If anything can be hacked, nothing can be trusted.
Tanner Moore is at the top of his game in the high stakes world of big technology. As chief technology officer of Paragon, the largest corporation in the world, he is about to release the greatest convenience innovation in the history of commerce: drone delivery service to every inch of the globe.
But when an interview with journalist Amy Noral is secretly recorded and published by the clickbait media, Tanner’s fall from grace is swift and brutal.
Tanner is fired, publicly condemned as a terrorist for comments he never made, and kidnapped by a mysterious vigilante group who use surveillance data to track and kill their enemies. Tanner must navigate their underground world full of violent zealots and mental manipulation to find his way to freedom, or see his drone technology used as the most advanced assassination tool ever devised.
*** Moral Panic explores the collision of the most extreme elements of politics, ideology and technological media manipulation. It navigates through a maze of modern surveillance with a skeptical eye on the data-driven world we live in, to bring an awareness of the possibility of such a story coming true in the real world.
K.M. Ecke is the organic, free-range, preservative-free, author of Moral Panic.
In this exciting debut novel of hacker fiction, he explores the worst abuse he could imagine of modern technological systems, diving into the minds of those with unlimited access to our data, all the while asking this question: who is watching the watchers?
The author constantly releases new science fiction thoughts for the future on his website: TheDreamFlow.com
I’m happy to be sharing my latest review, for the gripping Thriller novel, Moral Panic, by K. M. Ecke. If you love books with a political theme and government conspiracies, then this may be the book for you.
moral panic,fantasy,blob,books Tanner Moore was a well-loved business-man, until the wrong people took him down. Clueless and at the mercy of an underground group that calls themselves ‘Social Justice,’ Tanner’s world spirals out of control.
I found Moral Panic to be fast-paced with excellent tension-building. I never quite knew what to expect: who were the heroes and who were the villains?
Tanner’s harrowing ordeal can be summed up in one two sentence excerpt-
‘The weight of everything from the past two days set in. The kidnapping, the loss of his former life, and the sheer nausea of his current experience made him numb.’
Many crucial aspects of the human condition are explored throughout the book. ‘Social Justice’ is a relevant and misunderstood concept that takes on many different forms, asides from being the name of the organisation that first took Tanner away from his life.
While not to be taken lightly, no-one should ever take Social Justice into their own hands as no good can ever come of it. Such things are best left to the professional authorities.
moral panic,author,book review,blogger,blogging,reader I hope you enjoyed my short and sweet review of Moral Panic. I found this a bit difficult to get into at first, but after those initial few pages, I was hooked.
Moral Panic delivered high crime, political intrigue, and a kick-ass protagonist all wrapped up in one.
I recommend this book for lovers of Thrillers, be they crime or conspiracy related.
Moral Panic is a futuristic tale centered around cyber crime. The book tells us about the dangers of surveillance data when they fall into the wrong hands. The tale reminded me somewhat of Muslim terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda that brainwashes people's minds and turn them into ardent followers by making them believe that they are the cleaners of the society when in reality the leaders use them to engage in criminal activities which spoil their futures. Here a group named Social Justice tries to justify its crimes by pulling on the garb of social justice. It wants to eliminate people whom they think are associated with human trafficking by using the wrong means. The protagonist Tanner unwittingly get involved with the group and finally dismantles it and fights his way out to freedom. The story is an eye opener as to how any data could be wrongly used and even contrived for many purposes like fooling general public, maligning people's names, getting information on people to do them wrong, etc.
The book also showed the power of leadership. The initial speech of Tanner at the Paragon drone delivery platform was highly effective and even I as a reader got sold out on the idea of a drone making deliveries to remote and inaccessible places which would not only increase the revenues of a company but also provide immediate relief to drought and flood victims. I hope such things are possible in near future, although used only for the benefit of humans.
The book also showed how a bad leader could turn a whole lot of people into criminal minded individuals without their even realizing it. Hence, people should be aware of the power of words and look behind the motives before jumping in to act.
On the whole Moral Panic is an entertaining fiction however, it has numerous messages and makes a strong moral statement.
This book is difficult to review without spoiling, so the dewscription will be brief. Basically, ther eis an underground (literally) organization called Social Justice, that has noticed an alarming increase in human trafficking, and when they sent evidence to the police, the usual justice system more or less let these scum go free. So they embarked on vigilante justice, but as you might gather, this was not without problems. Tanner Moore has led a top quality team in data processing, he is fired, and kidnapped by Social Justice, where he discovers they are getting their evidence by hacking into the official surveillance system. He also learns what Social Justice is really doing. The book is well-written and easy to read, despite the implied technology. The characters are well-defined, and with obvious flaws for which they will pay. The situations are believable, and the book has some social messages for the reader to contemplate. The plot develops in an orderly fashion, with no leaps of faith, except that I question the very end, the so-called wash-up part, because ein my opinion, that would not be practical, but so what. By then the story is over, and perhaps we can suspend belief for the odd loose end. A book that is enjoyable, but also offering some things to think about.
In the high-stakes world of big technology, Tanner Moore finds himself the target of fake news and is dragged from his top job into a world of underground vigilantes whose aim is change the world. Forced into the group's way of doing things, Tanner must uncover what is really going on and find his way through to the truth.
This futuristic tale of cybercrime takes the notion of social justice and turns it into an organisation that cleans up society for the good of the people. Trouble is (surprise surprise), the company’s aims aren't quite what their workforce have been led to believe. Given the current debates around personal date usage, this is a thought-provoking story that looks at how surveillance and cybercrime might develop, and interestingly, the book gives the reader several choices as to which is the ‘right’ way forward.
My only criticism is that I did find the narrative a bit preachy at times and there were way too many long speeches, which made me think I was reading the text of a political party conference. Nevertheless, the author has taken a clever idea and explored it in a creative way, showing how concepts like this could all too easily become reality.
*I received a free copy of this book for Moral Panic Virtual Tour.* I signed up for Moral Panic virtual tour, only because of the synopsis. The synopsis reminded me of a book that I had loved reading, which had the story of a man being kidnapped by some group. Even though that was the reason I signed up, this turned out to be a completely different story, but somehow I still loved Moral Panic.
There were many characters in this book, and many different subplots. Even though Tanner’s was the main one, we get to know about some other people’s stories as well. How people were lured into something they can never escape from. How few people twist the knowledge of holy books to justify their sinful actions and how painful experience can turn a good man into a beast. How power can possibly wreck conscience. These were a few things I get to know through pages of this book, and through different characters.
Though I didn’t agree with every action Tanner took, but I still found his character to be quite likeable. Tanner was a really well built character. Different layers of his character was explored through the story, his morals, ethics were tested throughout the book. Other characters which I liked were Sam and Amy.
Another thing I loved about this book was definitely the world it was based on, the more technologically advanced earth. I liked learning about the new technologies that the author wrote about. The way things can be manipulated for someone’s own desire, and how technology can destroy us were certain issues that was talked about quite a lot in the book, and actually made the base of book. This was something which was quite interesting to me, someone who comes from an technological background.
Moral Panic was quite a page turner given the concept, the mystery involved, and the twists and turns. Though the later part of the first half became a bit slow but it quickly picked up its pace in the second half.
Final words
If you are in a mood for a thriller set in a technologically advanced society, then click on the buy links immediately and get yourself a copy.
This book has you truly start to think about your choices and the consequences in them. About what could happen if you let someone decide what is right and wrong and how justice should be meted out.
Tanner Moore worked for Paragon. He was innovative and energetic. The company is about to put out it’s biggest product to date and he is going to reap the rewards. Only a interview go awry due to a spy has him in trouble. He is now in a bunker that is Social Justice.
A group that goes after traffickers and kills them only the leader is losing perspective and doing more. Tanner is stuck trying to not go crazy while figuring out the truth and where the moral ground is and where he stands and how far he feels safe going.
We see so many twists and turns and betrayals. Not everyone is as they seem but that is the point of the book. Nothing is as it seems and morality is a thin line.
As Tanner is struggling with his conscious and what is right he is also unraveling the truth and all that is behind Social Justice. He is seeing the bigger picture and what is going on. And he is trying to figure out what to do with the information and how to fix it all.
The story is intriguing and complex. It keeps you on your toes and thinking but also has you questioning yourself and your own actions. A well written thriller that has your conscious wonder what you would do and thinking about technology today as well and where you things as going to far and why. You begin to see the place Tanner is and are fascinated by how he works through it all and where he is going. A gripping tale that has so many twists and turns but also has you really think about things while keeping you on your toes and in the moment.
Moral Panic from K.M. Ecke is a near-future "what if..." that looks at near worst case scenarios from extreme technology, politics, and capitalism. While not yet quite fully possible it is also not far from the realm of the possible. The timeliness of the story is as much the reason for the rating as the story itself, perhaps even more so.
While some aspects certainly target the "fake news" defense of the current regime in the United States this is not simply a story that draws simple good/evil dichotomies and applies them to today's politicians and corporations. We see that the potential for abuse, whether of technology or power or their intersection, spans the political and social spectrum. There is a reason for checks and balances in most good organizations and governments. Rather than eliminating such checks and balances, as is the current tactic of the Executive Branch, they need to be constantly strengthened and made more adaptable.
If the reader is willing to read with an open mind I think this can appeal to anyone who cares about the future of the country and the world. It will strike close to home for most of us if we apply the critiques across the board and not just on those we oppose politically or ideologically. The story works well as a story, though I can't imagine that this was meant to be simply a story read for entertainment. There are some broad strokes of the brush in some descriptions but they serve to make the novel better as an example of what could happen. Those broad strokes also are applied to both likable and unlikable characters and groups, so there is little favoritism beyond the hope that those who would abuse technology for power will fail.
Reviewed from a copy made available through Goodreads First Reads.
I went through a lot of emotions when reading this story.
First and foremost, THANK YOU for the trigger warning. While I am not one to say whether it was written correctly or well, I can say that it did help me emotionally prepare for some pretty hard and dark stuff. I thank the author for that. There was some dark and heavy stuff in there.
One thing I felt throughout the story was that this felt a little TOO real at times. Social media and surveillance data? We are already dealing with this today in a smaller scale, of course. It does make you wonder if we are on that pathway. Social media can be amazing, but it can also be terrifying. It can be abused and used in dark ways, which this story clearly shows. We also see the ongoing battle of what it means to be good and bad or what social justice means to people. If one takes out the bad guys permanently, is that person then evil? If they take it too far? We saw that with one character. It was interesting battle to see when presented to everyone else.
One thing that did bother me was how religion was used to justify particular means. Maybe it's because of what's going on right now. Literally what's going on right now is how some people use religion to justify their means. It's just frustrating, and that's me.
It was interesting to see how power presented is different for everyone. What they do with it says a lot about their character. We see that it is different for everyone. That was pretty cool.
Overall, it was pretty interesting story to read. It did take me a while to really get into it. It was a little slow in the beginning, but did get better afterwards. It was hard seeing how the ending was for some of the characters, but you will root for Tanner. I did.
From Cyber-crime to the sudden disappearance of Tanner. This book is one action-packed book that will keep you glued while reading. There is Amy pressing forward to get some clue as to what led to the sudden disappearance of Tanner. This book is one with a lot of suspense. The actions just keep coming right at you. This is one of such books I certainly don’t get tired of reading. Before Tanner’s sudden disappearance, he was a successful businessman. He had attracted the love and admiration of most people. I love the fast-paced action. Ecke did a great job in bringing together a lot of interesting ideas and mashed them into one steady flow of complete entertaining read. This is one story that can easily go from the paper cover to the big screen. If you read this book you will certainly agree with me that the author did a lot of work. Ecke has certainly expressed himself as one who understands the nitty-gritty of what making a good story really requires. The ideas in this book are certainly not strange to us. He takes ideas we are quite conversant with and makes an interesting story out of it. This is the reason why this book connects to us on different levels. I enjoyed reading this book from cover to cover because each line carried me along. At some points, it felt like listening to one of such breaking news headlines we listen to some of those unfortunate mornings. This book is generally suitable for anyone who loves to relax over a nice piece of well-written work. For me, the action in this book is certainly something I can’t afford to miss any time. I am a hardcore lover of fast-paced action novels and this one did not disappoint in any way.
Tanner Moore works for Paragon and is interviewed for the next big technology release from the company. But his interview is manipulated and things he never said gets him fired. If this wasn’t bad enough, Tanner has come to the attention of the vigilante group Social Justice. This group was originally created to fight sex traffickers. But the leader has changed the way things are done since it seems the justice system failed to take care of these scum bags that they were catching. They have evolved into eliminating the problem from the start and now Tanner must navigate the group to get out alive.
This is an interesting story on technology’s affects on our world, media manipulation, and morals. This world has more technology but could easily be just a couple years down the road from present day. The question is if we really need all of it.
Then you have media manipulation, something that has become more and more common in this world. But the Social Justice group is a great example of vigilantes. They feel not enough is being done to these people and decide to start a group to take care of the problem and the go about it with a good goal. But then when the justice seems to be failing them they take matters into their own hands.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. There is so much more happening in it than I originally thought from the book blurb. I think it’s a great read and that everyone would enjoy it especially with how it fits the world we live in today.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
K.M. Ecke in his book Moral Panic, presents the reader with quite a dilemma, is technology advantageous or not? Add to that dilemma the whole fake news scenario, and you have a fantastic mix for a great book. The main protagonist Tanner, works at Paragon; he is their shining star, the one who has catapulted the company into the future and the forefront. Through his efforts they surpass all of the money goals, and are hoping to impact the planet with their drone based delivery system. However, during an interview with Amy, an old friend from Stanford, Tanner may have said some disparaging things about his company. When the fake news gets a hold of the interview and injects some fiction into what Tanner said, the story takes off. Tanner is subsequently fired, kidnapped for his own safety, and forced into a secret society. This book tackles so many elements it's hard to keep it all straight at times, but the author certainly knows what he is doing. Politics, technology, terrorism and the media all play heavily into the plot, creating excitement and a fast pace. Skillfully written, this book is not to be missed and scarily, is an accurate portrayal of what might be coming in the future.
I received an ecopy of Moral Panic by K.M.Ecke for review.
A futuristic techno thriller, Moral Panic explores the uses and abuses of internet and computer technology. Readers who have even the slightest antipathy for technology and its potential for abuse will find it difficult to identify a real hero in this story. The various factions represented each have the desire to be a force for good but each is also willing to embrace evil, or at least antisocial behavior to achieve their goals.
Operating under the name Social Justice we have outright evil perpetrated on both the innocent and guilty. We have corporate ideals perverted by corrupt politicians (are there any other kind?). Well written with mostly believable characters. The main bad guy may be a bit over the top.
A very scary tale because so much of the story is plausible. The readers reaction will no doubt depend on where they fall on the conspiracy theory continuum. The more they believe such activity possible, the more frightening the story will be.
As a person with a healthy skepticism about relying completely on the benevolence of technological advances, I'll admit Moral Panic by K.M. Ecke scared me pretty well. Enjoy!
This is a book that will make you think twice next time you want to use the internet. The author actually has a warning at the beginning that if you are easily frightened by conspiracy theories, this may not be the book for you. I brushed it off as I do most warnings. I'm not generally squeamish about...well...anything really. But I have to say, this story gave me pause. I admit I'm not a tech geek, so can't speak to the realism of Ecke's portrayal of computer technology, but to a layman it felt pretty real. Think about all the times you did an internet search while signed in to your Google account. Every time you "liked" something on Facebook. Every time you did just about anything on your home computer that remembers your search history and all of your personal information. What if someone was actively monitoring that activity? And what if that someone had a personal vendetta against you? It sounds paranoid, and it probably is, but this book made it all seem just a little bit too real. And, honestly, in this age of hacking and identity theft, maybe a little paranoia can be a good thing.
If you want a book that delves into conspiracy theories and that the government may be too much in your business, this is the book to read! It is an intense read and I liked that the author prefaced the book with lots of disclaimers about the subject matter included within the pages.
This world is becoming more insane and this book feeds into that thought process. It is amazing what can be done with technology and I'm sure much of what was done/discussed in the book can be done today, or it isn't too far off from becoming a reality. The perhaps only redeeming feature of the Social Justice group was that they wanted to help get rid of sex traffickers and similar lowlifes. But how the group changed over time to where they executed those they targeted versus letting the justice system do its job, was not acceptable. I could understand partially where they were coming from, these criminals weren't kept in prison very long and were back to their old tricks way too quickly.
This book will make you think twice about technology and how much Big Brother is watching.
This has been a frequently discussed subject in the recent years, with all the media misleading, easy access to pretty much everything online, it’s refreshing to find this kind of plot with intriguing and compelling elements of our reality in a way that really makes you think, are these technological advances are helpful or not? It’s all about security and how much are you willing to reveal, to some extent having privacy these days is a real challenge, all these problems are exposed in this book presented in two sides, the one who created the system and the ones who will uses the system and therefore can be the ‘exposed’ part. The characters are surprisingly believable and relatable, the real doubts anyone could have with how the technology work these days, the plot and pace flows really smoothly with a little bit of everything in between, but everything works fine, the drama, the action. This is a book you certainly don’t want to miss, from start to finish you will be absorbed by this amazing piece.
Amazing read, definitely not for those prone to believe in conspiracy theories!
Moral Panic: A Cautionary Tale of Vigilante Justice by K.M. Ecke is quite an extraordinary fictional futuristic story which poses real questions regarding the dangers of technology and how it can be used for human trafficking and other dirty deeds. The story follows Tanner Moore who is the Chief Technology Officer for His company, he is recorded giving an off the record interview to a reporter and is fired for his comments. He is then kidnapped to be put under the protection of Social Justice which is an underground vigilante organization. Tanner is then forced to work for them and join their quest to rid the world of abusers. But Tanner starts uncovering Social Justices dirty secrets and quickly discovers they are not what they appear to be, and starts working to expose them for what they really are. I really enjoyed this book, though it is a work of fiction it does serve as a reminder to use technology wisely.
The message is ancient: “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely” (Baron Acton). “The road to hell is paved with good intentions” (Saint Bernard of Clairvaux). “Revenge is a hot coal you pick up to throw at someone. It is your hand that gets burned” (the Buddha). The delivery is a page-turning thriller set only a few years into the future, with technology that probably exists in secret, right now. I won’t do a spoiler, but consider our world of bots that post on social media, and imagine them in audible form, in your voice. An undercover CIA operative and a billionaire’s heiress both suffer a terrible tragedy, setting them on the path of making the world a better place. But their well-intentioned actions result in... moral panic. The hero starts as a brash, overconfident executive on the road to corporate stardom, who suddenly finds himself unemployed, and hunted for terrorism. He is kidnapped before the FBI gets to him, and then... You’d better read it.
As most of us live in a world believing the “Big Brother” would never be interested in our activities; Moral Panic shows us how quickly things can escalate into epic proportions. K.M. Ecke demonstrates how the public can be manipulated by the news media; because we often believe what technology is shows us. Plus, there is the need in us to feed off the bad of others (even if it isn’t true).
I loved the complexity and twists as Tanner and Amy seek the truth in the accusations against him. Moral Panic brings a different type of terror; which it more of a realization of our lives being violated by the ones we trust to protect us. K.M. Ecke keeps the novel moving, and you will find yourself looking over your shoulder. You will also question what is the real motive behind the media you are watching or listening too.
Author K.M. Ecke tells the tale of a man named Tanner Moore who is a technology whiz. Moore runs a huge company and is about to introduce to the world an incredible new feat: drone delivery around the world. However, when it seems like Moore would be on his way to success, some horrible things happen. An interview is released that condemns him which gets him fired from the company. He is later kidnapped by a group which he must escape from. One journalist though believes that Moore might not be guilty of his so-called wrongdoings and she works to help prove he is innocent. This suspenseful novel is a thrilling story that will leave you on the edge of your seat. It’s packed with twists and turns and filled with well-developed and unique characters. If you’re a fan of the suspense genre or mysteries, you’ll definitely want to check this book out.
Thank you Good Reads giveaway for a copy of this kindle book.
The description of this book pulled me in and I had to enter this giveaway.
I love to learn all I can about technology and how it can affect social media usage.This book starts with someone banging on Tanners door saying they are from the Social Justice group and they are here to take him away to protect him. That lets in a whole can a worms, next thing you know he is kidnapped and taken away. It's so hard to write this review without given out spoilers. Anyways Tanner Moore just got a big promotion with drone innovation and there are people who don't want to see Tanner get his just reward. Now he must fight to stay alive from people who he trust but should he? This book is very interesting and draws you in from the first page. I would enjoy more books from this author.
The arrival of game changing tech and what could happen
This is a great story about a giant tech company that has just perfected the use of drones to deliver packages across the entire globe. A stolen interview, a tech giant disgraced , and crazy hackers that want to kill is a great formula for a fun and fast paced journey through the corrupt world of technology and greed. Will the truth come out? Will tanner be able to save the day and clear his name? Will the journalist who unknowingly played a part in this conspiracy help right the wrongs ? Check out this action packed story and see if you can solve the mystery and save the innocent.
Tanner Moore works for a giant Tech company and his interview takes a surprising turn. Tanner;s interview is tampered and it shows he says things he really did not which lead to an avalanche of events. The Moral Panic plot is a topic that has been discussed. Media and news outlets are questioned by skeptical observers today, and that is magnified ten-fold in this book. People can never really believe what they are told. Or can they? This book has some great twists and surprises as Tanner battles to find who or what has tampered with his interview. A great tech-thriller, this will keep you on the edge of your seat.
I receives a copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways.
I thought the overall concept for this book was fresh and original. The problem though was it seemed to go a little too far. I don’t know if it’s true or not but it felt like the author was trying to push a moral to the story or had an agenda themselves that they were trying to make known. I think in part it may have been the overly long quotes that popped up all the time (which were for the most part completely unnecessary and distracting). So not a bad book, but it was just a little....off, in some way I can’t quite put my finger on.
From the warnings this book gave at the beginning, I was prepared for the absolute worst. So either I’m a lowkey conspiracy theorist orrr.. the plot itself hones in on the ease in which technology can be twisted in a way that destroys those who are innocent (in the most extreme cases). I liked the urgency the author gives the characters to right the wrongs and bring justice - it makes the story feel real. I felt as though we were given just enough insight into our characters belief systems to rightfully determine who was on which side. Aside from that, it was a good imaginative read with a lot of messages that are fun to dissect.
I was intrigued from the very beginning and I couldn’t put the book down. You really had a hard time liking Tanner the main character. But the story is so interesting you must keep reading to see where it goes. The story begs you to ask is technology good or bad? It’s set in the not too distant future 2025. Without giving too much away it’s about an underground organization that works at eliminating human trafficking. Using vigilante justice which is the reason behind the title. I was entertained and would recommend the book. It makes you think of the possibilities.
Moral Panic awakens readers to the possibility and potentially destructive power of modern day media manipulation. If you've ever wondered what happens to disgraced public figures after seemingly strategically “leaked” information surfaces, costing them their professional and sometimes personal lives, then Author, K. M. Ecke introduces readers to Tanner Moore, whose life takes unexpected turns after such an incident, culminating in a truly surprising ending.
I honestly didn’t know what to expect reading this. I was glad I was pleasantly surprised by it. There were enough twists and turns to keep you on your toes. I did not expect one of the twists though, so that was a nice to be caught off guard. Kept the story fresh. The audio for the book was done by the Author, have to say it was really well done.
(Disclaimer: I received a free copy from the Author. Does not affect my review)
There is a whole lot story in this relatively short novel. The audiobook is just over 6 hours. At times I thought too much was going on too quickly. It has an interesting, and timely, plot given the amount of fake news and information manipulation that we have witnessed in recent months. Full review soon.
There is some cringe dialogue and almost every character is just a terrible person. The story was okay I guess. Not really anything new or original. The philosophy was trite and mimicked a freshman college student. The main character sucks. I had to force myself to finish.