Hellcat

Cassandra Blake #1

by John Conroe

A road trip after graduating high school is a time-honored rite of passage. A chance to find oneself, to explore the wider world. For Cassandra Blake it’s more of a survival thing. Fleeing from a crazed billionaire tech mogul with the resources of a small country kind of thing.

Of course, a billionaire chasing a young girl is the romantic trope that millions love. But William Cramer doesn’t want Cassie for her body or looks, just her brain. Her highly neurodivergent brain.

However, Cassie’s memory and pattern skills aren’t the only unusual things about her. With a very unusual childhood, taught by a highly decorated Tier-one operator, Cassie has some other skills as well.

When the FBI catches wind of Cassie’s abilities the chase will take a decidedly different path.

If information is power than Cassandra Blake is a very powerful individual indeed.

309 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 25, 2026

About the author

I'm the Urban Fantasy author of the Demon Accords series. For more information, check out my website or follow me on Facebook at the Demon Accords page.

Reviews

[MG]

I am not a macho male who loves guns, hunting, and anything with adrenaline. I suspect the author John Conroe is. Still, I confess that I love his books. His main characters consistently are smart, funny, shrewd, wise, with strong moral compasses. His new series is not an exception. Cassie is a neurodivergent 18-year-old, whose dad is a recently deceased (suspiciously) Army Ranger hero who trained her to be omnicompetent (such as flawlessly pilot a Blackhawk helicopter after the pilots have been shot). Plus she can process information almost as fast as an AI and can predict outcomes. She starts out on the run from an Elon-Musk-like character (billionaire obsessed with new models of AI) and eventually finds a family with people in various government services (FBI, Army, Executive Office, NCIS--but not Homeland Security!). The action is nonstop and very fun. I read it in a day and a half.

[William Howe]

fun

I wonder if the Secret Service makes everybody leave their pens outside when they visit the WH.

A few odd mistakes that make me wish AI editors were actually capable. Mostly clean, though.

Almost asexual, and few if any curse words.

[Thorsten]

I continue to find myself equal parts enjoying the author's writing style and hating the one-note nature of his protagonists. In his earlier series, the protagonists would start much more modestly and earn their growth. More recently, it feels like they simply start in god mode, and much of the narrative consists of them endlessly expounding their own virtues, with side characters there largely to be in awe of them. Throw in some tragically one-dimensional, mustache-twirling villains for flavour.

I found the story itself somewhat disjointed and laboured. It felt more like the author was trying to package his interests and concerns about synthetic intelligence, prediction markets, oligarchy, and government corruption into a single storyline and didn't quite manage to stick the landing. I wanted to like the MC more, but she had such an overloaded backstory and suffered from that same undercurrent of sanctimony as this author's other recent protagonists that I struggled to find her genuinely likeable despite wanting to.

Lastly, I really hate it when a protagonist is made to look impressive not through personal achievement, but by everyone around them being incompetent. The early part of the book focuses heavily on establishing her genius, and it takes real effort and wit to write a believable, impressive investigator who Sherlock-Holmes-es or Mr. Monk-es a crime scene. Taking ten seconds to consider a missing-child case report and asking, "Where is the dog? Has someone checked his crate?" falls dazzlingly short.

For all my complaints, I'm still enough of a believer in the author's storytelling that I'll probably keep reading the series.

[Paul Hawfield]

Fantastic. 5-star military action

I read very quickly. I found this book to be very readable. No spelling or punctuation errors, so no stumbling when the action gets going.

This book is very fast-paced military action opener for the series. Fantastic characters. Great settings. And great action scenes that you don't have to work to read. Also not heavily burdened with technical descriptions or acronyms adding to the readability .

Very enthusiastic 5 stars. Highly recommended.

[Robert N & Roberta J Abernethy]

Another Good Series

John Conroe seems to have begun another good series.
His first, was a Fantasy and ScFii Adventure with interesting characters and a plot that carried the weight of 20+ books.
This new series has potential. Like the Vampire Accords, Hell Cat presents a plot that runs along the border of Fantasy and Adventure. I'm looking forward to more adventures wth the Hell Cat.

[Alena Woolacott]

I love everything this man writes!

Another book from John Conroe that I absolutely could not put down and had to read in one sitting, we sleep time be damned!
The Demon Accords and spin off is one of my all time favourite fictional universes and whilst this book is a complete departure from that world , it contains all the aspects of his characters that I've consistently loved from John Conroe.

[Kerrie P]

Wow just wow

I stayed up all night reading this book. Once you start reading it, you won't be able to put it down. This is a totally new cast of characters in a totally new world. It draws you in from the very first chapter. I am anxiously hoping that there will be new adventures for Cassie and her team. Good job Mr.Conroe.

[Gregory]

Great new story

I was really curious to see what Conroe would do next. This is a really good book - hardly shocking as everything he has writtten has been fantastic. This is completely different from the others although there are some topics from Zone Wars maybe - loosely. Just read it along with every thing else if you haven’t already.

[Mike Grugnale]

Different story, different protagonist, great writing

I'm a huge fan of the Accords and was disappointed to see John working on something different, until I got into this book. I really enjoyed the story (extraordinary but not supernatural) and the development of Cass. Hope there's more coming.

[Gene Brandt]

enjoyable OPMC rawr girl power novel

I enjoy Mr Conroe’s writing. Not sure who the mc was modeled after but the back and forth repartee was good and the nod to the humans be human with their emotions was on point. A change from his other AI/SI novels. We live in interesting times.

[Tom]

Awesome new read from John Conroe

Just when I thought John couldn’t get any better, a new book (series I hope!). You will love Cassie Blake, all brains, and taking no crap. She will out think anyone in the room and probably save the world!

Do yourself a favor and read “Hellcat”. You won’t be disappointed!!

[maureen e. fischer]

Surprisingly good!

As a John Conroe fan I was nervous about him taking time away from the DA:G universe, but after reading Hellcat, I'm willing to wait longer between DA:G books to get more of these.

[Knight]

A great start to a new book series

He does it again, John wrote another terrific book and a star to a great book series. I really look forward to see how Cassie interacts with her two new cyber Brothers.

[Michael Wooten]

Hopefully a series

Fabulous MC. Human plus without magic or super powers, well a super power brain. I can only hope that this is the start to a new series run Bing along side the second generation God Touched

[Kerry sullivan]

Brilliant

John conroe delivers an outstanding opener to a new series. I can't wait for the next one. Yet another series this author has me waiting with baited breath for the next instalment.

[Anita Hood]

yep John Conroe has done it again!

I didn’t think this book could rate with the Demon Accords or Generations. Was I ever wrong. Missing the gang from those books? Well here’s a character that rates right up there with them.

[George S]

what can I say?

This was a gripping, exciting read. My one beef with this book is that it was so difficult to put down that I lost a lot of sleep in order to finish it. I can’t wait for the next book.

[Wanda binz]

Great new series

Great new series I can’t wait to see where and what Cassie does and gets into. Please write faster this book has me on tenter hooks for the next one it was sooooo good. ENJOY!

[Anthony Gene]

Different... but enjoyable

Definitely different. I am a Demon Accords fan thru and thru.
Saw Mr Conroe's name attached to this book and decided to give it a chance.
Damn glad I did.

[James L Barber]

somehow he does it again

Mr Conroe has a theme. Extraordinary abilities and moral steel win the game.

Somehow, he manages to pull it off. When I saw this book I wondered if it would seem stale. It didn’t.

Go Cassie, go John.

[Walter Cuneo]

Nice new book from Conroe (No Spoilers)

Excellent story. Having collected all of John Conroe's books, I was surprised when I was notified that this had come out. Very, very pleasantly surprised. I am hoping to see more like this book in the future.

[Manus]

Excellent read

Loved it. Just like all his books. Can’t wait for the next in the series. Get it and read it now. You will love this one too

[roman o smith]

Awesome start to a series but

Awesome start of a series I can't wait to finish, however I would prefer to finish demon accords generations 1st

[William Cheney]

I read anything that John Conroe writes and this book is another example of why. A lot of action, a great strong female lead, great supporting characters and an awesome story line.

[Berlene Herren]

WOW! just wow

This has to be made into a movie. Current, captivating and cute. The premise is superb and not out of the realm of today’s technology. Highly recommend!

[Christopher Miller]

New Series! Awesome!

I already want book two but this was a fantastic start to a new series. Let's just hope it continues for a long while.

[Roy Cales]

Wow!!!

Another great read from John Conroe. I've re-read The Demon Accords multiple times and enjoyed it more each time. I look forward to more Hellcat. Highly recommend.

[Lynn Ten]

Conroe does it again…

It will be very interesting to see what he does for an encore… as long as he also keeps Generations going!

[Robin]

This is great. I read it straight through in one day. It's a lot like Demon Accords without the paranormal aspects. No vampires. Still good. I really enjoyed it,

[Michael Burnett]

Great book

Great book I can't wait to read the next book in the series I would recommend this author to anyone