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Bounty
Mob justice meets the internet in this globe-spanning thriller—think EBay for assassins—where outraged citizens bid up bounties to take out unrepentant crooks.
Relentlessly suspenseful and disturbingly timely, Bounty summons a chilling vision of our Internet culture gone mad, where freedom, privacy, and the rule of law are demolished by a crisis of nightmare proportions—and the future of justice lies in the hands not of the bravest but the most brutal.
When a notorious Wall Street vulture is executed in his high-rise office by a sniper’s bullet, it’s the kill shot heard around the world. Welcome to Bounty4Justice.com, a rogue website for vigilante assassins, where outraged citizens bid up bounties on corporate crooks and corrupt elites. As the number of targets soars, amateur bounty hunters and professional hit men compete to exterminate the condemned, “proof-of-death” videos become Internet sensations, and the self-styled Robin Hood pulling the strings threatens to plunge the international community into anarchy.
Along with other law enforcement agencies across the globe, the FBI and its agents on the case—led by Roman Novak and Rosemary Michaels—are desperately seeking a way to outmaneuver and overpower an all-but-invisible adversary with millions of dollars at its disposal and the ability to cripple the most sophisticated attackers with a keystroke. Following a black-hat hacker extraordinaire down a rabbit hole of firewalls, encryption, and unbreakable codes leads Novak and Michaels into the virtual underworld of the darknet—a seemingly impenetrable haven for the illicit and illegal where Bounty4Justice’s mastermind is almost certainly hiding. But just when the agents think they are close to breaching their quarry’s digital fortress, they find themselves stalked by an army of cyber outlaws out for blood.
Relentlessly suspenseful and disturbingly timely, Bounty summons a chilling vision of our Internet culture gone mad, where freedom, privacy, and the rule of law are demolished by a crisis of nightmare proportions—and the future of justice lies in the hands not of the bravest but the most brutal.
When a notorious Wall Street vulture is executed in his high-rise office by a sniper’s bullet, it’s the kill shot heard around the world. Welcome to Bounty4Justice.com, a rogue website for vigilante assassins, where outraged citizens bid up bounties on corporate crooks and corrupt elites. As the number of targets soars, amateur bounty hunters and professional hit men compete to exterminate the condemned, “proof-of-death” videos become Internet sensations, and the self-styled Robin Hood pulling the strings threatens to plunge the international community into anarchy.
Along with other law enforcement agencies across the globe, the FBI and its agents on the case—led by Roman Novak and Rosemary Michaels—are desperately seeking a way to outmaneuver and overpower an all-but-invisible adversary with millions of dollars at its disposal and the ability to cripple the most sophisticated attackers with a keystroke. Following a black-hat hacker extraordinaire down a rabbit hole of firewalls, encryption, and unbreakable codes leads Novak and Michaels into the virtual underworld of the darknet—a seemingly impenetrable haven for the illicit and illegal where Bounty4Justice’s mastermind is almost certainly hiding. But just when the agents think they are close to breaching their quarry’s digital fortress, they find themselves stalked by an army of cyber outlaws out for blood.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
16 people are currently reading
422 people want to read
About the author
Michael Byrnes
16 books92 followersMichael Byrnes is the internationally bestselling author of The Sacred Bones, The Sacred Blood, and the The Genesis Plague. Bounty is his latest novel. Mike earned his undergraduate degree from Montclair State University and his MBA from Rutgers University. He currently lives in Orlando, Florida with his wife and three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
June 25, 2016
By now most of us have heard of the darknet and understand, at least in a peripheral sense, the dangers lurking there. This book isn't so much about what goes on in the darknet as it is about the possibility of one website taking over and exploiting the dark side of the internet, as well as the dark side of human nature.
The story is largely, if not completely, plot-driven. The characters are secondary, sometimes almost irrelevant, used only to move the story around. We have a few central characters, and a whole lot of secondary characters, none of which we get to know in any meaningful way. I am a character-driven person, so I missed that personal connection.
The first half of the book moves at a good pace, with intriguing twists and a bit of a thriller feel. But soon the story gets repetitive, weighed down in tech speak. If you're not at ease with technology and computer terms, you might feel lost by the second half of this book. While I understood it all, I lacked that feeling of urgency the story should have demanded. Because the characters weren't developed, I was never invested in the outcome. Whether they all died or they all lived didn't matter to me at all.
Then I got to the end, and I was left wondering if I'd missed something. Certain things were left hanging and/or unexplained. Given such an intense concept, I expected more of an explosive ending, and certainly an ending that was, in fact, an ending.
If you like plot-driven books, this one will likely appeal to you, as the author does handle the issues of vigilantism and justice rather well, leaving us to ponder what that all means. But if you, like me, want a connection to the characters in order to bring the story to life, you won't get that here.
*I received an advance copy from the publisher, via Amazon Vine, in exchange for my honest review.*
The story is largely, if not completely, plot-driven. The characters are secondary, sometimes almost irrelevant, used only to move the story around. We have a few central characters, and a whole lot of secondary characters, none of which we get to know in any meaningful way. I am a character-driven person, so I missed that personal connection.
The first half of the book moves at a good pace, with intriguing twists and a bit of a thriller feel. But soon the story gets repetitive, weighed down in tech speak. If you're not at ease with technology and computer terms, you might feel lost by the second half of this book. While I understood it all, I lacked that feeling of urgency the story should have demanded. Because the characters weren't developed, I was never invested in the outcome. Whether they all died or they all lived didn't matter to me at all.
Then I got to the end, and I was left wondering if I'd missed something. Certain things were left hanging and/or unexplained. Given such an intense concept, I expected more of an explosive ending, and certainly an ending that was, in fact, an ending.
If you like plot-driven books, this one will likely appeal to you, as the author does handle the issues of vigilantism and justice rather well, leaving us to ponder what that all means. But if you, like me, want a connection to the characters in order to bring the story to life, you won't get that here.
*I received an advance copy from the publisher, via Amazon Vine, in exchange for my honest review.*
May 22, 2016
Due out in July 2016.
This is a fast-paced, well-plotted thriller centering on an FBI agent leading a world-wide investigation of a terrifying website. The sniper killing of a hated Wall Street financier turns out to be a bounty killing set up by the website, and it turns out that this isn't the only target. It's a site where Internet users can pass a guilty verdict on hated wrongdoers who have escaped normal justice -- crooked business leaders and politicians, sexual offenders, murderers -- and then contribute toward a bounty for their killing, and meantime add location info on the targets (what we might call "doxxing", but far more sinister here). The site turns out to be international in scope and reach, impenetrable to cyber attack, and highly popular in a corrupt and unfair society. @Bounty4Justice also possesses a powerful new cyber weapon, Razorwire, which renders them invincible and unstoppable.
The book seems very well-researched in matters of cyber warfare, cyber crime, real-life web organizations like Anonymous and Wikileaks, and in matters of assassination, very well-read on matters of secret operations and special-operations forces. It's an Internet-era version of high-tech thrillers pioneered by Frederick Forsyth, Michael Crichton and Tom Clancy, and this book never strikes a false note. It's a very timely thriller for the age of Edward Snowden and Stuxnet and is the sort of book you might feel compelled to read in one sitting. Highest recommendation to those interested in thrillers or cyber intrigue.
This is a fast-paced, well-plotted thriller centering on an FBI agent leading a world-wide investigation of a terrifying website. The sniper killing of a hated Wall Street financier turns out to be a bounty killing set up by the website, and it turns out that this isn't the only target. It's a site where Internet users can pass a guilty verdict on hated wrongdoers who have escaped normal justice -- crooked business leaders and politicians, sexual offenders, murderers -- and then contribute toward a bounty for their killing, and meantime add location info on the targets (what we might call "doxxing", but far more sinister here). The site turns out to be international in scope and reach, impenetrable to cyber attack, and highly popular in a corrupt and unfair society. @Bounty4Justice also possesses a powerful new cyber weapon, Razorwire, which renders them invincible and unstoppable.
The book seems very well-researched in matters of cyber warfare, cyber crime, real-life web organizations like Anonymous and Wikileaks, and in matters of assassination, very well-read on matters of secret operations and special-operations forces. It's an Internet-era version of high-tech thrillers pioneered by Frederick Forsyth, Michael Crichton and Tom Clancy, and this book never strikes a false note. It's a very timely thriller for the age of Edward Snowden and Stuxnet and is the sort of book you might feel compelled to read in one sitting. Highest recommendation to those interested in thrillers or cyber intrigue.
October 3, 2016
The Bounty is a thriller/suspense novel by Michael Byrnes which was extremely hard for me to get through and was not much of a thriller.
This mystery involves cyber attacks against specific individuals on whose heads bounties have been placed. The FBI and other governmental agencies get involved to solve the crimes and figure out who is to blame.
Bounty neglected to hold my interest for several reasons: there were way too many characters to keep track of and the main characters weren't interesting enough nor was I invested in them and too much technical jargon was used which made my interest in the actual story wane. Further I didn't find the plot all that interesting, though it was political.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this novel.
Published on NetGalley, Goodreads and Amazon on 10/3/16.
This mystery involves cyber attacks against specific individuals on whose heads bounties have been placed. The FBI and other governmental agencies get involved to solve the crimes and figure out who is to blame.
Bounty neglected to hold my interest for several reasons: there were way too many characters to keep track of and the main characters weren't interesting enough nor was I invested in them and too much technical jargon was used which made my interest in the actual story wane. Further I didn't find the plot all that interesting, though it was political.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this novel.
Published on NetGalley, Goodreads and Amazon on 10/3/16.
July 19, 2016
This book has an interesting premise: a crowdfunded kill list. Corrupt politicians? Crooked businessmen? Criminals untouched by the law? No problem! Just get them on the list and they'll be assassinated. The whole setup is a bit dodgy and not totally realistic but I could live with it. But the biggest problem to me is that the writing style is not the best. I thought the writing was a bit hard to get into and not smooth. The characters weren't that interesting. With good writing style, any dodgy plot can be forgiven but this book was difficult for me to read. I had to fight to finish it as more was revealed and I found the plot less realistic. I think the plot could have been done better if more time was spent on developing the characters and less time on adding more bad guys and kills. Still it was a complex book and took a lot of planning to write. I received this book free as a review copy.
September 1, 2016
I was lucky enough to win a free copy from Goodreads First Reads.
Bounty follows investigators trying to stop Bounty4Justice, a vigilante democratic website that raises money right the wrongs of the criminal justice system. People submit others for the website, evidence is collected and backers can cast a vote for guilty or acquittal.
While the assassinations are what has most people up in arms, that’s not the only way to claim the money or get rid of your bounty once someone’s deemed guilty. Bringing in the target to the justice system will net the same reward or turn yourself in and the money goes back into the pot. It’s also important to note, the targets are all people that the justice system has failed to convict or received a slap on the wrist.
Before I start my ramblings on the system, let’s review the book, shall we?
The Good The Bad & The Other
+ Fast paced action - Characters are bland white people
+ Riveting twists and turns - Could've gone farther, been more relevant and inclusive
+ Thought-provoking set up - Hypocritical cops aren’t brought to task
+ Technology is understandable
+ Liked the Author's Note
Bounty starts by introducing a rich asshole who skates through the law and then his murder by sniper. From there the investigators are introduced, and game begins.
Who the agents/detectives are make no difference. I had a hard time keeping track of them besides the team lead and his romance interest, whose names I can’t remember now and don’t care enough to look it up.
Moments of wait…I thought that was the other guy are not fun. Eventually, I got it straight but their daily lives are meaningless in the scheme of the story. It’s easy to accept the interchangeable typical white crew and roll along.
It easily kept me reading as Bounty4Justice racked up targets and they discovered its depth. There is traditional cop work done but the majority obviously lies in cutting edge technology. The regular joe team members act as audience surrogates for the geek squad explain it all to. Even if I didn’t get the mumbo jumbo, I got the idea and it’s easy to understand what Bounty4Justice has accomplished.
I loved the inclusion of social media and hacktivists, not only in the plot itself but with snapshots of posts themselves. Reading those posts was a great insight to the public’s response to the website and investigation. It really brought the concept to life.
There are also chat transcripts scattered throughout between two screen names that mean nothing at the time. It piqued my interest and lead me down some false paths about Bounty4Justice’s origins and outcome.
The reveal of who’s behind it though was disappointing. Oh. Okay. People familiar with genre tropes could call it early but I was too wrapped up in the story and fell for the red herrings.
But the ending? I fucking love it. It’s another haunting open ending. I’ve read so many excellent examples of this usage and I don’t think I can say I hate open endings anymore. I just hate when they suck.
It fits Bounty perfectly in tone and content since the technological arms race will never end and we’re always a step behind. Throughout Bounty4Justice’s system had my mind spinning with the implications, complications, and variations, but the last scene…It reminds me of heist books and left me reeling.
It’s NOT a good thing to read before bed. Especially not if you continue to read the author’s note. Brynes clearly knows his stuff and I appreciate all the work and concern that went into Bounty.
Musings on Bounty4Justice:
Social Media, Justice & Racism
In the beginning we learn the investigators celebrate the douchebag’s death as comeuppance and get to work on finding the killer. They aren’t outraged until they clue into Bounty4Justice. Their problem with this vigilante justice is the same as this article’s explanation why Gotham hates Batman and sicced Superman on him.
It boils down to three points: doesn’t play by politics, shows the government in a poor light, and gives the people back their power. But the really interesting part is how Bounty4Justice solves two common issues with vigilantes: it’s one person or group taking control and proving guilt.
As I said earlier, it is democratic with the only criteria to pledge and vote being internet access, a $2 badge and an address to receive it. Because hackers bypass the legal safeguards, there’s a wealth of evidence provided as everything is electronic now.
While everyone is up in arms about the murders, that’s not the only way to claim a bounty. Turning a target into the authorities with net you the money, and if you’re a guilty target you can always turn yourself in.
Before you get to that stage though, there’s a vote for acquittal or guilty. And it works. It may be a short run, but Bounty4Justice proves its viability and reliability. Our government crew keeps wringing their hands over the slippery slope of “We’re next! Regular Joes should be panicking!” Such fearmongering. Yeah about that…
To make it worse, they’re hypocrites. They approve of government assassins doing the same thing without accountability, transparency, and using tax dollars. Not to mention the states with the death penalty…
Anyways, I love thinking about how Bounty4Justice could continue and evolve. Would it break down to local areas for solving crimes without the option of death? Would we have mini-Batmans running around making citizens arrests or would it remain for the major players?
While the focus is the arms race of technology, my mind went the opposite direction. If Bounty4Justice’s system continued to work, would criminals revert to old-fashioned ways? Would it shrink the need for itself? People were protesting to protect this website, but where were the protests against the corruption and police state? What changes would be wrought with such an alternative?
Even if you’re sold on the Bounty4Justice’s setup, it’s not without further considerations. What about the poorest with no internet access or cash to donate? Could advocacy groups for them spring up to make sure their voice is heard in the voting?
Would the inherit racism in the system continue? That’s not an issue brought up, but most criminals to get away from our “justice” system are rich and white. But I have little hope people won’t ruin it anyways. The investigators closed around the innocent colleagues but what about the uniformed murderers?
Bounty has been called timely with its take on technology and increasing disillusion of the system, but the race issue is ignored as usual. Why not include an example of these beat cops? They certainly count as some of the worst offenders to be targeted.
The #BlackLivesMatter is a peaceful movement and would disavow it, but it could be used as a tool for a radical flank effect. Who would rise up as the advocate for forceful rebellion, a known entity or a new comer?
You know who is missing from this narrative? Countries with justice systems instead of an Industrial-Military complex, a School to Prison pipeline, nonexistent gun control, and cops that get away with murder. The World Justice’s Top 10 appear nowhere in this story.
Just sayin’.
Bottomline:
A must-read for fans of the genre and those who want some creepy food for thought. Don't read it for the characters, you'll be disappointed.
What do you think of the Bounty4Justice system? Do you want to read Bounty?
Bounty follows investigators trying to stop Bounty4Justice, a vigilante democratic website that raises money right the wrongs of the criminal justice system. People submit others for the website, evidence is collected and backers can cast a vote for guilty or acquittal.
While the assassinations are what has most people up in arms, that’s not the only way to claim the money or get rid of your bounty once someone’s deemed guilty. Bringing in the target to the justice system will net the same reward or turn yourself in and the money goes back into the pot. It’s also important to note, the targets are all people that the justice system has failed to convict or received a slap on the wrist.
Before I start my ramblings on the system, let’s review the book, shall we?
The Good The Bad & The Other
+ Fast paced action - Characters are bland white people
+ Riveting twists and turns - Could've gone farther, been more relevant and inclusive
+ Thought-provoking set up - Hypocritical cops aren’t brought to task
+ Technology is understandable
+ Liked the Author's Note
Bounty starts by introducing a rich asshole who skates through the law and then his murder by sniper. From there the investigators are introduced, and game begins.
Who the agents/detectives are make no difference. I had a hard time keeping track of them besides the team lead and his romance interest, whose names I can’t remember now and don’t care enough to look it up.
Moments of wait…I thought that was the other guy are not fun. Eventually, I got it straight but their daily lives are meaningless in the scheme of the story. It’s easy to accept the interchangeable typical white crew and roll along.
It easily kept me reading as Bounty4Justice racked up targets and they discovered its depth. There is traditional cop work done but the majority obviously lies in cutting edge technology. The regular joe team members act as audience surrogates for the geek squad explain it all to. Even if I didn’t get the mumbo jumbo, I got the idea and it’s easy to understand what Bounty4Justice has accomplished.
I loved the inclusion of social media and hacktivists, not only in the plot itself but with snapshots of posts themselves. Reading those posts was a great insight to the public’s response to the website and investigation. It really brought the concept to life.
There are also chat transcripts scattered throughout between two screen names that mean nothing at the time. It piqued my interest and lead me down some false paths about Bounty4Justice’s origins and outcome.
The reveal of who’s behind it though was disappointing. Oh. Okay. People familiar with genre tropes could call it early but I was too wrapped up in the story and fell for the red herrings.
But the ending? I fucking love it. It’s another haunting open ending. I’ve read so many excellent examples of this usage and I don’t think I can say I hate open endings anymore. I just hate when they suck.
It fits Bounty perfectly in tone and content since the technological arms race will never end and we’re always a step behind. Throughout Bounty4Justice’s system had my mind spinning with the implications, complications, and variations, but the last scene…It reminds me of heist books and left me reeling.
It’s NOT a good thing to read before bed. Especially not if you continue to read the author’s note. Brynes clearly knows his stuff and I appreciate all the work and concern that went into Bounty.
Musings on Bounty4Justice:
Social Media, Justice & Racism
In the beginning we learn the investigators celebrate the douchebag’s death as comeuppance and get to work on finding the killer. They aren’t outraged until they clue into Bounty4Justice. Their problem with this vigilante justice is the same as this article’s explanation why Gotham hates Batman and sicced Superman on him.
It boils down to three points: doesn’t play by politics, shows the government in a poor light, and gives the people back their power. But the really interesting part is how Bounty4Justice solves two common issues with vigilantes: it’s one person or group taking control and proving guilt.
As I said earlier, it is democratic with the only criteria to pledge and vote being internet access, a $2 badge and an address to receive it. Because hackers bypass the legal safeguards, there’s a wealth of evidence provided as everything is electronic now.
While everyone is up in arms about the murders, that’s not the only way to claim a bounty. Turning a target into the authorities with net you the money, and if you’re a guilty target you can always turn yourself in.
Before you get to that stage though, there’s a vote for acquittal or guilty. And it works. It may be a short run, but Bounty4Justice proves its viability and reliability. Our government crew keeps wringing their hands over the slippery slope of “We’re next! Regular Joes should be panicking!” Such fearmongering. Yeah about that…
To make it worse, they’re hypocrites. They approve of government assassins doing the same thing without accountability, transparency, and using tax dollars. Not to mention the states with the death penalty…
Anyways, I love thinking about how Bounty4Justice could continue and evolve. Would it break down to local areas for solving crimes without the option of death? Would we have mini-Batmans running around making citizens arrests or would it remain for the major players?
While the focus is the arms race of technology, my mind went the opposite direction. If Bounty4Justice’s system continued to work, would criminals revert to old-fashioned ways? Would it shrink the need for itself? People were protesting to protect this website, but where were the protests against the corruption and police state? What changes would be wrought with such an alternative?
Even if you’re sold on the Bounty4Justice’s setup, it’s not without further considerations. What about the poorest with no internet access or cash to donate? Could advocacy groups for them spring up to make sure their voice is heard in the voting?
Would the inherit racism in the system continue? That’s not an issue brought up, but most criminals to get away from our “justice” system are rich and white. But I have little hope people won’t ruin it anyways. The investigators closed around the innocent colleagues but what about the uniformed murderers?
Bounty has been called timely with its take on technology and increasing disillusion of the system, but the race issue is ignored as usual. Why not include an example of these beat cops? They certainly count as some of the worst offenders to be targeted.
The #BlackLivesMatter is a peaceful movement and would disavow it, but it could be used as a tool for a radical flank effect. Who would rise up as the advocate for forceful rebellion, a known entity or a new comer?
You know who is missing from this narrative? Countries with justice systems instead of an Industrial-Military complex, a School to Prison pipeline, nonexistent gun control, and cops that get away with murder. The World Justice’s Top 10 appear nowhere in this story.
Just sayin’.
Bottomline:
A must-read for fans of the genre and those who want some creepy food for thought. Don't read it for the characters, you'll be disappointed.
What do you think of the Bounty4Justice system? Do you want to read Bounty?
March 28, 2017
I absolutely loved this book. It had a great story and plot, and nailed the technical aspects of the internet. It really showed what is, and what is inevitable in the not-too-distant future, with the world-wide-web/internet/IOT. It also does its part in exposing/showing how the intelligence community of various leading governments around the world spy on virtually anyone and everyone connected to the modern world via computers and cell phones. The author did a great job in balancing the technical jargon of the internet, routers, and IP packets, with a very realistic and human story. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
March 27, 2023
Hodně zvláštní kniha, autor popisuje riziko bezpečnosti virtuálního světa, zranitelnost ukládání informací a podobně. V knize se střídají popisy brutálních vražd i debaty nerďáckých hackerů, často mi dělalo problém se v knize orientovat. Chvílema děj neuvěřitelně běží, jindy se táhne, že má člověk chuť se čtením přestat. Věřím tomu, že autor je génius a spoustu věcí v knize skvěle vymyslel, jen podle mě nezvládl svoje myšlenky předat tak, aby se v nich dalo orientovat.
Knihu tedy nedoporučuji, i když si myslím že není špatná. Pokud milujete kódy a hledáte inspiraci, jak toho zneužít, přečtěte si tuto knihu :D
Knihu tedy nedoporučuji, i když si myslím že není špatná. Pokud milujete kódy a hledáte inspiraci, jak toho zneužít, přečtěte si tuto knihu :D
March 20, 2024
What a masterpiece.
September 6, 2016
Thriller/ mystery novel delving into cyber attacks, NSA, and The Purge-esque murder sprees. The author does a good job bringing in current events and making the novel accessible and relevant. Failings of the novel - it isn't a particularly good mystery, the main characters have no growth and little depth, and the romance is literally 2 lines (yet exists in the novel - why?)
Fun read though
Fun read though
February 1, 2020
This novel is a gripping tale of what can go wrong in the cyber world with the internet when over-the-top hackers and cyber terrorists decide to take the world's problems into their own hands. There have been many stories, fiction as well as non-fiction, about vigilantes and the havoc they can wreak. In this case, the vigilantes are using the cyber world to steal and assassinate those who they target as criminals without any due process of law. By doing so, they also could effectively topple governments around the world and, of course, seize power for themselves. It is a wake-up call on the dangers of over-reliance on the digital world.
The novel is constructed to keep the reader's attention throughout, keeping things hanging enough to cause the reader to keep going to see what twist is next. The author has really done his homework from the technical end. Most of what happens is very intricate and the vigilantes leave no stone unturned to avoid being caught. Knowledge of the world's agencies for security is used and very little of the details are totally out of the question, which is frightening.
What I did not like was the copious use of graphic obscenities where it wasn't necessary. What was interesting was that the use varied depending on where the plot was. It was especially bad in the middle then the experts were in the thick of it. Toward the end of the book, the gratuitous use of profanity let up. So, the author was likely using it to help set the mood. I can see, with a multitude of characters, that to be realistic, some would be cursing however the author wished to handle it. It went beyond that, though. Not only were all characters letting it fly, the narrative contained the expletives as well. For me, that detracted from an otherwise excellent novel. That is the reason why I rated as I did. Otherwise, the rating would be higher.
The novel is constructed to keep the reader's attention throughout, keeping things hanging enough to cause the reader to keep going to see what twist is next. The author has really done his homework from the technical end. Most of what happens is very intricate and the vigilantes leave no stone unturned to avoid being caught. Knowledge of the world's agencies for security is used and very little of the details are totally out of the question, which is frightening.
What I did not like was the copious use of graphic obscenities where it wasn't necessary. What was interesting was that the use varied depending on where the plot was. It was especially bad in the middle then the experts were in the thick of it. Toward the end of the book, the gratuitous use of profanity let up. So, the author was likely using it to help set the mood. I can see, with a multitude of characters, that to be realistic, some would be cursing however the author wished to handle it. It went beyond that, though. Not only were all characters letting it fly, the narrative contained the expletives as well. For me, that detracted from an otherwise excellent novel. That is the reason why I rated as I did. Otherwise, the rating would be higher.
December 11, 2025
Bounty delivers a pulse-pounding, near-future thriller that feels chillingly close to reality. Michael Byrnes imagines a world where online outrage becomes weaponized through Bounty4Justice.com, a rogue vigilante website that lets the public place cash bounties on corrupt elites, corporate criminals, and human rights abusers. What begins with the televised execution of a notorious Wall Street predator quickly spirals into global mayhem as assassins, hackers, amateurs, and professionals compete to deliver “proof-of-death” videos that go instantly viral.
As society teeters on the edge of anarchy, FBI agents Roman Novak and Rosemary Michaels race to unmask the website’s mastermind, a ghostlike figure with limitless funding, elite tech skills, and an army of cybermercenaries ready to strike from the shadows. Their pursuit drags them deep into the darknet, where firewalls, encrypted fortresses, and black-hat hackers blur the line between hunter and hunted.
Taut, timely, and disturbingly plausible, Bounty blends cyber-espionage, dystopian tension, and nonstop action. With sharp twists and provocative social commentary, this thriller explores our dangerous dependence on the digital world, and what happens when justice falls into the hands of the most ruthless.
As society teeters on the edge of anarchy, FBI agents Roman Novak and Rosemary Michaels race to unmask the website’s mastermind, a ghostlike figure with limitless funding, elite tech skills, and an army of cybermercenaries ready to strike from the shadows. Their pursuit drags them deep into the darknet, where firewalls, encrypted fortresses, and black-hat hackers blur the line between hunter and hunted.
Taut, timely, and disturbingly plausible, Bounty blends cyber-espionage, dystopian tension, and nonstop action. With sharp twists and provocative social commentary, this thriller explores our dangerous dependence on the digital world, and what happens when justice falls into the hands of the most ruthless.
August 23, 2017
Other reviewers did not like the lack of human character development. I did not find that a problem.
From my view, I saw the key characters being:
1) The website/website's AI
2) Class/racial tension (including incarceration rates for minorities)
3) The evolving power of those with serious computer hacking skills given society's dependence on computers
Looking at these three entities as characters, I think the author did a good job of introducing the reader to them and following through with character development.
I was so engaged, I listened to the book in two days.
This review comes from a novice. I regretfully avoided learning about the field of literature in school.
From my view, I saw the key characters being:
1) The website/website's AI
2) Class/racial tension (including incarceration rates for minorities)
3) The evolving power of those with serious computer hacking skills given society's dependence on computers
Looking at these three entities as characters, I think the author did a good job of introducing the reader to them and following through with character development.
I was so engaged, I listened to the book in two days.
This review comes from a novice. I regretfully avoided learning about the field of literature in school.
January 20, 2018
Internetová bezpečnost, nakládání z daty - ať už tajnými či osobními - a jejich potenciální zneužití je právem velké téma... Ovšem v Bounty to Michael Byrnes rozjíždí ve velkém. A stojí to za to!
Nicméně, kybernetický svět je složitý a pro laika často nepochopitelný. To se bohužel nevyhne ani Bounty - i přesto, že se autor snaží svým čtenářům mnoho věcí přiblížit, bez znalosti aspoň základní terminologie se neobejdete. Nenechte se tím ale odradit...
4,5*/5* a celý článek zde :-)
Nicméně, kybernetický svět je složitý a pro laika často nepochopitelný. To se bohužel nevyhne ani Bounty - i přesto, že se autor snaží svým čtenářům mnoho věcí přiblížit, bez znalosti aspoň základní terminologie se neobejdete. Nenechte se tím ale odradit...
4,5*/5* a celý článek zde :-)
December 21, 2017
This book's relevance is compelling. I nearly want to call it cyberpunk but it's strictly contemporary and very plausible in a Black Mirror kind of way. Also appreciate the many female characters in law enforcement and governmental positions, all exquisitely described no matter how brief their appearance in the story.
February 21, 2020
An intelligent thriller where bitcoin, encryption, data security, digital espionage, hacktivist and cyber terrorism collide. Byrnes shows a critical understanding of these issues that are all too familiar in technology news today and weaves them into an interesting plot. As a developer, I feel that techies will deeply enjoy this novel.
July 20, 2018
It's a great premise and one I can see taking place in the near future. I really like the crazy technology in the book. The ending seemed wrong, too easy. Even with the so-so ending it was a really good book.
August 30, 2021
Fast paced and very interesting. I found some of the things the characters did unrealistic, especially the key mistake that the bad guy makes. It also left some things unresolved, I presume for a sequel. Not interested.
January 25, 2022
A good read, with elements of truth perhaps, who really knows what the internet is /will be capable of these days?
Part of me cheered for the 'justice', despite knowing it was wrong for society!
Part of me cheered for the 'justice', despite knowing it was wrong for society!
July 8, 2017
Web site instills terror as the masses can vote to raise a bounty for a person who "got away" with it. The FBI rights to find stop the killing before it is too late.
May 23, 2020
Generous three. Didn’t keep me excited.
August 16, 2020
I received this book for free from Goodreads Giveaways. A very interesting book that I enjoyed.
November 5, 2022
This story started off so good that I intentionally took my time reading it. Well, the end killes it...in a bad way.
December 23, 2023
interesting technical details & plot, meh writing
December 13, 2024
Did not finish
March 17, 2017
Well done! An interesting and vey readable take on the vigilante justice theme with plenty of good IT info thrown in.
The story was engaging, well plotted and used internet communications (twitter, chat rooms) to fill in to great effect.
Fun read.
The story was engaging, well plotted and used internet communications (twitter, chat rooms) to fill in to great effect.
Fun read.
December 13, 2016
'Bounty', the new novel by Michael Byrnes, sports a timely plot that moves at a fast clip. It'll hold your interest, unless you get scared off as the frequency of technical jargon increases. Most readers will find it to be a tense thriller that deals with issues they've probably read a bit about and could imagine actually happening. Personally, I put it in the 'Meh' category.
I usually evaluate books on the dimensions of plot, writing, character development, and pace. Bounty's writing is competent but nothing special, although I did enjoy the insertion of emails, texts, tweets, and other non-traditional additions to the prose. The story does move at a brisk pace and, although one character, Novak, is fairly well developed, the others are just names. It's the plot that's the problem for me. The general idea is compelling: a website that places a 'bounty' on the heads of individuals it feels have evaded justice becomes not only very effective in eliminating its targets but also a cause celebre' to the 'free information' web crowd. It combines a number of technical concepts most 'regular folk' have heard about or experienced: the internet, web commerce, 'bitcoin', crowdsourcing, social media, 'free' information, electronic marketplaces, and so on.
My issue with the plot is that I constantly found myself thinking, as violence occurred and the public responded, that something didn't feel right and the responses from the public weren't what would happen in real life. I typically like the approach that some writers use to take a concept to its logical extreme and extrapolate on how it would play out (sorry if I'm being a little obtuse here- trying to not give away the plot), which is in effect what 'Bounty' attempts, but it fails the believability test for me. The conclusion was the weakest part of the plot. Most of the investigatory moves and action to that point seemed realistic, but for the last 30 pages, not so much.
'Bounty' is a worthwhile read if you want to check out an unusual plot that seems like it could be a future lead story on CNN. However, it's best to not think about it too much as you're making your way through. Its saving graces are that it does move along quickly, there's some excitement involved, and the writing is solid.
I usually evaluate books on the dimensions of plot, writing, character development, and pace. Bounty's writing is competent but nothing special, although I did enjoy the insertion of emails, texts, tweets, and other non-traditional additions to the prose. The story does move at a brisk pace and, although one character, Novak, is fairly well developed, the others are just names. It's the plot that's the problem for me. The general idea is compelling: a website that places a 'bounty' on the heads of individuals it feels have evaded justice becomes not only very effective in eliminating its targets but also a cause celebre' to the 'free information' web crowd. It combines a number of technical concepts most 'regular folk' have heard about or experienced: the internet, web commerce, 'bitcoin', crowdsourcing, social media, 'free' information, electronic marketplaces, and so on.
My issue with the plot is that I constantly found myself thinking, as violence occurred and the public responded, that something didn't feel right and the responses from the public weren't what would happen in real life. I typically like the approach that some writers use to take a concept to its logical extreme and extrapolate on how it would play out (sorry if I'm being a little obtuse here- trying to not give away the plot), which is in effect what 'Bounty' attempts, but it fails the believability test for me. The conclusion was the weakest part of the plot. Most of the investigatory moves and action to that point seemed realistic, but for the last 30 pages, not so much.
'Bounty' is a worthwhile read if you want to check out an unusual plot that seems like it could be a future lead story on CNN. However, it's best to not think about it too much as you're making your way through. Its saving graces are that it does move along quickly, there's some excitement involved, and the writing is solid.
September 24, 2016
I'll be honest: I only picked this book up because it shared a title with my debut novel.
And while both my Bounty and Michael Byrnes' Bounty share a title and open with a grisly murder, that's where the similarities end. At its heart, Byrnes' novel asks the fundamental question: when traditional justice fails, is it right for people to take matters into their own hands? This is hardly the first work of fiction to ask that question -- I'm reminded of the League of Shadows from Batman lore, and even Batman himself -- but Byrnes explores that question amid the backdrop of the Internet and our digital-dependent culture.
Along the way, the bodies pile up worldwide as numerous law enforcement agencies are chasing their proverbial tails. Murder victims aside, there's little violence in this Bounty -- this is more of a psychological thriller than anything -- and yet this is a page-turner as fast-paced as anything else I've read in the genre.
The technical jargon is overwhelming at times -- far more so than the scientific jargon peppered throughout The Martian -- but I don't think my level of knowledge had any bearing on how much I enjoyed the book. But there are a few occasions where a reader might come across a passage that leaves them a little confused, so it bears mentioning.
Readers might also find themselves occasionally backtracking in order to remind themselves of a certain character, and this book seems to end on a little bit of a cliffhanger; there is not 100 percent resolution, and it feels like there's a potential sequel in the offing.
I hope there is.
The biggest gripe, to me, is the sheer number of characters. Byrnes does his best to give them all their unique quirks and personalities and what not, but there are so many of them that more than a few don't come across as well as they probably should. The scope of the plot likely necessitated the sheer number of players, but if there is a sequel, I hope Byrnes trims the roster a bit.
All in all, Bounty is a fantastic mystery/thriller that features a disturbingly plausible storyline. To me, the best novels often posit the question "What if...?" and this novel certainly delivers.
Now... any chance Byrnes might read my Bounty?
And while both my Bounty and Michael Byrnes' Bounty share a title and open with a grisly murder, that's where the similarities end. At its heart, Byrnes' novel asks the fundamental question: when traditional justice fails, is it right for people to take matters into their own hands? This is hardly the first work of fiction to ask that question -- I'm reminded of the League of Shadows from Batman lore, and even Batman himself -- but Byrnes explores that question amid the backdrop of the Internet and our digital-dependent culture.
Along the way, the bodies pile up worldwide as numerous law enforcement agencies are chasing their proverbial tails. Murder victims aside, there's little violence in this Bounty -- this is more of a psychological thriller than anything -- and yet this is a page-turner as fast-paced as anything else I've read in the genre.
The technical jargon is overwhelming at times -- far more so than the scientific jargon peppered throughout The Martian -- but I don't think my level of knowledge had any bearing on how much I enjoyed the book. But there are a few occasions where a reader might come across a passage that leaves them a little confused, so it bears mentioning.
Readers might also find themselves occasionally backtracking in order to remind themselves of a certain character, and this book seems to end on a little bit of a cliffhanger; there is not 100 percent resolution, and it feels like there's a potential sequel in the offing.
I hope there is.
The biggest gripe, to me, is the sheer number of characters. Byrnes does his best to give them all their unique quirks and personalities and what not, but there are so many of them that more than a few don't come across as well as they probably should. The scope of the plot likely necessitated the sheer number of players, but if there is a sequel, I hope Byrnes trims the roster a bit.
All in all, Bounty is a fantastic mystery/thriller that features a disturbingly plausible storyline. To me, the best novels often posit the question "What if...?" and this novel certainly delivers.
Now... any chance Byrnes might read my Bounty?
August 31, 2016
Insanity in a book.....OMG. Where do I begin??!!
Okay for starters...Bounty: A Novel by Michael Byrnes. I did not read any synopsis...so I seriously thought this was a book about Bounty hunters out on the streets (think the show Dog The Bounty Hunter)...a bounty hunting business and all the seedy criminals they deal with...something along those lines. I was shocked and pleased and absolutely blown away by the fact that I was reading something so completely different from what I had originally thought. The story goes....a popular crowdfunding website that's sole purpose is to allow users to take votes and polls on people from all walks of life...determining who gets to receive "justice" for certain things, issues, terrible crimes, whatever. Most votes for a particular person...then obviously a bounty gets put on that person....to where there needs to be video proof that this person was taken out...then that person that sought out that "justice" wins the bounty. A crazy world of Cyber Bounties.....OMG...mind blowing.
Suspenseful....great story. Amazing and interesting characters. The technical jargon was taxing at times but the story was so good and fast moving that it was not the worst thing to deal with. I would have probably liked to personally be more knowledgeable in some of the serious things discussed but whatever...I got through the story without and still enjoyed it and felt like I understood enough. If anything, now I want to know more!!
Fast moving....YES!! A great one from a great author Michael Byrnes. Highly recommend....mind blowing experience.
Okay for starters...Bounty: A Novel by Michael Byrnes. I did not read any synopsis...so I seriously thought this was a book about Bounty hunters out on the streets (think the show Dog The Bounty Hunter)...a bounty hunting business and all the seedy criminals they deal with...something along those lines. I was shocked and pleased and absolutely blown away by the fact that I was reading something so completely different from what I had originally thought. The story goes....a popular crowdfunding website that's sole purpose is to allow users to take votes and polls on people from all walks of life...determining who gets to receive "justice" for certain things, issues, terrible crimes, whatever. Most votes for a particular person...then obviously a bounty gets put on that person....to where there needs to be video proof that this person was taken out...then that person that sought out that "justice" wins the bounty. A crazy world of Cyber Bounties.....OMG...mind blowing.
Suspenseful....great story. Amazing and interesting characters. The technical jargon was taxing at times but the story was so good and fast moving that it was not the worst thing to deal with. I would have probably liked to personally be more knowledgeable in some of the serious things discussed but whatever...I got through the story without and still enjoyed it and felt like I understood enough. If anything, now I want to know more!!
Fast moving....YES!! A great one from a great author Michael Byrnes. Highly recommend....mind blowing experience.
December 26, 2016
A flimsy plot combined with an utterly risible misunderstanding of information technology made this book a painful slog that started weak and got worse with every page.
Anyone interested in the premise should read Jim Bell's classic essay "Assassination Politics" instead.
Anyone interested in the premise should read Jim Bell's classic essay "Assassination Politics" instead.
July 6, 2016
I got this book via a giveaway on GoodReads.com for an advance reading copy. This does not affect my review. The novel is due to be published on July 26, 2016.
While I've read a number of thrillers, it's not my preferred genre. I generally prefer hard sci-fi. That being said, this was a very enjoyable read. Fast-paced, with decent character development. The story follows a team of FBI agents who are investigating a new website, simply Bounty4Justice.com, that has assigned bounties to people, famous or infamous, who are perceived to have escaped true justice through the standard justice systems. If one of these targets is eliminated, and verifiable video documentation provided, the current bounty on that target is paid out to the assassin.
It doesn't get too technical, I don't think, for someone without an extensive knowledge of computers, programming or the internet to follow but some familiarity with those things doesn't hurt. The main intrigue of the story lies in the seemingly unhackability of the website behind the bounties, and the undiscoverable nature of the individual(s) behind it. The nefarious activities of B4J hijack other legitimate traffic online making it difficult to track. When companies, or even governments, start making any attempts to block access to or censor the website, they find their own systems in the cross-hairs of the B4J. The plot follows through several locations in many countries.
The end of the novel clearly fills the reader in on who's behind everything but the story is still left open somewhat. I have no idea if the author intends to pick it up and continue with the story in a future installment. If so, I imagine that I would read it. (How's that for a ringing endorsement?)
If you're a fan of thriller plots with a techno edge and a touch of espionage, then you'll enjoy this.
While I've read a number of thrillers, it's not my preferred genre. I generally prefer hard sci-fi. That being said, this was a very enjoyable read. Fast-paced, with decent character development. The story follows a team of FBI agents who are investigating a new website, simply Bounty4Justice.com, that has assigned bounties to people, famous or infamous, who are perceived to have escaped true justice through the standard justice systems. If one of these targets is eliminated, and verifiable video documentation provided, the current bounty on that target is paid out to the assassin.
It doesn't get too technical, I don't think, for someone without an extensive knowledge of computers, programming or the internet to follow but some familiarity with those things doesn't hurt. The main intrigue of the story lies in the seemingly unhackability of the website behind the bounties, and the undiscoverable nature of the individual(s) behind it. The nefarious activities of B4J hijack other legitimate traffic online making it difficult to track. When companies, or even governments, start making any attempts to block access to or censor the website, they find their own systems in the cross-hairs of the B4J. The plot follows through several locations in many countries.
The end of the novel clearly fills the reader in on who's behind everything but the story is still left open somewhat. I have no idea if the author intends to pick it up and continue with the story in a future installment. If so, I imagine that I would read it. (How's that for a ringing endorsement?)
If you're a fan of thriller plots with a techno edge and a touch of espionage, then you'll enjoy this.
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