for this hacker. Will they be able to stop them before they strike again? I enjoyed all the characters in this story. They are strong, engaging and connectable. I also enjoyed watching the growth of this story throughout. This is an easy and entertaining story that is fast paced, engaging and hard to put down. I look forward to seeing what is next for this author in the future. I highly recommend this book.
Stumbled upon this one and so glad I decided to read it! In the first book of the series, we are introduced to Seph Carano of the Cyber Security Agency. Asked by her director to look into an incident at a local club known for its live music shows, Seph, along with her team, investigate and discover a hacker, Thorn, is responsible. What they discover on the dark web is that Thorn wants the notoriety of being a hacker. He starts off small and increases his reach with every attack. Will Seph and her team be able to find and stop Thorn? I really enjoyed the writing style and storyline. I never felt like I was lost in the tech talk. I appreciated that there wasn't extra fluff added to make the book longer. It was a fast-paced page-turner. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
This novella was amazing. I loved that it packs a punch in such a short story; it had me excited to see where the next cyber-attack would hit. Our main character, Seph, is a strong, powerful woman who does not mess around. She takes her job very seriously and does not take a lot of time out for her social life, despite her sister's advice. This short story was a great read, and so informative on how the dark web works and the dangers that are all around us. I cannot wait to read the next book; it's coming out shortly! What kind of cybersecurity dealings will Seph have to face down next with her team at the CSA? @Brandy Rymer 02/2026
Cyber Case Thorn is a quick, punchy cyber thriller that pulls you in fast and doesn’t let go. The hacker’s obsession with fame and chaos feels uncomfortably believable, and Agent Seph Carano is a great counterbalance—smart, observant, and way ahead of the people who should be listening to her. The story ramps up smoothly from digital mischief to serious real-world danger, and the tension keeps climbing the whole way through. It’s an easy, entertaining read with just enough tech detail to feel real without slowing things down. Since it’s a novella, it wraps up quickly, but it’s a solid start to the series and definitely leaves you wanting more.
This was a really interesting read by an author I haven't picked up before. I wasn't sure what to expect but I really enjoyed it. It is a short novella read so I don't want to give too much of the story away. I will say it is a gripping thriller that had me turning the pages so fast I read it in one sitting.
We are with Seph and her team as they race against time to stop an ambitious hacker. The hacker is trying to make a name for themselves starting small but their hacks are getting bigger and more dangerous. Can Seph and the team figure out who the hacker is and put a stop to them before the hacker succeeds and things turn deadly.
Cyber Case Thorn (The Cyber Case series Book 1) by Ken Tentarelli. This is a great fast paced read. Seph Carano is asked to look into a club that has had a cyber incident. While searching for this hacker they discover Thorn, who is a major hacker. Thorn loves the notoriety of being a hacker and he's really good at it. Thorn starts small in hacking and tries to go bigger and bigger. When he gets to the big targets he really enjoys it because it makes more news. Will Seph and her team stop Thorn before he really causes dangerous situations? This is a fast paced story that will keep you up all nigh flipping pages!
This book is a short, fast-paced thriller that takes you into the high-stakes world of modern cybersecurity. The story follows Agent Persephone "Seph" Carano as she hunts a young, reckless hacker whose desire for dark-web notoriety escalates from digital mischief to real-world violence. Seph is a compelling lead, possessing the technical intuition to see patterns that more traditional agencies like the FBI might overlook. This psychological element adds depth to the story; the stakes feel personal because the hacker’s unpredictability keeps everyone on edge. This had me hooked from the beginning and I couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed reading this and look forward to the next book.
I usually pick books by their cover, and was hesitant to read Cyber Case Thorn. The description drew me in and made me curious. I was pleasantly surprised by the book, and really liked it. It follows Seph and team as they track down a hacker. They must try to anticipate his next move and take him down. It had good pace and kept me hooked. I look forward to more, since I see it is a series. I do wish there was more of an ending, as it seemed to wrap up abruptly, but that’s to be expected to some degree with a novella. I’m curious to see if we continue to follow Seph and the rest of the CSA team, or if we follow Thorn.
Cyber Case Thorn is a thriller that focuses on cyber crime. It follows Thorn, desperate to prove himself to find a community online that he lacks irl, and Agent Seph of the Cyber Security Agency, who needs to stop Thorn before he escalates too far.
This is an exciting and interesting book, full of insights into cyber security and crime. In Thorn we see the worrying lengths someone could go to in pursuit of recognition.
As a gripping novella, this is a great book to read in one sitting. You won't want to put it down!
Cyber Case Thorn gets four stars from me. I'd recommend it to readers who are interested in cyber security and fast-paced stories.
Seph Carano is an investigator for the CSA, and is given a case to help clear a superior's nephew. While she doesn't feel like this case will lead to anything, she takes her job seriously and pursues all avenues. Now Seph has discovered a hacker who thrives on chaos and dreams of nothing but being famous. Will she be able to stop them before it's too late?
Well written novella with a lot of terminology to make it feel realistic, without sounding too techy and laypeople not knowing what is going on. Left a ton of room for doing a good job building a full book worth of a world but doesn't leave you feel like you're missing part of a story.
4 Stars Cyber Case Thorn (The Cyber Case series Book 1) By Ken Tentarelli
Cyber Case Thorn is first book in The Cyber Case Series. This is a fast paced Thriller that will have you turning the pages till the end. It’s a short story packed with all the good things that will keep you on the edge grasping for what’s going to happen next. This is a new author to me so I didn’t know what to expect going in. I’m glad I took the chance since this type really is my thing. I highly recommend reading this book to find out what happens next.
This was a different kind of a suspense thriller where the chase is to track a cyber security hacker. Thorn enters the dark web for fun but later gets too involved into it and becomes dangerous. Persephone (Seph) works for cyber security agency and takes a lead to track down Thorn. It is a psychological thriller because no one expects what Thorn does next. I liked the plot, though it isn’t something which kept me on the edge, it is a very fast read. I really enjoyed it and looking forward to more in the series.
I really enjoyed this book. It was fast-paced and kept my attention. I liked Seph, the main character and her digital sleuthing skills. Her team was fabulous and I liked the way they worked together to solve the mystery. This wasn’t a scary thriller, but it is scary to be reminded of how much hackers can really do in real life. I would definitely read more from this author and in this series.
This book isn’t my normal subject matter. That being said, I would definitely recommend it. It grabbed me and kept me intrigued from the start. Cyber crime isn’t really where my mind goes, but this was good. The CSA team was a great mix of people and talents, and the hacker was pretty interesting. Kept me in from the start to the finish.
This is a new author for me, but he hit it out of the park with this book! I have already bought the second book and plan to pre-order the third. There is a cyber attack at a dance club and Agent Seph Carano begins to investigate to stop the hacker. The attacks keep escalating as the hacker continues his cyber attacks. This was a good mystery that will keep you reading!!
Cyber Case Thorn is book 1 of the "Cyber Case" series by Ken Tentarelli. Its an addictive, fast paced, and suspenseful not only first book of the series, but the first book ive read from this author. I could not get enough of this book, I was sucked into it for hours on end! So of course, I need this next book already, like yesterday!
Really great book and would definitely read the rest of the series! Love when there are cyber criminals to take down just as much as actual ones! This had loads of suspense and good twists!
What a great book action from beginning to end. Also so scary that everything can be simply hacked just like in this book now a days, what a way to create awareness while delivering a good story.