Samfreene

Watch out for the Glare: Hiding in the Sunshine

What would happen if your idyllic life came to an end because someone hacked into your bank accounts broke into your home and other unusual events that changed the course of your daily life occurred? Lisa and Gavin Brinkley appeared to be the perfect couple with the perfect life. Living in suburbia they never wanted for anything as Gavin’s patents brought him millions in revenue every year. Lisa now a stay at home mom with two daughters seemed to have the life that every young woman would want.

Cate was an old friend of Gavin’s who is now coming back into his life. An email would bring him information about her moving to Boston where he and Lisa just relocated and into his life. Cate as you can tell from what the authors relate seems quite interested in Gavin in a more personal way and not just as his financial advisor. Discussions between them seemed more than just friendly, her mannerisms definitely inappropriate at times and meeting Lisa would cement in the reader’s mind that she had her own hidden agenda. Why did Gavin’s eyes light up when Cate entered the room? What were his real feelings for her?

A phone call will change everything for Gavin as the vice president for information technology of a major company wants to enlist Gavin’s help to protect his banks from identity take over and cyber attacks. Meeting with this group proves challenging and quite informative but what happens next will definitely change more than just the dynamics of his life. A patent that he was promised has snags that he did not expect. Several road problems, flat tires caused by some unknown shooter, hacking into his personal files and computer plus the threat that someone wants him kidnapped and destroyed, Gavin and Lisa are now under the radar of the FBI and the police but why? Who? Contacting Cate good or bad decision? Who can he trust if anyone? Then, someone calls and things begin to heat up as the FBI agent that placed them in their new location is killed and their financial advisor is listed as dead too. Just who is behind this and why does the Enterprise want Gavin gone? New names, new identities, new location where would they go next and would they ever be safe?

A move to Montana and a neighbor named Bruce who explained the area, the Internet and connections, the stores, the life and much more. Listening to his words and learning more about their new life Gavin/John and Lisa/Cindy and their two girls once again had to assimilate within another environment. Weapons at hand, panic buttons in each room and limited access to their old life something about living here alerted Gavin that he needed to be real careful. A trip to the mall would prove unsettling as her daughter locks herself in the car, a police officer and reporter arrive and claimed this was front-page news. I bet you don’t know how a tennis ball can come in handy to open a locked door? The authors take the reader deep inside witness protection programs, cyber wars of a different magnitude; understand hacking and even more identity take over. Precautions in place to keep his family safe there never seems to be enough and what happens next will alert the reader that more trouble is on the way.

Bank accounts hacked into. Computer systems with unknown viruses, social security numbers compromised, ATM’s out of service, people stranded without cash or anyway to use public transportation, speculating as to who is behind these attacks, the President appears on television, the CIA comments but the end result is far from realized. Thefts over holidays weekends, bank accounts of elderly people that have been inactive, individual accounts with money stolen and much more. Remember that your information is not sacred. Just going to the doctor can compromise your identity and opening online accounts too. Inactive bank accounts, billions stolen and everyone brought up to date on twitter. Cyber attacks, cyber criminals and as we hear John/Gavin’s chronological and methodical thinking he begins to realize why he was singled out, just where he fits in and who might be behind it.

Two children who are smart and curious. One who is computer savvy and another who wants to learn more about her previous life, Caitlin and Emma won’t stop until they uncover their family’s secrets. Away at school Caitlin might miss her family but must be careful about the friendships she forms. As you read pages 178- 183 the authors share their knowledge of identity takeovers, cyber attacks, the potential destruction of our economy and one author’s expertise in this field. Frightening to say the least and quite revealing as this could really happen even as you read this novel. Added in is a sample discussion between the President and other agencies to discuss this issue and who might be behind it. But, are they in the right direction? Why does are they looking for Gavin and why do they think he has gone to the dark side? What link does this have to The Enterprise and a man known as ZRK who would not want John/Gavin working with the government and the government thinks he is working with him. Hear the voice of John as his inner thoughts are vividly revealed in Chapter 26 as he tries to put the events together, rationalize why another agent named Marcus was killed, Cate’s murder and even the death of the man who wanted to enlist his help to provide more bank security. Just how does this all fit and who is the leak in the system?

FBI Special Agent Marissa D’Amato is trying to learn more about the criminal organization known as the Enterprise and the man behind the illegal and terrorist activities known as ZRK. CIA reports in hand and information at her fingertips including transcripts of his dealings with another operative about Gavin would this reveal his guilt or innocence? Was this all about a simple game that stemmed from a contest in school? Was this to prove he was better than Gavin? Why does he want him alive? Why compare it to as ZRK states: “seven dimensional chess game.” More deadly however and more dangerous then merely saying “Checkmate.”

Another incident brings thinks into a more dangerous focus and 2000 miles away his daughter Caitlin feels not only homesick and shaken. As we get to know her friend Lisa better, her parents and much more. Cindy’s dreams about Gavin, fearing the next day and morning, another attack on our lives and crippling the social networks. Profiles changing, facebook, twitter, My Space and much more imagine what will be next if this continues. Imagine when you are on face book and the profile you log into is not yours but that belong to another person? How do you report that and what do you do?

What would happen if your FB account were no longer accessible? What would happen if your text messages went somewhere other than the proper destination or worse an Internet blackout. What would you do? Hackers are all over and now with the knowledge imparted in this novel you can learn first hand just how this might be done, the many cautions we need to take and the safeguards everyone needs to learn to prevent this from happening to you. Is it the Russians, Serbians or someone else? Scary but it is as simple as looking for the right makeup or foundation to wear and checking out the different companies. Anyone can find out what you are looking for, see your profile, account information and with tons of search engines available nothing is private or sacred. Author John Stuart’s knowledge in this field comes through as he relates the warning signs; the protections needed and discusses the technology through his main character Gavin.

Cindy becomes involved in a bank in Haiti, taking control of one and hiring many to audit and keep track of transactions. Caitlin meets with her advisor as some information she imparts just might endanger her family. Then, an email from an unknown source lets everyone know that they might have been found as Caitlin informs her father and now he has to find out who, where and why as Cindy finds a link to a notorious man from the past.

Things start to fit together and the pieces of the cyber puzzle have begun to fit into an intricate computer frame will change the lives of John/Gavin and his family as more power outages, more unusual deaths, more attacks and then blackouts. Who linked to his past is responsible? Why is a murder suspect out on bail? What will John/Gavin to take action? When he realizes how and why will he be able to know who and how?

An ending that will definitely surprise readers and one man who is relentless in his pursuit to get his life back. Just how this all plays out and who really hacked their way into their systems and what is the end result: Read John’s/Gavin’s novel along with Cailin’s insight and find out for yourself. But, the startling truths you just won’t believe. Hiding in Sunshine: Watch out for the Glare! Two authors: Father and Daughter: unbeatable. But, will John and Cindy win? Read this book and find out. This could definitely be a series with all four characters the John/Gavin, Lisa/Cindy and their enterprising children going after the cyber thieves and more.