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Cyber Count: A Kat Munro Thriller
Has cyber-crime escalated to murder? Forensic accountant Kat Munro puts her traumatic past behind her and begins dating journalist Connor O’Malley, whose investigations into online crime attract the wrong kind of attention. When a colleague’s teenage son goes missing, and his friend’s body is discovered, Kat finds herself working with DS Adam Jackson again. The murder enquiry leads Adam to an exclusive London school where allegations of drugs, gaming fraud and child pornography abound. As he gets deeper into the investigation, Adam is forced to face issues in his private life while suppressing his feelings for Kat. The faceless hackers become desperate and Connor is found drugged with his research missing. Kat and Adam must put the past behind them to solve a series of seemingly unrelated crimes before someone else becomes the victim of an elusive cyber-crime network. Cyber Count is a fast-paced financial crime thriller set in the heart of London.
336 pages, Paperback
Published February 13, 2022
16 people are currently reading
533 people want to read
About the author
S.L. Beaumont
18 books170 followersSL Beaumont is the author of the award-winning Historical fiction novel The War Photographers, art-crime series, The Carlswick Mysteries, the award-winning thriller Shadow of Doubt and the Kat Munro series.
She lives in beautiful New Zealand, which is only problematic when the travel bug bites (which it does fairly often)! Her passion for travel has seen her take many long-haul flights to various parts of the world. Her love of history helps her determine the destination, and the places she visits are a constant source of inspiration for her. Prior to becoming an author, SL Beaumont worked in banking in London and New York and is now a partner in a chartered accounting firm in Auckland.
The War Photographers won the 2024 IRDA Historical Fiction Award, Shadow of Doubt won the Indie Reader 2020 Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Award and was long-listed for the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Novel. Death Count was a semi-finalist for the 2021 Publisher’s Weekly Booklife Prize. The titles in The Carlswick Mysteries series have been awarded honorable mentions at the San Francisco Book Festival and have been finalists in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards.
She lives in beautiful New Zealand, which is only problematic when the travel bug bites (which it does fairly often)! Her passion for travel has seen her take many long-haul flights to various parts of the world. Her love of history helps her determine the destination, and the places she visits are a constant source of inspiration for her. Prior to becoming an author, SL Beaumont worked in banking in London and New York and is now a partner in a chartered accounting firm in Auckland.
The War Photographers won the 2024 IRDA Historical Fiction Award, Shadow of Doubt won the Indie Reader 2020 Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Award and was long-listed for the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Novel. Death Count was a semi-finalist for the 2021 Publisher’s Weekly Booklife Prize. The titles in The Carlswick Mysteries series have been awarded honorable mentions at the San Francisco Book Festival and have been finalists in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
December 26, 2021
This is the second Kat Munro, forensic accountant, book and although I enjoyed it I think the first one, Death Count, was just a little better.
DS Adam Jackson catches the murder case of Marshall Tyler, a 17 year old student at the prestigious Sawyer’s Hill school. Meanwhile Kat Munro of Forensic Accounting Services is approached by the firm’s admin person, Rosie, about her missing son. Yes, the police should be involved but Rosie found a bank statement that showed her son, Harry (also a student at Sawyer’s Hill) had amassed an extraordinary amount of money for a student. She was hoping that Kat could find a logical (legal) reason for the more than £100,000 in his account.
Harry and Tyler were part of a Finance Club, an extracurricular activity at the school. Kat is retained again by the police to look into Tyler’s online business activities. Also Kat is charmed into going on a few dates with Connor O’Malley - a journalist who is looking into ransomware attacks on local firms and scams that are stealing the life savings of elderly care home residents.
Obviously, as we are in fiction land all these things are related. Things get more risky and Kat is endangered once again. Connor, who seems to be closing in on something dangerous gets attacked and Adam is frustrated by Kat’s obstinate refusal to stop going in all gung ho. Obviously he still cares for her.
Things get very tricky as both Kat and Adam close in on a corrupt network including the school, politicians and the charity sector. The scary thing is you can see how easily this could, and probably does, happen in real life so it’s a timely reminder about online security. Thanks to BookSirens for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
DS Adam Jackson catches the murder case of Marshall Tyler, a 17 year old student at the prestigious Sawyer’s Hill school. Meanwhile Kat Munro of Forensic Accounting Services is approached by the firm’s admin person, Rosie, about her missing son. Yes, the police should be involved but Rosie found a bank statement that showed her son, Harry (also a student at Sawyer’s Hill) had amassed an extraordinary amount of money for a student. She was hoping that Kat could find a logical (legal) reason for the more than £100,000 in his account.
Harry and Tyler were part of a Finance Club, an extracurricular activity at the school. Kat is retained again by the police to look into Tyler’s online business activities. Also Kat is charmed into going on a few dates with Connor O’Malley - a journalist who is looking into ransomware attacks on local firms and scams that are stealing the life savings of elderly care home residents.
Obviously, as we are in fiction land all these things are related. Things get more risky and Kat is endangered once again. Connor, who seems to be closing in on something dangerous gets attacked and Adam is frustrated by Kat’s obstinate refusal to stop going in all gung ho. Obviously he still cares for her.
Things get very tricky as both Kat and Adam close in on a corrupt network including the school, politicians and the charity sector. The scary thing is you can see how easily this could, and probably does, happen in real life so it’s a timely reminder about online security. Thanks to BookSirens for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
January 29, 2022
I won this book on Goodreads.
I didn’t love this book and put off reviewing it until I received a gentle nudge…. So here it is.
I didn’t read the first book in series so maybe I would have connected more? The first thing that bothered me was the written communication. They were short and clipped… like such and such said…. Then such and such said…. I’m from an era of long flowing run on sentences. Ha ha. I honestly need more emotional responses. As for the mystery??? Cyber crime is real and dangerous as we all know. You can see anything about anyone at any time. This is not ground breaking or an enormous twist as we are led to believe in this book. Another ground breaking aspect was there are terrible people in the world who form groups and fight against the wrongs of the world.
I just did not from start to finish like this book. However there are like 4 reviews that are glowing so maybe just not my book?
I didn’t love this book and put off reviewing it until I received a gentle nudge…. So here it is.
I didn’t read the first book in series so maybe I would have connected more? The first thing that bothered me was the written communication. They were short and clipped… like such and such said…. Then such and such said…. I’m from an era of long flowing run on sentences. Ha ha. I honestly need more emotional responses. As for the mystery??? Cyber crime is real and dangerous as we all know. You can see anything about anyone at any time. This is not ground breaking or an enormous twist as we are led to believe in this book. Another ground breaking aspect was there are terrible people in the world who form groups and fight against the wrongs of the world.
I just did not from start to finish like this book. However there are like 4 reviews that are glowing so maybe just not my book?
December 5, 2021
Off hand, nobody would think that a book about cyber crime, which is to say crime carried out at a distance via the internet could be exciting. And you wouldn't think that a forensic accountant would be a capable and empathetic character. But of course both of those things are indeed the case in this, the about-to-be released second Kat Munro novel. I really enjoyed the first of the Kat Munro series. This is a worthy sequel. And, what I like even more is that you don't need to have read the first in order to enjoy the second. Although I do highly recommend it.
Kat Munro is the sort of strong minded woman that many will relate to, whether because they are themselves already strong and determined, or still aspiring to that.
I thought I had been already warned about all the ways one could come to grief through evil-minded criminals such as are encountered here. Apparently I was wrong. So for most of us, there is education on these things happening, as well as enjoying a fast-moving thriller. It seems that the evil in cybercrime can spill over into murder and intimidation. This book is definitely in the difficult-to-put-down category. Highly recommended.
I received Cyber Count as an ARC from the author, and this is my voluntary honest review.
Kat Munro is the sort of strong minded woman that many will relate to, whether because they are themselves already strong and determined, or still aspiring to that.
I thought I had been already warned about all the ways one could come to grief through evil-minded criminals such as are encountered here. Apparently I was wrong. So for most of us, there is education on these things happening, as well as enjoying a fast-moving thriller. It seems that the evil in cybercrime can spill over into murder and intimidation. This book is definitely in the difficult-to-put-down category. Highly recommended.
I received Cyber Count as an ARC from the author, and this is my voluntary honest review.
December 5, 2021
The author sent this to me as one her ARC readers. I'm so glad she did!!!
I loved the first book in the Kat Munro series and was anxiously awaiting this second one. It did not disappoint me!
Her major characters of Kat, Adam, and Kat's colleagues are all unique, interesting and feel like friends after reading the books.
This time, we have a cyber crime and a mystery to go with it. It's quite timely what with cyber ransoms, hacking, etc. going on these days. I actually learned a fair bit about it throughout the book.
I highly recommend both this book and the one before (Death Count).
I sure hope there's another one coming soon.
I loved the first book in the Kat Munro series and was anxiously awaiting this second one. It did not disappoint me!
Her major characters of Kat, Adam, and Kat's colleagues are all unique, interesting and feel like friends after reading the books.
This time, we have a cyber crime and a mystery to go with it. It's quite timely what with cyber ransoms, hacking, etc. going on these days. I actually learned a fair bit about it throughout the book.
I highly recommend both this book and the one before (Death Count).
I sure hope there's another one coming soon.
November 24, 2021
I love a good criminal mystery. Beaumont is a new writer for me. Her first book, Death Count, was very good, and I felt encouraged to read her second book. LOVE it! Cyber Count has a great story line, excellent details and descriptions. The story moves at a good pace, quite exciting, love all the characters, and I did not want to put it down. Can’t wait for her next book!
December 10, 2021
S.L. Beaumont introduced Kat Munro, a forensic accountant, in Death Count. She now returns in Cyber Count, a tale of murder, extortion and theft. The body of Marshall Tyler, a student at an exclusive school, is discovered at an abandoned substation. On the same day Kat is approached by her receptionist Rosie, whose son Harry has disappeared. While going through Harry’s computer to find a clue to his disappearance, they find a huge bank balance and three businesses registered to him. Harry was a scholarship student at the same exclusive school as Marshall, where they both belonged to a finance club. Their housemaster and club advisor introduced them to crypto currencies and had them working on projects which were not all legal. The boys devised a plan to make money and skimmed from some of the transactions but they didn’t know that they were actually working for people who would kill.
Kat and DS Adam Jackson have an obvious attraction to each other, but events in Adam’s personal life have driven them apart. Kat has started seeing an investigative reporter who has been looking into the theft of accounts from senior citizens. When he is attacked on one of their dates, Kat discovers ties to the murder and Harry’s disappearance. She is assisted by Nate and Shamir, who are more than co-workers. They are also friends who are concerned for her personal life as well. Beaumont gives you an excellent thriller that is relevant to today’s dependence on technology and the growing use of cryptocurrency with characters that are well developed. I received a copy of Cyber Count from the author for this review. It was a quick and thrilling story that will leave you wanting to see more of Kat Munro in the future.
Kat and DS Adam Jackson have an obvious attraction to each other, but events in Adam’s personal life have driven them apart. Kat has started seeing an investigative reporter who has been looking into the theft of accounts from senior citizens. When he is attacked on one of their dates, Kat discovers ties to the murder and Harry’s disappearance. She is assisted by Nate and Shamir, who are more than co-workers. They are also friends who are concerned for her personal life as well. Beaumont gives you an excellent thriller that is relevant to today’s dependence on technology and the growing use of cryptocurrency with characters that are well developed. I received a copy of Cyber Count from the author for this review. It was a quick and thrilling story that will leave you wanting to see more of Kat Munro in the future.
May 17, 2022
This is the first book I have read by the author and although I can see where the first book would enlighten you with some back story about relationships, I still really enjoyed the roller coaster ride in this book and not having read the first book in this series did not detract from the incredible story in this second book! The main characters, Kat, a forensic accountant and D.S. Adam who have had a past, are well developed and tied up in conspiracy which began with two students, one murdered, Marshall, and one missing from the same school in the same financial program. The missing student, Harry is the son of Kat's receptionist, Rosie who asks for Kat's help. After finding a massive bank account and businesses in Harry's computer, things begin to get twisted. Who were these boys working for and what were they up to? With lots of twists and turns and red herrings and the strain between Kat and Adam, you just can't put this book down. I was on the edge of my seat so many times. The viciousness of the criminals and what they would do, keeps you turning pages and hoping Kat will come out ok. Without giving anything away, I was surprised in the end and had to read this book in one sitting and you will too! I can't wait to see what else will happen between Adam and Kat and what forensic accounting excitement are they in for next! I received and ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
January 3, 2022
3.5 stars.
I received an ARC of this book but decided to read the first book in the series, Death Count, first and I’m glad I did! The backstory between Adam and Kat in the first book is critical to understanding their relationship in this book.
Beaumont delivers again on a fast paced thriller that links both financial and violent crimes into a big ol’ web of conspiracy that needs to be unraveled. I think this plot line of this book really gave Kat the chance to shine as a forensic accountant, as the crimes were all tied to ransomware, crypto, and credit card theft. All of which can be extremely complex but is laid out really beautifully as the plot unfolds.
The only reason I couldn’t give this one a higher rating is because of the weirdness between Adam and Kat. All the tension and chemistry from the first book was gone and instead of treating Kat like a partner, Adam became closed off and overly protective of her while also pushing her away at the same time. He frequently gets mad at her for investigating leads on her own but never answers his damn phone when she calls. Mmmk sir. Hoping he can redeem himself in a third book!
I received an ARC of this book but decided to read the first book in the series, Death Count, first and I’m glad I did! The backstory between Adam and Kat in the first book is critical to understanding their relationship in this book.
Beaumont delivers again on a fast paced thriller that links both financial and violent crimes into a big ol’ web of conspiracy that needs to be unraveled. I think this plot line of this book really gave Kat the chance to shine as a forensic accountant, as the crimes were all tied to ransomware, crypto, and credit card theft. All of which can be extremely complex but is laid out really beautifully as the plot unfolds.
The only reason I couldn’t give this one a higher rating is because of the weirdness between Adam and Kat. All the tension and chemistry from the first book was gone and instead of treating Kat like a partner, Adam became closed off and overly protective of her while also pushing her away at the same time. He frequently gets mad at her for investigating leads on her own but never answers his damn phone when she calls. Mmmk sir. Hoping he can redeem himself in a third book!
June 27, 2022
From the moment I picked up this book to the last page I flipped on my e-reader, I was captivated by the story because of the different characters ranging from teenagers to police officers to forensic accountants.
On the other hand I was also fascinated by one of the theme which, in my opinion, was the exchange of cryptocurrency. I didn’t know a lot about cryptocurrency but by reading this book, although I assumed it wasn’t the main purpose of the author, I learned how it can be exchanged, how there’s a dark web out there that do illegal types of activities using this new form of currency.
I love the fact that the author included teenagers in the story, vulnerable teenagers who we’re curious and wanted to help their professor and by doing so, they got caught up in some activities that caused them a lot of problems. I love how there’s also some romance and some mystery.
Fascinating new twist towards the end which I wasn’t expecting and, it caught me off guard however, it was a way to reveal all the secrets of some of the characters in the book. I definitely recommend this book even though I received a free copy of this book I would definitely purchase books from this author again.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
On the other hand I was also fascinated by one of the theme which, in my opinion, was the exchange of cryptocurrency. I didn’t know a lot about cryptocurrency but by reading this book, although I assumed it wasn’t the main purpose of the author, I learned how it can be exchanged, how there’s a dark web out there that do illegal types of activities using this new form of currency.
I love the fact that the author included teenagers in the story, vulnerable teenagers who we’re curious and wanted to help their professor and by doing so, they got caught up in some activities that caused them a lot of problems. I love how there’s also some romance and some mystery.
Fascinating new twist towards the end which I wasn’t expecting and, it caught me off guard however, it was a way to reveal all the secrets of some of the characters in the book. I definitely recommend this book even though I received a free copy of this book I would definitely purchase books from this author again.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 1, 2022
I really enjoyed the first Kat Munro book, and was thrilled when Book Sirens offered me an advanced copy to read and review.
This book does not disappoint. Picking up a few months after the previous book, Kat is this time investigating a seemingly routine divorce case, when her secretaries son disappears. Looking at his computer brings a whole new case to light..and the reintroduction of Adam.
This book really does not disappoint, and though the second in a series, I think it could work perfectly well as a stand alone.
The characters are really engaging, the plot moves along at a good pace, and there are some great twists and turns.
I very much look forward to book 3!
This book does not disappoint. Picking up a few months after the previous book, Kat is this time investigating a seemingly routine divorce case, when her secretaries son disappears. Looking at his computer brings a whole new case to light..and the reintroduction of Adam.
This book really does not disappoint, and though the second in a series, I think it could work perfectly well as a stand alone.
The characters are really engaging, the plot moves along at a good pace, and there are some great twists and turns.
I very much look forward to book 3!
December 17, 2021
Cyber Count is Book 2 in A Kat Munro Thriller Series by S L Beaumont. Kat Munro has a hi-tech prosthetic left hand. She is also a forensic accountant and often works with the police. There is a lot of unresolved feelings with Adam Jackson, DS Police. When Adam cones to a fitness class to pick up Tommy, a leg amputee, emotion is high between Adam and Kat. Cyber Count is an exciting thriller with several themes. Adam's ex wife is having his baby, Kat is working with the police again, Tommy is having a hard time dealing with his war injuries, a very exciting book. I am hoping that we get another book in this series because it is very well written with solid characters. I enjoy thrillers and Cyber Count is a very good read. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
December 10, 2021
I received this book from ARC, for an honest review. This is the story of Kat Munro investigating a young man's disappearance. As another boy from the same school is found murdered and was with the first. A couple of threads going on here with Kat, a new love interest, and an old one, all somewhat connecting to the school where the missing boys went. A fast paced, great characters, multiple storylines, enjoyable mystery.
March 4, 2022
This is a great, fast paced thriller, with believable characters and an engaging storyline.
Who knew that forensic accountancy could be dangerous and quite so racy?
As well as the main story, the burgeoning relationship between Kat and Adam adds another dimension to the story. At times, I could quite cheerfully have wrung Kat's neck when she went off on her own and ended up putting herself in harm's way but she is great character.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
I received an advance reader copy of this book, and am voluntarily submitting my honest review
Who knew that forensic accountancy could be dangerous and quite so racy?
As well as the main story, the burgeoning relationship between Kat and Adam adds another dimension to the story. At times, I could quite cheerfully have wrung Kat's neck when she went off on her own and ended up putting herself in harm's way but she is great character.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
I received an advance reader copy of this book, and am voluntarily submitting my honest review
February 16, 2022
Another excellent story featuring forensic accountant Kat Munro. Her relationship with DS Adam Jackson also plays a significant role in the story. I enjoyed the first Munro story and was hoping to read more about Adam. I got my wish.
Kat gets involved with investigating cyber crimes and the strange, somewhat frightening, world of cryptocurrencies. The currencies and cyber ransom are timely issues.
Kat dates journalist Connor O'Malley and that relationship ends up putting her life in jeopardy. It gets quite thrilling as she and Connor are in serious danger. The dating also produces tension between her and Adam. That is a relationship that the story needed to address, and it does. No spoiler here. Read the book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Kat gets involved with investigating cyber crimes and the strange, somewhat frightening, world of cryptocurrencies. The currencies and cyber ransom are timely issues.
Kat dates journalist Connor O'Malley and that relationship ends up putting her life in jeopardy. It gets quite thrilling as she and Connor are in serious danger. The dating also produces tension between her and Adam. That is a relationship that the story needed to address, and it does. No spoiler here. Read the book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 29, 2022
An interesting premise and some intriguing characters are the highlights of this book. However, I had trouble really caring about the teenage boy who is at the center of the plot. His attitude is rotten even when he's being helpful. And I was very disappointed in the ending, which left no one punished for the crime at the heart of the story. It may be a realistic ending, but it wasn't very satisfying. I received an advance review copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 19, 2021
This book was really fun to read! It was fast paced and the mystery was well presented and interconnected. I loved the villains of the story, especially because the author didn't make them too sympathetic. I think there was a perfect mix of plain-old-evil-as-motivation and a perverse "justification" in the villains' minds for the crime.
The mystery was very slow to build up in the beginning, so it honestly took a while for me to get hooked, but once things actually get going, they don't stop until the novel's over. There was a lot of relationship building and setup at the start for a longer running plot through the series that could potentially have been more interwoven through the rest of the book, but all in all it tied in really well in the end.
Special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
The mystery was very slow to build up in the beginning, so it honestly took a while for me to get hooked, but once things actually get going, they don't stop until the novel's over. There was a lot of relationship building and setup at the start for a longer running plot through the series that could potentially have been more interwoven through the rest of the book, but all in all it tied in really well in the end.
Special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
December 31, 2021
Grabbed me at the very beginning. Suspenseful, a page turner, couldn't put it down. The second book in the series, although it can be read as a standalone, would suggest reading book one first to totally understand the interrelationship between the main characters. The book contains murder, romance, intrique, betrayals, lies, greed and some adventure. A poor boy wants money to fit in a rich mans private school, a rich boy wants an adventure, the rich want to get richer. But who is using who to achieve their ultimate goal? Who can you believe and trust? Where will the evidence lead the police? Who gets caught and who walks away for lack of evidence? Surprise twists keep popping up. Well written, with good character development. Recommand. Received an ARC and this is my voluntary honest review.
May 20, 2022
Hard to put down!
It took me a while to get started on this book, but as soon as I got a chapter in it was hard to put down. Even though the book is #2 in the series, it is easy to jump into. I never would have thought a book with a forensic accountant as the protagonist would be so engaging.
It took me a while to get started on this book, but as soon as I got a chapter in it was hard to put down. Even though the book is #2 in the series, it is easy to jump into. I never would have thought a book with a forensic accountant as the protagonist would be so engaging.
August 21, 2022
I must admit, I never knew accounting to be so exciting and dangerous! I was a bit concerned that it was going to be boring and mundane with the accounting component, but I should have known better. Ms. Beaumont has created a thriller that grabs the reader's interest with the opening pages and doesn't let go. All of the police procedural details ring true and since it is one of my favorite genres I was very happy with that. I enjoyed seeing more of Adam's team and how they worked together and depended upon each other. There is non-stop action and plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged.
The characters are believable and down-to-earth. The relationship between Kat and Adam is fraught with tension and complications. And while the reader knows the characters have an adult relationship, there are no graphic or explicit scenes, for which I was very grateful. I will admit to wanting more of an explanation for a complication in their relationship that showed up at the end of Death Count (which is book 1 in the series and highly recommended). It is somewhat explained, but I would have liked more details.
One of my favorite parts of Death Count and Cyber Count was the details about Kat's prosthesis. It showed either a personal experience with prostheses or a great deal of research and it never came across as exaggerated or outlandish. Ms. Beaumont handles the subject of those who have experienced that type of loss with a great deal of understanding and compassion. But she also shows that there is so much more that one can do as long as they are willing to do the necessary work.
I sure hope Ms. Beaumont plans to add more books to this series because I am thoroughly enjoying what I have read so far and am looking forward to more.
I received a review copy from the author via BookSirens and this is my honest opinion.
The characters are believable and down-to-earth. The relationship between Kat and Adam is fraught with tension and complications. And while the reader knows the characters have an adult relationship, there are no graphic or explicit scenes, for which I was very grateful. I will admit to wanting more of an explanation for a complication in their relationship that showed up at the end of Death Count (which is book 1 in the series and highly recommended). It is somewhat explained, but I would have liked more details.
One of my favorite parts of Death Count and Cyber Count was the details about Kat's prosthesis. It showed either a personal experience with prostheses or a great deal of research and it never came across as exaggerated or outlandish. Ms. Beaumont handles the subject of those who have experienced that type of loss with a great deal of understanding and compassion. But she also shows that there is so much more that one can do as long as they are willing to do the necessary work.
I sure hope Ms. Beaumont plans to add more books to this series because I am thoroughly enjoying what I have read so far and am looking forward to more.
I received a review copy from the author via BookSirens and this is my honest opinion.
December 15, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review the latest book by SL Beaumont.
Kat Munro, forensic accountant, and DS Adam Jackson are back for a second adventure, after meeting, and - sort of - falling in love in the first book,"Body Count'. This time they're dropped into the world of cryptocurrencies, ransomware, identity theft, and gaming - with a side order of murder and mayhem.
FAA have just returned to their rehabbed offices, after the events of the previous months left them burned out (literally, not figuratively). When their receptionist, Rosie, informs her co-workers that her son has gone missing, and that she found a bank statement that shows he has a lot more money than a teenager should have, Kat Munro is 'on the case',
And when it turns out that one of the boy's fellow students has been murdered, DS Jackson becomes involved.
There are a lot of moving pieces to this particular book, as evidenced above, and at times I had to take a break from the in depth discussions of ransomware and/or gaming. But the action picked up quickly enough that it was easy to get back into it.
I have to admit, I spend a lot of this book frustrated with Kat as she time and time again ignored all warnings to be careful and - again - ended up in peril (hello, Pauline!).
At the same time, personally for both characters, things change again as secrets come to light and situations change.
Cannot wait to see where we go from here with Kat and Adam. Recommended, with a caveat that you really should read the first book to get background that is germane to the continuing plot lines.
Kat Munro, forensic accountant, and DS Adam Jackson are back for a second adventure, after meeting, and - sort of - falling in love in the first book,"Body Count'. This time they're dropped into the world of cryptocurrencies, ransomware, identity theft, and gaming - with a side order of murder and mayhem.
FAA have just returned to their rehabbed offices, after the events of the previous months left them burned out (literally, not figuratively). When their receptionist, Rosie, informs her co-workers that her son has gone missing, and that she found a bank statement that shows he has a lot more money than a teenager should have, Kat Munro is 'on the case',
And when it turns out that one of the boy's fellow students has been murdered, DS Jackson becomes involved.
There are a lot of moving pieces to this particular book, as evidenced above, and at times I had to take a break from the in depth discussions of ransomware and/or gaming. But the action picked up quickly enough that it was easy to get back into it.
I have to admit, I spend a lot of this book frustrated with Kat as she time and time again ignored all warnings to be careful and - again - ended up in peril (hello, Pauline!).
At the same time, personally for both characters, things change again as secrets come to light and situations change.
Cannot wait to see where we go from here with Kat and Adam. Recommended, with a caveat that you really should read the first book to get background that is germane to the continuing plot lines.
December 20, 2021
This book follows directly on from the first in the series, Deadly Count, and features Kat Munro, a forensic accountant. It finds her trying to help a colleagues son, who has gone missing, just as his friend is found murdered. The case seems to be linked to a crime being investigated by DS Adam Jackson, their paths crossing again. Their chemistry is still there but both are trying to keep everything professional. It doesn’t always work.
This is a fast paced, well researched thriller, that deals with the way thieves are targeting cyber crime more than ever. In fact it’s really frightening to think this sort of crime is going on and can affect any of us. That said, this is a really interesting premise, with a strong female lead, damaged, vulnerable but capable and independent too. This is a stand alone read, but Id recommend reading the series in order. There is a nice, tense history between Kat and Adam that comes over really well, and the support characters are developing nicely. I did get a bit frustrated when Kat set off alone to investigate in isolated and scary places. The story goes into depth with the cyber crime side, which at times had me struggling, not being very computer literate, however, it didn’t stop me thoroughly enjoying this entertaining read. I can’t wait to read whatever comes next.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a fast paced, well researched thriller, that deals with the way thieves are targeting cyber crime more than ever. In fact it’s really frightening to think this sort of crime is going on and can affect any of us. That said, this is a really interesting premise, with a strong female lead, damaged, vulnerable but capable and independent too. This is a stand alone read, but Id recommend reading the series in order. There is a nice, tense history between Kat and Adam that comes over really well, and the support characters are developing nicely. I did get a bit frustrated when Kat set off alone to investigate in isolated and scary places. The story goes into depth with the cyber crime side, which at times had me struggling, not being very computer literate, however, it didn’t stop me thoroughly enjoying this entertaining read. I can’t wait to read whatever comes next.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 11, 2022
Thank you to BookSirens for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I have never heard of this author, but she knows how to write an edge of the seat mystery! Kat Munro is a forensic accountant who lost her arm in a car accident. She has a prosthetic arm but does not let this bring her down. Suffice it to say that she can kick some butt! Kat begins dating a journalist who is on the hunt for a story that has put a target on his back. You will be pulled in to the world of cyber fraud and a criminal underworld that I cannot fully comprehend. However, I was completely engrossed with this story. The characters in the book were engaging, and I felt like I was right there in their midst. It was full of intrigue, insane suspense and mystery. There was a lot of computer jargon that I did not understand but it did not hinder my enjoyment of the book. I would highly recommend this book if you enjoy a good suspenseful mystery. It was full of action as well, which keeps you fully interested and makes you want to sit down and finish the book as quickly as possible! Forget sleep or work... you will be hooked!
January 11, 2022
Cyber Count is the second installment in the Kat Munro, forensic accountant, series. I would recommend reading the first, Death Count, as it provides background into the relationship of the main characters.
In her second case, Kat is asked by Rosie, the admin at her firm, to look into how her son, Harry, got 100,000 pounds in his bank account. Coincidentally, Harry is a student at the same school, Sawyer's Hill, where a student has been murdered. DS Adam Jackson is the investigating officer once again. Marshall Tyler, our victim, and Harry were both members of the school's Finance Club. Kat is once again asked to work on the case by the police.
Kat is strong willed and determined to figure out what is going on. There is still some obvious chemistry between Kat and Jackson, but it's complicated. Kat is starting to date journalist Connor O’Malley who happens to be investigating cyber crime.
Overall, this is a good read. It is fast moving and the subject of cyber crime is relevant considering all that is going on with hackers and identity theft.
I received an advance review copy from BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
In her second case, Kat is asked by Rosie, the admin at her firm, to look into how her son, Harry, got 100,000 pounds in his bank account. Coincidentally, Harry is a student at the same school, Sawyer's Hill, where a student has been murdered. DS Adam Jackson is the investigating officer once again. Marshall Tyler, our victim, and Harry were both members of the school's Finance Club. Kat is once again asked to work on the case by the police.
Kat is strong willed and determined to figure out what is going on. There is still some obvious chemistry between Kat and Jackson, but it's complicated. Kat is starting to date journalist Connor O’Malley who happens to be investigating cyber crime.
Overall, this is a good read. It is fast moving and the subject of cyber crime is relevant considering all that is going on with hackers and identity theft.
I received an advance review copy from BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 5, 2022
I really enjoyed this book by SL Beaumont.
This is my first “official” review of an advance book through the web; however, with a (albeit rather dated) Masters in Literature, I should be able to give a fairly honest review. I’m just a bit rusty.
I found the plot line interesting, but the time-line was too simple. I like flash-back/flash-forward type reads that bring meaning to the genre.
However, the character development was absolutely spot on.
There were no glaring holes in the plot that I stumbled upon.
The Cyber-ness of the book was also true-to-form; I’ve worked in technology and cyber forensics, and there was little need to suspend belief there. Beaumont did the research and brought it to real form.
Great twists. Great turns. And lies, lies, lies.
Loved it!
Thank you!
Also, special thanks to BookSirens for hooking me up with this.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is my first “official” review of an advance book through the web; however, with a (albeit rather dated) Masters in Literature, I should be able to give a fairly honest review. I’m just a bit rusty.
I found the plot line interesting, but the time-line was too simple. I like flash-back/flash-forward type reads that bring meaning to the genre.
However, the character development was absolutely spot on.
There were no glaring holes in the plot that I stumbled upon.
The Cyber-ness of the book was also true-to-form; I’ve worked in technology and cyber forensics, and there was little need to suspend belief there. Beaumont did the research and brought it to real form.
Great twists. Great turns. And lies, lies, lies.
Loved it!
Thank you!
Also, special thanks to BookSirens for hooking me up with this.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 11, 2022
I felt that the book was a primer for cyber issues (crypto currencies, gaming currencies and merchandise, the Dark Web, scamming of vulnerable older people, business ransomware, money mules…) with a murder plot tacked on, but this was probably to be expected from the book's title.
The way in which most of the main characters were linked seemed improbable:
* Kat had a receptionist called Rosie
* who had a son called Harry
* who had a schoolfriend called Marshall
* whose murder was investigated by Adam
* who had previously been in a relationship with Kat
Even the subplot characters ( Connor, Andrew, the Sharps) all tied in far too tidily.
The "feelgood issues" (rehabilitation for conflict victims, kindness to homeless people…) seemed rather crowbarred in, and the descriptions of the Kat-Zelda-George-Sammy relationships were far too saccharine for my taste.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The way in which most of the main characters were linked seemed improbable:
* Kat had a receptionist called Rosie
* who had a son called Harry
* who had a schoolfriend called Marshall
* whose murder was investigated by Adam
* who had previously been in a relationship with Kat
Even the subplot characters ( Connor, Andrew, the Sharps) all tied in far too tidily.
The "feelgood issues" (rehabilitation for conflict victims, kindness to homeless people…) seemed rather crowbarred in, and the descriptions of the Kat-Zelda-George-Sammy relationships were far too saccharine for my taste.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2022
How does one make cybercrime enjoyable while interjecting essential information regarding cryptocurrencies amidst the background of ambition, greed and betrayal? And have a strong female protagonist as a forensic accountant? Well, look no further as SL Beaumont delivers a Cyber Count. The second book under the Kat Monroe series hooked me right from page one. Kat Monroe is an inspirational character who loves her job, although she's a magnet for trouble. The level of detail provided of the London landscapes and the financial and procedural expertise shines throughout the novel. The supporting characters (Adam and his team, Nate and Shamira). There is an excellent balance between dialogue and narration. Every chapter ends with a hook that forces you to turn the pages. I am keen to read more of SL Beaumont's work. 4 stars all the way!
A thank you to BookSirens and the author for giving me a free review copy. This honest review is left voluntarily.
A thank you to BookSirens and the author for giving me a free review copy. This honest review is left voluntarily.
February 23, 2022
This is my first book by this author who made the difficult topics of various types of cyber crime (some I’d never heard of), cryptocurrencies, dark web and forensic accounting surprisingly understandable and very exciting. The author kept the multiple, connected threads moving like a puppeteer and I found the sheer number of times a certain suspect altered his story worthy of a liar’s gold medal!
There were a wide range of interesting characters and backstories. The book worked fine as a standalone but I think I’d have enjoyed it even more had I read book one first as a number of the characters had a history that was referred to.
Kat, the forensic accountant, and the investigative reporter got themselves into all sorts of trouble, resulting in much more action and tension than I had anticipated. It was so packed with information, twists and turns that I re-read the last 6 chapters to make sure I understood the ending. I hope there will be another book in the series.
There were a wide range of interesting characters and backstories. The book worked fine as a standalone but I think I’d have enjoyed it even more had I read book one first as a number of the characters had a history that was referred to.
Kat, the forensic accountant, and the investigative reporter got themselves into all sorts of trouble, resulting in much more action and tension than I had anticipated. It was so packed with information, twists and turns that I re-read the last 6 chapters to make sure I understood the ending. I hope there will be another book in the series.
February 9, 2025
Since I enjoyed the first book, I easily requested the second book ARC when it was available. This author has a way with financial crimes that makes them easy to understand and exciting at the same time.
This book returns us to the world of Kat Munro, a forensic accountant who has helped the police in prior cases and has been pulled into the latest by her company receptionist, Rosie. Her son, who is on a scholarship to a prestigious school, has been up to something that has resulted in a large bank account balance. At the same time, there has been a murder of one of his friends and this just adds to Rosie’s worries about her son. As her investigation starts, she crosses paths with DS Adam Jackson, whom she worked with in the prior book in the Kat Munro series. There are many twists and turns in the story that will keep you reading. Enjoyable characters and an intriguing story around both the financial issues and the murder.
This book returns us to the world of Kat Munro, a forensic accountant who has helped the police in prior cases and has been pulled into the latest by her company receptionist, Rosie. Her son, who is on a scholarship to a prestigious school, has been up to something that has resulted in a large bank account balance. At the same time, there has been a murder of one of his friends and this just adds to Rosie’s worries about her son. As her investigation starts, she crosses paths with DS Adam Jackson, whom she worked with in the prior book in the Kat Munro series. There are many twists and turns in the story that will keep you reading. Enjoyable characters and an intriguing story around both the financial issues and the murder.
December 30, 2021
One of the things I liked about the 1st Kat Munro book was that she didn't fall into the usual "amateur detective" troupes/ traps- following suspects, putting herself into dangerous situations to prove herself, ignoring advice from friends.... This time around the smart savvy forensic accountant ran around needlessly as if untouchable and completely unaware that there was any danger around her. (including a day time kidnapping and apparent forced drug OD). Her potential romantic relationship which had been setup in the previous book also sort of fizzled with a meh.
I wouldn't hesitate to read the next book of this series but i would use it as a deciding factor of whether or not to pursue any further books.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I wouldn't hesitate to read the next book of this series but i would use it as a deciding factor of whether or not to pursue any further books.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 7, 2022
This is a new author to me and I'm so happy with my discovery! It's the second in the series but as I haven't read the first one, it didn't matter as there is enough background info provided.
The world of cyber crime is fascinating to me so I was hoping the story would have me hooked and so it did. It is a tale of hacking, money-laundering in the form of crypto currency, forensic accounting and a death all entwine to make for a great book.
The character of Kat who is a forensic accountant was well done and I felt connected to her. All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable book and I hope there's not too long to wait for the next in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The world of cyber crime is fascinating to me so I was hoping the story would have me hooked and so it did. It is a tale of hacking, money-laundering in the form of crypto currency, forensic accounting and a death all entwine to make for a great book.
The character of Kat who is a forensic accountant was well done and I felt connected to her. All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable book and I hope there's not too long to wait for the next in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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