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Managed Paranoia - Book One
For fans of best-selling suspense and adventure novels comes a near-future sci-fi thriller about Hank Gunn. He is a former Navy medic who just wants to race sailboats around the world, but finds his dreams dashed onto the rocks of life. The reader is swept into a battle against the pro-authority, nanny-state when Hank is forced to find the answers to questions he never wanted to ask. Questions of love and faith roil in his mind as he attempts to survive the perils of the open ocean and escape from those who are out to get him. In Managed Paranoia, Hank Gunn rebels against the establishment, confronts the demons of his past and struggles with the God of Creation.
When things go wrong, it's good to have support. Dead broke and with his sailboat resting in a watery grave, Hank Gunn needed help. But not all military veterans need a suicide prevention program to cope with life's setbacks. After an ill-advised statement to his psychologist, Hank imagines unrealistic consequences of a predatory state. It appears he suffers from paranoia, but he soon discovers that his suspicions are justified.
Olin Ou is among the world's wealthiest souls. With the help of a self-aware AI, he recruits Hank into his eccentric family as an accomplice to his own exit strategy. Even with Olin's resources and Hank's sailing experience, escape from the smothering overreach of world governments is far from certain.
Bella wraps up a no-tech, tropical vacation. But the forced relaxation doesn’t prepare her for what awaits. Gregory unexpectedly meets her at the airport in Singapore, insisting she agree to be his wife. Bella panics and loses him in the crowd. Her answer is obvious and he texts, “You’ll regret this.” Not a hollow threat coming from this powerful man.
Everyone is running away from something. The past and the present are reason enough for escape, but an authoritarian future is far more sinister. In Managed Paranoia - Book One, Hank and Bella travel the Pacific and converge on a storm at sea that will determine if they can confront the threats to their freedom and discover a new way forward.
The adventure starts today!
When things go wrong, it's good to have support. Dead broke and with his sailboat resting in a watery grave, Hank Gunn needed help. But not all military veterans need a suicide prevention program to cope with life's setbacks. After an ill-advised statement to his psychologist, Hank imagines unrealistic consequences of a predatory state. It appears he suffers from paranoia, but he soon discovers that his suspicions are justified.
Olin Ou is among the world's wealthiest souls. With the help of a self-aware AI, he recruits Hank into his eccentric family as an accomplice to his own exit strategy. Even with Olin's resources and Hank's sailing experience, escape from the smothering overreach of world governments is far from certain.
Bella wraps up a no-tech, tropical vacation. But the forced relaxation doesn’t prepare her for what awaits. Gregory unexpectedly meets her at the airport in Singapore, insisting she agree to be his wife. Bella panics and loses him in the crowd. Her answer is obvious and he texts, “You’ll regret this.” Not a hollow threat coming from this powerful man.
Everyone is running away from something. The past and the present are reason enough for escape, but an authoritarian future is far more sinister. In Managed Paranoia - Book One, Hank and Bella travel the Pacific and converge on a storm at sea that will determine if they can confront the threats to their freedom and discover a new way forward.
The adventure starts today!
323 pages, Paperback
Published April 15, 2022
About the author
Finlay Beach
23 books8 followersI’m thrilled to share the journey of the Managed Paranoia series with readers who love thrillers at the crossroads of faith and freedom.
📚 Managed Paranoia – Book One won Third Place in the Outstanding Creator Awards (Winter 2023, Thriller category).
📚 Managed Paranoia – Book Two was honored as a Finalist in the 2023 Book Excellence Awards (Thriller category).
📚 The Seventh Pawn was a 2024Finalist
"The Seventh Pawn is one of the year’s best thrillers." — BestThrillers.com
I am deeply grateful for these recognitions and for all the support from my readers. Your encouragement inspires me every day, and I look forward to sharing more stories that explore survival, freedom, and the courage to resist.
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Managed Paranoia – Book One
He’s already sunk one sailboat and should be dead, but billionaire inventor Olin Ou sees Hank Gunn’s improbable survival as an asset. With Olin’s AI and a dangerous voyage ahead, Hank’s luck may be the only thing standing between them, a vindictive government, and disaster on the high seas.
Managed Paranoia – Book Two
Marine biologist Bella is done with Gregory, her criminal ex, but he refuses to let her go. As her father’s ocean station becomes a battleground for freedom, Bella and Hank are thrown together in the fight of their lives. To move forward, they must first survive betrayal, storms, and the shadows of their past.
Managed Paranoia – Book Three
When Bella is abducted by her ruthless ex, Hank and the crew of the GalaxSea launch an impossible pursuit. Armed with Olin’s tech and Ava’s evolving AI, they pit a sailboat against a criminal’s yacht in a high-stakes race of courage and strategy. The trilogy ends with a final test where faith, freedom, and survival collide.
The Seventh Pawn – A Managed Series Prequel
Julian, a grieving widower and former teen hacker, is drawn back into the shadows of resistance when global conspiracies tighten their grip. As authoritarian powers push for control, his journey from loss to leadership becomes a story of resilience and the relentless fight for freedom.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 18, 2022
Great story telling and thought provoking topics set in the not so distant future. The story has the right balance between setting up the world and hooking you in for the ride with the main characters. Highly recommend for anyone that likes stories by Clive Cussler or alternative history like the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik. Eagerly awaiting book 2.
May 15, 2022
Noooooooo...!!!! The end is... well... it left me hungering for MORE! I couldn't put it down. I'm a for sure fan! The "near future sci-fi thriller" part really says it all! I'm in the process of reading it again. Which is something I rarely do! Good job Mr. Beach!
July 17, 2022
Gaaaah. When will book two come out!!!!!
October 14, 2025
“Is the futuristic AI world of Paranoia really so far out there? Hmm....
The characters are interesting and each chapter coaxed me into reading the next to see what happened. If you like the military, AI, boats, guns, fashion, philosophy or politics you'll feel at home.
So, now, where's Book Two?”
The characters are interesting and each chapter coaxed me into reading the next to see what happened. If you like the military, AI, boats, guns, fashion, philosophy or politics you'll feel at home.
So, now, where's Book Two?”
October 14, 2025
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
Just wrapped up Managed Paranoia (Book One of the Hank Gunn series), and let’s just say… now I’m side-eyeing my smart devices a little more than usual. It’s a fast-paced, near-future thriller with plenty of twists, tech drama, and just enough paranoia to keep you guessing (but not totally losing sleep). If you like your sci-fi with action and a little edge, this one’s a fun ride. Can’t wait to see what Hank gets himself into next!
Just wrapped up Managed Paranoia (Book One of the Hank Gunn series), and let’s just say… now I’m side-eyeing my smart devices a little more than usual. It’s a fast-paced, near-future thriller with plenty of twists, tech drama, and just enough paranoia to keep you guessing (but not totally losing sleep). If you like your sci-fi with action and a little edge, this one’s a fun ride. Can’t wait to see what Hank gets himself into next!
July 5, 2022
The great strength of Managed Paranoia is the character development. It was fun getting to know Hank and Bella. They are engaging, compelling and have real depth. I enjoyed seeing their lives unfolding. The environment of the book is intriguing - close enough to today's realities to be totally relatable, but just enough futuristic to be pleasingly provocative. My only criticism... the book ended too soon. I want more of the story and some plot resolution! What happens next?
September 20, 2023
An Exciting and Thrilling Read!
I absolutely love Managed Paranoia - Book One: Near-Future Sci-Fi Thriller (Hank Gunn Series 1) by Beach. This near-future sci-fi thriller is packed with thrilling adventure, suspense, and action. Beach does an amazing job of developing the characters and their relationships as they are all forced to confront their pasts and the pro-authority, nanny-state. The blend of religious and philosophical questions elevate the story beyond mere entertainment.
The complexity of this story is what grabbed my attention. The main character, Hank Gunn, is a former Navy medic dreaming of racing sailboats around the world, but life has other plans. Along the way, he interacts with an AI named Faisal, guiding him through a potentially lethal situation. The dialogue is sharp, the imagery vivid, and the pacing flawless.
I highly recommend Managed Paranoia - Book One: Near-Future Sci-Fi Thriller (Hank Gunn Series 1) to fans of thrilling sci-fi with substance. The mixture of suspense, romance, and philosophical questions make this an entertaining read that will leave you wanting more. If you're looking for a great summer read, this book is perfect for you!
I absolutely love Managed Paranoia - Book One: Near-Future Sci-Fi Thriller (Hank Gunn Series 1) by Beach. This near-future sci-fi thriller is packed with thrilling adventure, suspense, and action. Beach does an amazing job of developing the characters and their relationships as they are all forced to confront their pasts and the pro-authority, nanny-state. The blend of religious and philosophical questions elevate the story beyond mere entertainment.
The complexity of this story is what grabbed my attention. The main character, Hank Gunn, is a former Navy medic dreaming of racing sailboats around the world, but life has other plans. Along the way, he interacts with an AI named Faisal, guiding him through a potentially lethal situation. The dialogue is sharp, the imagery vivid, and the pacing flawless.
I highly recommend Managed Paranoia - Book One: Near-Future Sci-Fi Thriller (Hank Gunn Series 1) to fans of thrilling sci-fi with substance. The mixture of suspense, romance, and philosophical questions make this an entertaining read that will leave you wanting more. If you're looking for a great summer read, this book is perfect for you!
May 30, 2023
Great Read!
Cool sci-fi story that is well written. This was a nice surprise and I would recommend it if you are looking for a new sci-fi book
Cool sci-fi story that is well written. This was a nice surprise and I would recommend it if you are looking for a new sci-fi book
July 5, 2023
Very entertaining! A page turner
I very much enjoyed this book. It was very engaging and a page turner! The plot developed well, and it was very entertaining
I very much enjoyed this book. It was very engaging and a page turner! The plot developed well, and it was very entertaining
December 26, 2023
Near future sci-fi isn't my usual genre, but I enjoyed the near-future aspect of this novel. The characters kept me guessing and the ending left me with more questions than answers, so I'm excited to read book two!
October 7, 2025
Futuristic suspense novel series, very interesting. Highly recommend. Won this ebook from Author Finlay Beach & Goodreads. Looking forward to reading more of this series. Thank you.
December 2, 2025
💯💯💯💯💯
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews