Disruption

Jake Pendleton #4

by Chuck Barrett

There are two types of people: those who have been hacked and know it, and those who have been hacked and don’t know it.

Former Naval Intelligence Officer turned secret operative Jake Pendleton finds himself in a pulse-pounding race to stop a cyber-terrorist from releasing a string of the most heinous cyber-crimes the world has ever seen. Crimes that could render the world’s advanced technology useless.

Jake teams with his partner, Francesca Catanzaro, to track down their only lead, a white-hat hacker in Italy known only as The Jew. A man who might hold the key to stop a group of black-hat hackers from causing worldwide chaos—tag named Disruption.

After a search of the hacker’s flat in Rome turns up empty, Jake and Francesca follow the clues—a trail of dead bodies that leads them across Europe. Along the way, Jake discovers a possible link between recent hacks and a Malaysian airliner that mysteriously disappeared.

In the final adrenaline-charged moments before Disruption, Jake and Francesca find themselves in a high-voltage race to stop these cyber terrorists from unleashing destruction against their sworn mortal enemy.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Action

404 pages, Paperback

First published October 25, 2016

About the author

Chuck Barrett is the award-winning author of The Savannah Project, The Toymaker, Breach of Power, and Disruption of his Jake Pendleton series, and Blown, and Last Chance of his blockbuster Gregg Kaplan series. He is a graduate of Auburn University and retired air traffic controller. He also holds a Commercial Pilot Certificate.

He and his wife, DJ Steele (also an author) currently reside in Northern Colorado.


Awards:
—BLOWN
2016 Writers Digest Self-Published Book Awards

—Breach of Power
Winner of the 2013 Indie Excellence Award in Political Thrillers.
Finalist in the 2013 International Book Awards Thriller/Adventure category.

—The Toymaker
Finalist in the 2013 International Book Awards Thriller/Adventure & Mystery/Suspense categories.

—The Savannah Project
Finalist in the 2011 International Book Awards Thriller/Adventure category.
Second Place in the 2011 Reviewers Choice Awards Mystery/Thriller/Suspense/Horror category.
Honorable Mention in the 2011 ForeWord Reviews Book-Of-The-Year Awards Thriller/Suspense category.

Reviews

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG - what an action packed thriller this proved to be! Although this is the fourth book in this series, it is the first book I've read by this author and I have to hope it won't be the last - he had me enthralled right from the start in this real page turner of a thrilling, suspense filled, adventure. I believe it works well as a standalone though it has intrigued and entertained me so I want to read more by this author.

There are several intertwining threads woven together to create a tapestry of events where you can't see the whole picture until the end. It uses some actual events to give real credibility to the story. It starts with the hijacking of a Malaysian airline and moves on to cyber terrorism of a very frightening kind. As Jake Pendleton and his partner, Francesca Catanzaro, attempt to track down the perpetrators and prevent the total breakdown of cyber networks controlling everything from transport to communication and weapons throughout the world, there are other dangers threatening them and others dear to them.

With current news items of hackers breaching security on international domains this seems an even more realistic series of scenarios. It is a modern day saga with James Bond type elements, terrorists from around the globe, competitive secret services, double crossing, danger and murder in this riveting story, with a little romance, too. I can't wait to read the earlier books in this series and anything further by this author in future.

I requested, and was gifted, a copy of this book, without obligation.

[HornFan2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to netgalley.com, Chuck Barrett and Switchback Press for the advance arc for my review.

This isn't my first read from Chuck Barrett, but it is my first read from his Jake Pendleton series and think it wasn't as good as his book Blown.

Disruption's about computer hacking, it has intertwining storylines, ripped right out of the headlines, an international thriller, has plenty of twist and turns, you have a lot of characters and overload of detail's to keep straight.

Starts in the cockpit of what's supposed Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which is total speculation on the author's part, what he concludes doesn't work for me, it's disrespectful to the passengers and their families and without that storyline, he has more pages to use on the other storylines.

I would have given more background on the whole hacking storyline, introduced you to Omar, Boris and Ethan verse the MH370 conspiracy theory.

It's pace reads like one of those high performance cars, I see everyday here in Fla. that drive 5 to 10 miles under the speed limit and and just slow you down.

Barrett has everything in this thriller, to have it read at a fast pace were your not bogged down or slowed, having you think who is that and did he add a new one or have they been in the storyline a chapter ago.

I liked both the Jake Pendleton and Francesca Catanzaro characters, they are likable, tough, make a great team and proof that opposites can attract.

Like I mentioned before, you have intertwining storylines, that have multi layers to them, they just pop out, the bad guys are doing multiple things to hack into the power grid and no one around the world notices them doing it.

That just kills the story being realistic, believable or credibility of some of the characters were the reader has no clue whether they could do the job or not that they do without anyone noticing.

Now Ethan in real life, would have been killed by the Bald Eagle. would have had more than one cut but the fall off of the tower would have killed him and not the way it happens in Disruption. Barrett's own words, you realize that Boris is clever, smart, elusive but no way would he ever get caught, then killed the way he did and it's like someone pressed the easy button eliminating both of them.

It's almost like Chuck Barrett gets over his head, gets to cute with multi layered international thriller and puts too much into the storylines.

Even at 90%, he's still adding to the conclusion, feel like to put it over the top but it's like he has a checklist of what needs to be concluded and just wraps it up as easy as possible.

It's like Tim Tigner's Coercion, great concept for the story, but way too many characters to keep straight, some good, some bad, some that with their words aren't capable to be doing what they say they are, one too many storyline added into the mix and it all comes together into one conspiracy theory.

I'm giving this one a three, since I like chunks of this book, hated parts of it and a shame he didn't just keep it simple.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Tour: DISRUPTION by Chuck Barrett Disruption is an action pack book. Jake and his partner are to stop a terrorist attack that appears to be a big cyber attack. Will they be able to stop them? What does Iran want? There are several different characters in the book.
 
It starts out with a man being chased that has the name, Boris. There seem to be a gang of members doing the work for a man named Omar and his plan. Both Jake and Francesca are called into action to go find “the Jew” who name is Daniel.
 
There this Macro that is Deputy Director in Italy. He seems to be into following and tracking Francesca and Jake. For what reason you will need to read the book. There seems to be a mystery as to what going on. Why and How did Macassa Air 910 disappear or vanish?
 
Chuck Barrett get you interest immediately with start of the book. If you are looking for a good book or mystery This one is worth your time. Though suggest if you what my opinion I think this is good for readers that are 15 years and up. Parents I would suggest to check it for your safety for your child or children. There are a few gruesome deaths. There a bit of torture in this book as well.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first introduction to this series. If you are like me then you will be happy to know that you can read this book as a stand alone novel. The working relationship between Jake and Francesca was a good one. They did work well together like puzzle pieces.

The start of this book got me hyped to continue reading. Which I did continue reading and liking what I read. Yet, about almost half way I got stalled some with this book and found myself reading it at a slower pace. There was plenty of action. Yet, I agree with another reader that it some of the events seemed unbelievable that the bad guys could so easily get away with things. It was like Jake reacted 4 steps behind. The last third of the story did pick up the pace again. Overall, this is a fine read.

[Remy G · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in a series by author Chuck Barrett featuring protagonist Jake Pendleton, with brief synopses of the previous three installments before the main text, perfect for those who haven’t read them such as this reviewer. In The Savannah Project, Pendleton investigates a plane crash. In its sequel The Toymaker, he investigates the maker of equipment for spies, and in the book’s immediate predecessor Breach of Power, an old journal from the Second World War is found in a glacier. The writer dedicates the fourth installment to his wife Debi, also one of his editors.

In the latest installment of the novelist’s tetralogy, Jake Pendleton, a former Naval Intelligence Officer who is now a secret operative, he races to stop a cyberterrorist that aims to make the world’s technology unusable. Pendleton teams up with his friend Francesca Catanzaro to track down their sole lead, a hacker in Italy codenamed The Jew. Disruption is the codename of the potential chaos the black-hat hackers intend to create with their electronic terrorism. However, once they reach their lead’s Roman flat, their search turns up nothing, and they follow a group of cadavers across Europe.

During their crusade, Pendleton and Catanzaro discover a possible link between recent hacks and the disappearance of an airliner from Malaysia, with the two racing against the clock to put an end to the ambitions of the cyberterrorists. Overall, this is an engaging, thrilling read that those who enjoyed the book’s predecessors will likely enjoy, and the synopsis of previous novels is perfect for those that wish to dive straight into the fourth entry. There are some rehashed elements such as the investigation of an airliner, but otherwise, this thriller is very much worth a look.

[Marilyn Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disruption is the eighth book by author Chuck Barrett. It is a mystery/thriller/suspense. The premise is one that has great relevance in today's world - the threat that cyber terrorists could hack into important computer systems and shut the world down. Literally. Globally we have become dependent on computers and the internet to function in almost every area of life. Can you imagine if not a single computer worked - retail, personal, government, defense, etc.?

Secret operatives Jake Pendleton and Francesca Catanzaro are both strong, intelligent and lethal. As a team, they pose a serious threats to an enemy and the private company they work for backs them with state of the art systems. Their mission is to discover the true nature of a growing terrorist threat and disarm it before implementation. This leads them an international search, racing against an ever looming deadline. The terrorist are ruthless in their pursuit of victory, right down to some very disturbing torture sessions.

Disruption also follows personal threads as we are slowly given insight into the lead characters - Jake and Francesca. They may be lethal operatives, but behind their tough veneer beats the hearts of fallible human beings. The question arises, will their personal difficulties prove too much of a distraction? Then there is the white hacker who has hidden clues in the programming that, if found in time, could disrupt the terrorists' plan. Can he survive the extreme torture sessions without giving out important codes the terrorist need to activate their cyber attack, at least long enough for those clues to be discovered?

The world's future hangs in the balance.

[Brian's Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has everything I love starting with cyberwar/terrorism. The plot revolves around a potential cyber attack on the world. You can tell that Barrett did his research here since the entire plot seemed incredibly plausible. I work for a technology firm and all of the details and nuances that he included were just perfect for the type of story and attack he was talking about.

The narration for Disruption was done by Scott Brick who is a veteran in the audiobook narration field. Brick does an amazing job with this book — helping to move it’s already fast pace even faster. Brick takes a great book and makes it greater.

It also had a lot of international travel and intrigue. The main characters Jake Pendleton and Francesca Catanzaro travels to different places trying to piece together the different clues and data they were able to parse with help from their team. The different places that played a part in Disruption really made the book interesting and fun to read.

The story itself was very good. There is honestly something for anyone in this book. Cyber Attacks, Love, Intrigue, International Travel, and some sinister plot-lines that I won’t ruin in this review.

Overall, Disruption was awesome. It was a blast to read from beginning to end and I had fun reading it. It’s one of those books where it could go one way or the other. I hoped that I was going to like it, and I was right. I’m really glad that I picked this up — and now, I’ll be looking for more books like this from Chuck Barrett.

[Michael Shayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story very much. When I first started reading it, I found the technical premise was a well-used plot for a terrorist thriller of this nature. But once I got into it, what I found was the well-used plot was secondary to a very enjoyable read packed with creative situations and twisting paths the characters take from point A to B. The characters were rich with motive and struggle. The way the story was told held my interest, which is why the plot was secondary to the characters and their fight along the way. I'll definitely read another Chuck Barrett novel.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jake has to find a cyber terrorist or the world will be at a terrific risk. Gripping suspense as usual with this series and the author of course. Can never get enough of these stories. Received a free book, but reviewing because it’s fantastic.

[Jim Morton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously up to date story that is superbly crafted. Highly recommended and if you use Audible be sure to listen to Scott Brick's narration. Outstanding as well.

[Rakhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disruption is the name of the software when installed, creates total disruption. The title itself is multidimensionally complementing the storyline. The plot evolves in a scenario where cyber-terrorism prevails and an organization of Common wealth consultants headed by egmore Wiley with his associates Jake, Frascesca and Fontaine head out on a mission to prevent the cyber terrorist, Boris, who is about to control the cyber world by compromising sensitive information . The story begins with bits and pieces of happenings in different places. Common wealth consultant office where Jake with his colleagues and boss holds a conversation with Fracesca and another important lady, which is a suspense till then, is followed by situation where in a captive named Daniel Luzato is attached to a barbed collar which emit electric current. The events slowly reaches a linear chart when Common wealth consultants team up with External intelligence and security agency in Rome, Italy.Further a cascade of events unfold and a seamlessly interwoven tale divulges before the readers.

The brisk pace of the narration is the highlight of the book. Readers wouldn't get a chance to think of anything else but the story. The instances come on9e after the other without any lag. Author has tried to portray a geo political scenario but subtly. The book is full of contrasts which begins with the extremes of security level. One one hand the security uses thumb impressions and even heart beat., on the other hand it can be opened with a lock pick.

Many of the the events or names depicted in the book has similarity with real events.Tarh Andishan,for instance is an Iranian Hacking agency. Another interesting fact, though not much connected with the plot, is the featuring of Venice as a perfect romantic location in books and movies wherein the reality is different. Author has precisely depicted the contrast in the untidiness one can witness there. In an attempt to sustain the suspense, author somehow assorted clinchéd methods. Climax doesn't hold much surprises but author has decently ended the plot

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hacking is one of the scary topics that you hear about but don't always understand. I know I don't understand it as much as I should! We put so much out there on the internet and it is scary to know how accessible this information is.

This novel brings hacking to the forefront in an exciting and scary way. The plot line was fantastic - I could not put this novel down it was so exciting! Between the schemes, terror plots, hacking and murders, my mind was blown!

Our two key characters Jake and Francesca play a central role in a race to try to stop the cyber terrorists from causing global destruction against the Western world that would threaten to push them back hundreds of years. The plot unfolds in a unique manner and you are never quite sure what is going to happen next. It is only near the end that the story fully comes together and you can fully understand and appreciate the plot. The murders add in a whole new level of suspense and fear to this adventure packed novel.

Disruption is a well written, exciting and suspenseful novel. I love the way he writes and have already read this novel again. It is a definite must read that will leave you questioning things you do online and share. I will definitely be looking into his other novels because of his superior writing and plots.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose to read this book after receiving a free copy. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

This is the first book I've read in the Jake Pendleton series but it won't be the last. It is an action-packed international thriller and once I started it, it wasn't easy to put down. It was one of those "just one more chapter" books. Disruption uses many of today's headlines and puts them together to make a scary story, one that could happen today. It's about hackers and a cyber-terrorism plot of epic proportions. I know nothing about hacking but with what is going on in the world right now, the plot of Disruption seemed plausible to me, unfortunately.

There are many characters in Disruption and I had a little trouble keeping all of them straight at the beginning. I like the main characters, Jake and Francesca, who are the best at what they do. They don't have a lot of time to track down The Jew, who they believe is the key to stopping the big day of Disruption. They may be the best, but is that good enough in this case?

I like Chuck Barrett's writing style. He makes the characters seem real and the descriptions of the places put you right there.

I definitely recommend Disruption for anyone who likes international thrillers and I hope to read the rest of the Jake Pendleton series soon.

[Margaret Tidwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from iRead in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Disruption by Chuck Barrett was a book that in theory could actually happen in today’s world. I am reading more and more books like this and it is turning out that I am not the biggest fan of them. Which is strange because I am usually a huge fan of books like this, but I had a hard time staying focused. I am sure that has to do with the fact that parts of this book take place on the internet and I found that I would get bored during those times. I will say though that I feel in love with Jake right from the start and I know that I will be reading more books with him in them because I can’t get enough of him. If you love books that have hackers in them, then I would check this one out. If you have read it what did you think of it?

[Linda Quick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! It takes a basic premise: that everyone has been hacked and is divided by those that know it and those that don't know it. From that premise, the author has created a complex thriller spanning continents and surrounding the ultimate hack.

If you enjoy thrillers, you will love this book. The author has created descriptions of the various locals that make you feel as though you're there. He has then blended in a great deal of relevant religious history and customs and mixed with political espionage and one county's goal to exterminate an entire nation. This is a sobering glimpse into evil. Yes, it is fiction, but the actual motivations of the antagonists are very real.

This is a must read for fans of the genre. The author is on my must read authors' list and this novel demonstrates why he is on that list.

[Tome · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of shows like 24 or Spooks then this book will be right up your street.

Fast paced action with detailed descriptions of characters and locations that make you feel like you are there. It reminded me of the Da Vinci code in the way the characters are rushing from place to place to try to prevent Disruption. It's also very topical considering the increasing reports of hacking in the media.

I was slightly disappointed that the book 'borrows' one of popular MH370 conspiracy theories as I felt it was a bit lazy as well as being disrespectful to the missing and their families. The author does explain its inclusion in the afterword though.

[Based on NetGalley ARC]

[Nancy]

This is an interesting story about hackers and the problems they can cause to the world. We hear of it happening but what if it is going to be so co-ordinated as to affect the whole world at once. The white hat hacker has done what he can to keep it from being any worse. Jake & Francesca have to find out who is involved and how to stop it. There are some side stories going on too that are interesting. Amust read.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Disruption, Chuck Barrett has orchestrated a symphony of complex issues that add up to a fast paced read. He carefully fine tunes his plot and plays his characters off one another perfectly as they build to a high note. Pull up a front row seat and hang onto your hat for this ride through hacking, hackers, and hardly a minute to spare. Well done, Mr. Barrett. I still hear the frenzied strings and frantic horns in my head.

[Livia · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite crime thrillers: it's action-packed, well-written and well-researched. The characters are great, and the locations are described so well that it's as if you are there!
I would definitely recommend this to any fans of crime fiction.

(ARC provided for free by Net Galley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review)

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Private operatives working for the government in a race to stop terrorist plot to disrupt all web, electronic communication systems world wide in an attempt to get the advantage in an Islamic takeover.

[Kathy LeJeune · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read from Chuck Barrett. I love the Jake Pendleton series.

[Dan Dobler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun Story!

Lots of action, great plot with interesting twists, good character development, and some pretty contemporary issues. Looking forward to what's next!