Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Thomas & Mercer (2019), Edition: Reprint, 338 pages
Description
International bestselling author Patricia Cornwell delivers pulse-pounding thrills in the first book in a series featuring a brilliant and unusual new heroine, cutting-edge cybertechnology, and stakes that are astronomically high. On the eve of a top secret space mission, Captain Calli Chase detects a tripped alarm in the tunnels deep below a NASA research center. A NASA pilot, quantum physicist, and cybercrime investigator, Calli knows that a looming blizzard and government shutdown could provide the perfect cover for sabotage, with deadly consequences. As it turns out, the danger is worse than she thought. A spatter of dried blood, a missing security badge, a suspicious suicide--a series of disturbing clues point to Calli's twin sister, Carme, who's been MIA for days. Desperate to halt the countdown to disaster and to clear her sister's name, Captain Chase digs deep into her vast cyber security knowledge and her painful past, probing for answers to her twin's erratic conduct. As time is running out, she realizes that failure means catastrophe--not just for the space program but for the safety of the whole nation. Brilliantly crafted, gripping, and smart, Patricia Cornwell's cliffhanger ending will keep readers wondering what's next for Captain Calli Chase.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member JenniferRobb
This was one of my Amazon First Reads picks for September 2019--I picked it mainly because I was familiar with the author's name. I guess I forgot that while her Kay Scarpetta books are tolerable, they certainly aren't my favorites to read. I feel even less so about this story.
I don't feel like I
I never quite figured out what all the italic parts pointed to and whether it was one story or two--One seems to be about Calli slicing her finger and another about Calli leaving her sister alone with a much older stunt pilot. I either never figured out or didn't pay attention to the age Calli was when the finger injury happened. Also, throughout, I got the feeling that Calli had an issue with her father's personality that had never been confronted--but I couldn't figure out what incident had triggered that.
Overall, I just felt the plot was too vague. There were too many mysteries and nothing seemed to wrap up by the end of this book, leaving me feeling like the author and/or publisher just assume we want to buy another book. I didn't care enough about the characters to care what happens to them--so that won't be happening.
I don't feel like I
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ever got a grip on this story. Are Calli and Carme humans? Aliens? Robots/Androids/Constructs? We don't really see Carme much in this book, but it is implied that both have skipped grades and graduated early (at age 15) and already been through college. Calli seems to have some odd traits--such as feeling that she can pick up frequencies and vibrations--which make me wonder.I never quite figured out what all the italic parts pointed to and whether it was one story or two--One seems to be about Calli slicing her finger and another about Calli leaving her sister alone with a much older stunt pilot. I either never figured out or didn't pay attention to the age Calli was when the finger injury happened. Also, throughout, I got the feeling that Calli had an issue with her father's personality that had never been confronted--but I couldn't figure out what incident had triggered that.
Overall, I just felt the plot was too vague. There were too many mysteries and nothing seemed to wrap up by the end of this book, leaving me feeling like the author and/or publisher just assume we want to buy another book. I didn't care enough about the characters to care what happens to them--so that won't be happening.
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LibraryThing member furrykidz
This was slower than I expected. It took me a bit to acclimate to how the book jumps from present day to past. The story does not end but is the beginning of a larger story. The Kindle extra features (moving pictures on the Fire) were few and not worth it.
LibraryThing member hemlokgang
Terrible reader! 9 hours of a voice perpetually on the verge of hysteria seriously detracted from the story. Cornell's new protagonist, Callie, a NASA cybersecurity specialist, must try to subvert sabotage. An okay story, although I think Cornwell is up against the spirit of her famous protagonist,
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Kay Scarpetta, and she is tough to top. Probably better to read v. listen to this one. Show Less
LibraryThing member JTeget
If you like angst and rumination, this is the book for you.
LibraryThing member PhaedraB
It's ok. Cornwell is in a bit of a rut with her Mary Sue protagonists. The pace is slow; halfway through and though gallons of hints have been dropped, nothing much has actually happened. It's an easy, fast read, which certainly has its place.
LibraryThing member PaulaGalvan
Well, this was a very hard book to read. I love Patricia Cornwell and have read every one of her books in the Kay Scarpetta series. That said, I only give this one three stars because of the gigantic amount of research she did on the subject of NASA's space program. Her character, Captain Calli
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Chase, reminds me a lot of Dr. Scarpetta. She is very smart, tough, and thorough to the point of exhaustion, but where Kay is also fun and interesting, Calli is neither. The entire story covers about twelve hours and is painstakingly delved out little by little through Calli's inner thoughts and a small amount of dialog. I felt like I was reading this while dangling in outer space and running out of air. Half way through I was begging for some action, but instead got more information on scientific facts, crime scene protocol, and how electronic gadgets work. And, while some of it was interesting, it did little to propel the plot. I don't think I'll be following this series because I have completely lost interest. Show Less
LibraryThing member KAlberts
Disappointing. Seems all Cornwell wanted to do was show off new knowledge; storyline had more potential than she gave it. At times hard to follow.
LibraryThing member chibitika
Patricia Cornwell is a multi-award-winning author whose many books I’ve enjoyed for decades. The technology and science research she did to make this book realistic is mind-boggling. So why did I give only one star? Two reasons:
1. None of the mysteries were solved. One was partially solved. This
2. The book was mostly written in incomplete sentences, fragments describing what a character was thinking, seeing, feeling, doing, watching, hearing. Entire paragraphs were nothing but fragments. Almost all exposition was fragments. At least the dialogue was written in standard form. The fragments constantly threw me out of the story. I’d expect a sentence to go somewhere but then it stopped at nowhere, just a stupid fragment.
Cornwell obviously chose this retooling of English grammar deliberately, but why? Ignoring conventional writing standards isn’t needed for someone of her caliber, or any writer, actually. This was seriously as annoying as all hell-o.
I will not be reading anymore Captain Chase books, regardless of how intriguing a heroine she is. We readers have standards, and mine were stomped on with purpose in this novel.
1. None of the mysteries were solved. One was partially solved. This
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seems like a blatant attempt to get readers to buy the second book in the Captain Chase series. I resent being manipulated and let down like this. I’m a reader, not an open wallet for any author, no matter how accomplished.2. The book was mostly written in incomplete sentences, fragments describing what a character was thinking, seeing, feeling, doing, watching, hearing. Entire paragraphs were nothing but fragments. Almost all exposition was fragments. At least the dialogue was written in standard form. The fragments constantly threw me out of the story. I’d expect a sentence to go somewhere but then it stopped at nowhere, just a stupid fragment.
Cornwell obviously chose this retooling of English grammar deliberately, but why? Ignoring conventional writing standards isn’t needed for someone of her caliber, or any writer, actually. This was seriously as annoying as all hell-o.
I will not be reading anymore Captain Chase books, regardless of how intriguing a heroine she is. We readers have standards, and mine were stomped on with purpose in this novel.
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Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2019
Physical description
352 p.; 6 inches
ISBN
1542094062 / 9781542094061
Local notes
Located in Fiction