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Ninety-Five
Troubled University of Chicago student, Zak Skinner, accidentally uncovers evidence of an on-campus, organized crime scam involving drugging students, getting them to commit crimes on camera, and blackmailing them to continue under the threat of expulsion. Digging deeper, Zak discovers that the university scam is just the tip of the iceberg, as it’s connected to a broader ring of crimes linked to a darkweb underworld. Following clues, Zak is led to a compound within Chicago’s abandoned Steelworker Park, only to discover that he’s being hunted. While trying to find his way out alive, Zak discovers there’s something much more personal he’s been running from – his past. And now there’s nowhere to hide.
- GenresThriller
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 24, 2021
5 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Towles
12 books165 followersLisa Towles is an award-winning crime novelist and a passionate speaker on the topics of fiction writing, creativity, and self care. She has eleven crime thrillers in print including Terror Bay - a psychological thriller published in November of 2023. Her previous thriller, Salt Island, was the winner of The BookFest, Pencraft, Readers Choice, Readers Favorite, and Literary Titan awards. The Ridders (November, 2022) won an American Fiction Award, and her psychological thriller Hot House (June 2022) was a #1 Amazon Kindle Bestseller. Lisa is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers and is deeply committed to supporting other writers. She is Board President of a Bay Area nonprofit (Bridgegood.org) and speaks frequently to groups of business leaders and writers about her platform Strategic Self Care. She has an MBA in IT Management and works full-time in the tech industry in the San Francisco Bay area. Learn more at www.lisatowles.com, strategicselfcare.blog, or follow Lisa on social media: linktr.ee/authortowles.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 19, 2021
Zak Skinner is a pretty unremarkable guy in many ways. He’s bright enough, for sure – that’s why he is studying engineering at the University of Chicago. Why he moved there from NYU, we’re not sure at first, but we suspect that he lacks the essential ingredient of ‘stickability’. Or maybe he is running away from something? He and his old school buddy Riley room together, and Riley is most things that Zak is not. Like steady, reliable, unimaginative and not prone to destructive self analysis.
Zak is slightly in awe of a fellow who lives on the same landing – David Wade is preppy, confident, glib and has an air of natural authority. When Wade takes him off campus to the house of a man called Jane (surname – so no gender crisis) Zak’s nightmare begins. Never one to turn down a toke of anything that might be mind altering he imbibes a concoction made, apparently from several rare species of South American tree bark. Over the next few hours Zak is unsure whether he is on some strange trip, or actually walking around the streets of Chicago with a mysterious woman. What does seems to be real, however, is that he has bought a notebook from an artisan craft store, and has the receipt in his back pocket.
When he finally returns to reality and shuffles back to his accommodation to share his apparent adventures with Riley things begin to go pear-shaped. First, a fellow student mistakenly takes delivery of a pizza ordered by Riley and Zak – and becomes seriously ill; then, Wade disappears, and Zak is hauled in by the campus cops as he was the last person to be seen with him; thirdly – and most bizarrely, someone seems to be in desperate need of the receipt that is sitting harmlessly in Zak’s back pocket.
Long story short – Zak takes the receipt to an obscure department of the university where specialist mathematicians ponder the intricate relationships between series of numbers. When the receipt is placed under a highly refined scanner, it reveals a sequence of numbers invisible to the human eye. Stavros, the head of this arcane department is then involved in a drive-to-kill incident, but Zak escapes the wreckage, but realises he is being followed by a group of sharp-suited men who clearly work for some big corporation.
We learn – via Zak being snatched and taken into what appears to be an alternative world beneath Chicago’s streets – that the heavies work for System D. This organisation operates on the university campus by snaring students – via drugs – into committing crimes, the videos of which are used to blackmail the victims – who are, ipso facto, highly intelligent and capable people – into working for the corporation. System D’s mission statement seems to involve using crypto currencies to arm-twist big pharma companies into providing better healthcare for the vulnerable people in society, but Zak suspects that the true aim of the organisation is something much more sinister.
Lisa Towles has an MBA in Information Technology, and has a ‘day job’ in the tech industry, so the fast paced narrative of Ninety-Five goes from one complex techno concept to the next with sometimes bewildering speed. Towles never allows this journey into the Dark Web to obscure the human element, however, and towards the end of the book she reveals Zak Skinner’s tragic family history and thus we learn, for the first time, just what the young man might have been running away from.
Ninety-Five travels, one might say, at 95 mph, and Lisa Towles breaks up the narrative into sixty seven short chapters, so the pace is relentless. The novel is a dazzling trip into a dystopian techno-nightmare – a place where Alice Through the Looking Glass meets The Matrix, with more than a touch of Twin Peaks. Published by Indies United Publishing House, Ninety Five will be available on 24th November.
Zak is slightly in awe of a fellow who lives on the same landing – David Wade is preppy, confident, glib and has an air of natural authority. When Wade takes him off campus to the house of a man called Jane (surname – so no gender crisis) Zak’s nightmare begins. Never one to turn down a toke of anything that might be mind altering he imbibes a concoction made, apparently from several rare species of South American tree bark. Over the next few hours Zak is unsure whether he is on some strange trip, or actually walking around the streets of Chicago with a mysterious woman. What does seems to be real, however, is that he has bought a notebook from an artisan craft store, and has the receipt in his back pocket.
When he finally returns to reality and shuffles back to his accommodation to share his apparent adventures with Riley things begin to go pear-shaped. First, a fellow student mistakenly takes delivery of a pizza ordered by Riley and Zak – and becomes seriously ill; then, Wade disappears, and Zak is hauled in by the campus cops as he was the last person to be seen with him; thirdly – and most bizarrely, someone seems to be in desperate need of the receipt that is sitting harmlessly in Zak’s back pocket.
Long story short – Zak takes the receipt to an obscure department of the university where specialist mathematicians ponder the intricate relationships between series of numbers. When the receipt is placed under a highly refined scanner, it reveals a sequence of numbers invisible to the human eye. Stavros, the head of this arcane department is then involved in a drive-to-kill incident, but Zak escapes the wreckage, but realises he is being followed by a group of sharp-suited men who clearly work for some big corporation.
We learn – via Zak being snatched and taken into what appears to be an alternative world beneath Chicago’s streets – that the heavies work for System D. This organisation operates on the university campus by snaring students – via drugs – into committing crimes, the videos of which are used to blackmail the victims – who are, ipso facto, highly intelligent and capable people – into working for the corporation. System D’s mission statement seems to involve using crypto currencies to arm-twist big pharma companies into providing better healthcare for the vulnerable people in society, but Zak suspects that the true aim of the organisation is something much more sinister.
Lisa Towles has an MBA in Information Technology, and has a ‘day job’ in the tech industry, so the fast paced narrative of Ninety-Five goes from one complex techno concept to the next with sometimes bewildering speed. Towles never allows this journey into the Dark Web to obscure the human element, however, and towards the end of the book she reveals Zak Skinner’s tragic family history and thus we learn, for the first time, just what the young man might have been running away from.
Ninety-Five travels, one might say, at 95 mph, and Lisa Towles breaks up the narrative into sixty seven short chapters, so the pace is relentless. The novel is a dazzling trip into a dystopian techno-nightmare – a place where Alice Through the Looking Glass meets The Matrix, with more than a touch of Twin Peaks. Published by Indies United Publishing House, Ninety Five will be available on 24th November.
November 25, 2021
To me, this book reads like a thriller, propelling me to be perpetually perched on the edge of my chair with anxiety streaking my gut regions for Zac's safety. With the many twists and turns, Zac was also kept on his feet and on the run never knowing whom to trust, or who was his true ally; at least, his faithful friend Riley? Everything was so weird, smacking of danger and illegal enterprize, geeks, nerds and threats to the psyche. Certainly, this has been an engaging, suspenseful, mysterious and seemingly, unending series of adventures for Zac, Riley and others to navigate and make sense of.
There is quite a strong plot but I add words of caution on two accounts. One, some of the language used is objectional to me. Secondly, this book may need parental governance for younger folks as readership seems targeted at university student level (and above). No doubt the university niche will love this book, though, despite my dislike of some of its composites.
~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~
November 2021
Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.
There is quite a strong plot but I add words of caution on two accounts. One, some of the language used is objectional to me. Secondly, this book may need parental governance for younger folks as readership seems targeted at university student level (and above). No doubt the university niche will love this book, though, despite my dislike of some of its composites.
~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~
November 2021
Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.
January 7, 2022
Lisa Towles Ninety-Five—Once You’re In, There’s No Way Out!
And that’s the truth. I couldn’t stop reading. I blazed right through this YA to Adult thriller set in Chicago, or specifically, a shadow world with dark web ties hidden in an abandoned industrial area near the University of Chicago. Transfer student, Zac Skinner stumbles into a scam to drug students and video them in criminal activity in order to blackmail them to continue committing crimes or be expelled. But Zac isn’t going to play along, and at great risk—they’re watching him— he starts to follow the pieces of the puzzle and unravel a web of deception spun by an organized crime underworld. I read most of the night then dreamed peculiar dreams filled with fast-paced action, digital age jargon and shifts and twists aplenty. Just like the plot of Ninety-Five! Towles’ writing is sharp and witty with crisp dialog, tight narration, well-crafted characters and a hold-on-to your hat thrilling story. Kudos to the mistress of the suspense puzzle novel!
And that’s the truth. I couldn’t stop reading. I blazed right through this YA to Adult thriller set in Chicago, or specifically, a shadow world with dark web ties hidden in an abandoned industrial area near the University of Chicago. Transfer student, Zac Skinner stumbles into a scam to drug students and video them in criminal activity in order to blackmail them to continue committing crimes or be expelled. But Zac isn’t going to play along, and at great risk—they’re watching him— he starts to follow the pieces of the puzzle and unravel a web of deception spun by an organized crime underworld. I read most of the night then dreamed peculiar dreams filled with fast-paced action, digital age jargon and shifts and twists aplenty. Just like the plot of Ninety-Five! Towles’ writing is sharp and witty with crisp dialog, tight narration, well-crafted characters and a hold-on-to your hat thrilling story. Kudos to the mistress of the suspense puzzle novel!
December 3, 2021
I was given this book and asked for an honest review. And a 5* IS honest. If I could give higher, I would. This story is loaded with real-life characters that make you sympathize, cry, gnash your teeth, and sometimes laugh. Even though based in the world of college students, the situations are timely--anyone can relate. The subplots are many and interwoven.
The main character, Zak, is having trouble adapting to college life. One night he's invited--well, he's really forced into attending a frat party. From that point, through no fault of his own, except that he got mixed up with the wrong people, his life zips in a downward spiral into the world of organized crime and a university scandal.
I dislike when reviewers detail the entire story and spoil it for the reader. Let me just say that Zak is introduced to some young computer hackers who use a secret WWII cipher that helps unveil darknet corruption that in turn brings down the corrupt people running the university scandal.
The main character, Zak, is having trouble adapting to college life. One night he's invited--well, he's really forced into attending a frat party. From that point, through no fault of his own, except that he got mixed up with the wrong people, his life zips in a downward spiral into the world of organized crime and a university scandal.
I dislike when reviewers detail the entire story and spoil it for the reader. Let me just say that Zak is introduced to some young computer hackers who use a secret WWII cipher that helps unveil darknet corruption that in turn brings down the corrupt people running the university scandal.
November 16, 2021
Lisa Towles has previously published books under her former name Lisa Polisar. Ninety-Five is promoted as a crime book and features two college lads who are the best of friends. It begins with Zak and Riley interviewing for two different fraternities in Chicago, having recently transferred from New York University. They then get caught up in an adventurous gambol of a tale. The initial narrative is enticing and captures campus life really well but then things begin to get peculiar and increasingly complicated. This book may not be for all, but if magical realism is your thing it will be an enjoyable read. With its exploration of the dark web and scamming of the American economy this read makes for a three-star-rating. With thanks to Indies United Publishing House and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and are made without fear or favour.
January 15, 2022
Before you start this book, grab a pencil and notepad. Like many Russian novels, Ninety-Five has characters galore and you might need to keep them straight. Our seemingly average college student Zak Skinner has transferred from NYU to the University of Chicago, so we know he's no dummy. He and his best bud, Riley are being recruited by fraternities when everything goes south. He falls into a secret world that exists outside the campus with ties to Big Pharma. The plot twists come faster than you can turn the page. It took me a bit to figure out what was going on, but when I did, it became a 'hold on to your seat' ride for the rest of the thriller.
October 19, 2021
This is a difficult book to review. This book was kind of like reading the Matrix - you are invested, but you are not sure what's going on
I liked the book a lot at first. Then it started getting crazier and crazier and more and more technical, and I kept getting lost. The dark web came to life in a real place that's "off the grid" - but normal grid. And there are groups and groups of people after the main character - who is good, who is bad, who can he trust? Throw in a confusing description of the maze, add in some mathematical terms I have never heard of and you have this book.
There is a real audience for this book, but it was not my cup of tea. Too confusing for me.. That being said, I think it is a really interesting story and an interesting concept (from what I understood of it), and I think people who are really into movies like the Matrix or have an understanding of the dark web would really like this. It just wasn't for me.
I do want to thank the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my review.
I liked the book a lot at first. Then it started getting crazier and crazier and more and more technical, and I kept getting lost. The dark web came to life in a real place that's "off the grid" - but normal grid. And there are groups and groups of people after the main character - who is good, who is bad, who can he trust? Throw in a confusing description of the maze, add in some mathematical terms I have never heard of and you have this book.
There is a real audience for this book, but it was not my cup of tea. Too confusing for me.. That being said, I think it is a really interesting story and an interesting concept (from what I understood of it), and I think people who are really into movies like the Matrix or have an understanding of the dark web would really like this. It just wasn't for me.
I do want to thank the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my review.
November 19, 2021
This book is crazy! What a whirlwind. I really enjoyed following Zak down his many paths.
May 18, 2025
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ninety-Five by Lisa Towles is a pulse-pounding, high-stakes thriller that pulls you in from the very first page. With a tightly wound plot, memorable characters, and plenty of twists and turns, this novel is a must-read for fans of fast-paced suspense and smart, intricate storytelling.
What I Loved:
The pacing is absolutely spot-on—Towles knows how to keep the suspense building with each chapter. The tension is high, and there’s an almost cinematic quality to the way she unfolds the narrative. The plot is intricately layered, keeping you guessing without ever feeling too convoluted. Every twist feels earned and keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The characters are another strong point. The protagonist is complex and compelling, with personal stakes that draw you in emotionally. Their motivations are believable, and their journey throughout the book is engaging. The secondary characters add depth and intrigue, further enriching the story.
Towles’ writing is sharp and direct, making the book easy to dive into while still leaving room for reflection on the bigger themes at play.
What I Didn’t Love:
While the story is gripping, there are moments when the pacing can feel a bit too rapid, especially during key reveals. Some readers might feel that certain plot points are wrapped up a little too conveniently or abruptly. Also, though the characters are well-drawn, a few of the secondary characters could’ve used more development to make them feel as fully realized as the main players.
Final Thoughts:
Ninety-Five is an exhilarating ride from start to finish. It’s a fantastic thriller with a smart plot, complex characters, and a satisfying level of suspense. Lisa Towles does a remarkable job balancing action with emotional depth, making this book hard to put down. If you’re a fan of tightly written, suspense-filled narratives with unexpected twists, this one is definitely worth picking up.
❤️shaye.reads
Ninety-Five by Lisa Towles is a pulse-pounding, high-stakes thriller that pulls you in from the very first page. With a tightly wound plot, memorable characters, and plenty of twists and turns, this novel is a must-read for fans of fast-paced suspense and smart, intricate storytelling.
What I Loved:
The pacing is absolutely spot-on—Towles knows how to keep the suspense building with each chapter. The tension is high, and there’s an almost cinematic quality to the way she unfolds the narrative. The plot is intricately layered, keeping you guessing without ever feeling too convoluted. Every twist feels earned and keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The characters are another strong point. The protagonist is complex and compelling, with personal stakes that draw you in emotionally. Their motivations are believable, and their journey throughout the book is engaging. The secondary characters add depth and intrigue, further enriching the story.
Towles’ writing is sharp and direct, making the book easy to dive into while still leaving room for reflection on the bigger themes at play.
What I Didn’t Love:
While the story is gripping, there are moments when the pacing can feel a bit too rapid, especially during key reveals. Some readers might feel that certain plot points are wrapped up a little too conveniently or abruptly. Also, though the characters are well-drawn, a few of the secondary characters could’ve used more development to make them feel as fully realized as the main players.
Final Thoughts:
Ninety-Five is an exhilarating ride from start to finish. It’s a fantastic thriller with a smart plot, complex characters, and a satisfying level of suspense. Lisa Towles does a remarkable job balancing action with emotional depth, making this book hard to put down. If you’re a fan of tightly written, suspense-filled narratives with unexpected twists, this one is definitely worth picking up.
❤️shaye.reads
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2021
To me, this book reads like a thriller, propelling me to be perpetually perched on the edge of my chair with anxiety streaking my gut regions for Zac's safety. With the many twists and turns, Zac was also kept on his feet and on the run never knowing whom to trust, or who was his true ally; at least, his faithful friend Riley? Everything was so weird, smacking of danger and illegal enterprize, geeks, nerds and threats to the psyche. Certainly, this has been an engaging, suspenseful, mysterious and seemingly, unending series of adventures for Zac, Riley and others to navigate and make sense of.
There is quite a strong plot but I add words of caution on two accounts. One, some of the language used is objectional to me. Secondly, this book may need parental governance for younger folks as readership seems targeted at university student level (and above). No doubt the university niche will love this book, though, despite my dislike of some of its composites.
~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~
November 2021
Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.
There is quite a strong plot but I add words of caution on two accounts. One, some of the language used is objectional to me. Secondly, this book may need parental governance for younger folks as readership seems targeted at university student level (and above). No doubt the university niche will love this book, though, despite my dislike of some of its composites.
~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~
November 2021
Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.
November 25, 2021
Zak and Riley have been best friends since third grade and are now attending college together. Zak is working on an engineering degree and Riley a math degree. When Zak is whisked away one evening by another student and taken to a mansion where Zak discovers an alternate reality, he can not wait to get back to Riley for help in understanding what he has been through.
Zak and Riley work together to figure out what exactly it is Zak experienced. In the course of their investigations, they realize that they are being played, manipulated, and even hunted. They find more and more evidence and people involved in a complicated criminal scheme that they may never be able to leave behind. There is no question that both their lives will be forever changed.
Towles has written one twisted, compelling crime novel that involves cryptology, the dark web, organized crime, drugs, college students, and a receipt for a notebook. This is a quick read with short chapters, a lot of dialogue, a significant amount of technical details, and a fast pace. There are a few moments when Towles asks the reader to suspend their disbelief in the events that occur but these only make the story more interesting. This is one read any computer nerd would love.
Zak and Riley work together to figure out what exactly it is Zak experienced. In the course of their investigations, they realize that they are being played, manipulated, and even hunted. They find more and more evidence and people involved in a complicated criminal scheme that they may never be able to leave behind. There is no question that both their lives will be forever changed.
Towles has written one twisted, compelling crime novel that involves cryptology, the dark web, organized crime, drugs, college students, and a receipt for a notebook. This is a quick read with short chapters, a lot of dialogue, a significant amount of technical details, and a fast pace. There are a few moments when Towles asks the reader to suspend their disbelief in the events that occur but these only make the story more interesting. This is one read any computer nerd would love.
November 24, 2021
Confusing, fast paced, but made me think
I was expecting a mystery or thriller and this book has elements of both but it also falls into the fantasy, dystopian elements as well. It was certainly fast paced and most of the time I was struggling to figure out just what was going on. The initial drug trip Zak experienced seemed very realistic but we went more into fantasy as the book progressed. Like a good thriller, you just didn’t know who to trust. I was confused by the math concepts and some of the futuristic ideas and by the attitude of the two main characters towards each other at the end. The author had many creative ideas but I think a few too many got thrown into one book. The questions I was left pondering after finishing this book: firstly, how well do we really know anyone; and secondly, how subjective is “reality”? If you don’t like fantasy type books, this probably isn’t the book for you.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was expecting a mystery or thriller and this book has elements of both but it also falls into the fantasy, dystopian elements as well. It was certainly fast paced and most of the time I was struggling to figure out just what was going on. The initial drug trip Zak experienced seemed very realistic but we went more into fantasy as the book progressed. Like a good thriller, you just didn’t know who to trust. I was confused by the math concepts and some of the futuristic ideas and by the attitude of the two main characters towards each other at the end. The author had many creative ideas but I think a few too many got thrown into one book. The questions I was left pondering after finishing this book: firstly, how well do we really know anyone; and secondly, how subjective is “reality”? If you don’t like fantasy type books, this probably isn’t the book for you.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 27, 2021
This is a my first book by this author which I enjoyed from beginning to end. It is a suspenseful story that has twist and turns that kept me turning pages to the end. I enjoyed the author's writing style as well as her attention to details that made the story realistic. The characters are not only relateable but also made the story entertaining to read. This is a well written story about the darkweb and the crimes that are linked to it. As Zak's past comes crashing into his present, he finds there is no where to hide. What will happen to him? Will the people hunting him find him? I enjoyed the growth of the plot throughout as well as how supporting the characters were of each other. This was a great pick up and I highly recommend it.
December 5, 2021
You may not be old enough for this reference but – remember books from the 70s that tried to explain drug-induced trips? Well this book has that feeling. With the main character experiencing drugs where reality and fantasy clash and the reader is left wondering, as is the main character, what is real. It took me a little while to get into this book and realize what was happening, but once I realized the story is not so much the characters as the circumstances, I was along for the ride. The author did a good job of keeping me engaged until almost halfway in, when the real plot emerges. Not allowing much to help get to know Zak, a student turned paranoid (with good reason), turned into a rewarding challenge.
Keep an open mind and just go along for the ride. You’ll be glad you did.
Keep an open mind and just go along for the ride. You’ll be glad you did.
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October 24, 2021Well, I really tried, but at the 30% point I decided that its not worth my time. I could not get into it and had no idea whether this was supposed to be a thriller or a fantasy or a comedy. Sorry, but this was not for me.
December 3, 2021
Wow! Fantastic book!
Towles made the main character, Zak really come alive. This novel takes you on a fast paced ride with constant turns and switch backs. You won't regret reading it!
Towles made the main character, Zak really come alive. This novel takes you on a fast paced ride with constant turns and switch backs. You won't regret reading it!
December 31, 2021
Great read
I enjoyed the crisp dialogues and fast action. I’m looking forward to read more from this very talented author! G.
I enjoyed the crisp dialogues and fast action. I’m looking forward to read more from this very talented author! G.
August 29, 2022
I stayed confused in this book. I never really understood what they were doing and trying to accomplish. I am not sure that I would recommend this book.
November 22, 2021
What was thought to be a crime story turned out to be a supernatural adventure. Too much confusion, too many bizarre events and characters to allow one to focus on what one hoped to be a suspenseful story.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews