Larry Ketchersid

This was great fun to read, combining present-day hacking, technology startups and criminal investigations with the past stories from World War II of the families of the investors and the investigators. The two time periods are intertwined, with disagreements in the present linked to long-running family feuds.

I enjoyed the Mediterranean locations (especially reading about them during the coldest December on record here!) and learnt plenty of little-known information about World War II, especially the Italians fighting on both sides, that was woven into the story. With so many characters with so many different agendas, and with so many different ideas, settings and so on it might have been difficult to keep track of everything, but the characters were well drawn and the concepts and historical information were woven into the story, keeping it all flowing. I really enjoyed this and I'm looking forward to reading more from Larry.

-------

Full disclosure: I received my copy for free via the Goodreads.com First Reads scheme.… (más)

Computer geeks, business people, hackers, beautiful women, family drama, murder, kidnapping, the mob and cops.
Only in a book could all of these paths be possible and cross one another. Jason and Kenny are the computer geeks. They’ve had a one-hit wonder in the computer world but need to keep the momentum (and money) going by coming up with “the next big thing”. Kenny is ok with the one hit and would rather continue taking advantage of his incredible luck landing a beautiful girlfriend. Jason’s mind is always in the money. He’s busy searching for someone to fund their new product.
Through circumstances, he hooks up with a mobster – well-dressed, of course, who is looking to diversify. The mobster already employs one of the best hackers in the business – but what’s his real agenda? Also, things aren’t so rosy in the crime family. Who is for or against them?
If this wasn’t enough, the mobsters are being watched and so are Jason and Kenny. It seems Interpol’s on the case, as are some US cops. It’s obvious why the mobsters are being watched, but who’s watching Jason and Kenny and why? Are they in danger? Is someone after them? Will they notice in time? Oh and that hot new girlfriend? She’s undercover. Ready to catch them at whatever they’re being watched for. One problem - she’s actually falling for Kenny.
This book had the most insane collection of characters and situations. But hey, that’s ok – it’s fiction! I really enjoyed the underlying plot of the book. Everything is not what it seems. This book had it all. Who’s in love? Who’s bad? Who’s good? Who hates? Who’s the criminal? Maybe bad guys aren’t so bad after all. Or maybe they are. Who killed? Who will be killed? What’s justified and what’s not?
I laughed through this book but was also touched. The author made these people in the book real with real feelings and real involvement in life. It’s kind of a drama-comedy all wrapped up in a book. I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book, but all in all, I enjoyed the slapstick quality of it.… (más)