Deadly Odds 8.0
I’m diving into a razor-sharp techno-thriller today that explores the dark side of artificial intelligence and our growing dependence on medical technology. Allen Wyler’s Deadly Odds 8.0 takes a chillingly realistic premise and turns it into a relentless race against time.
The story opens with a Sunday morning tragedy: a parishioner collapses and dies on the steps of a church. At first, it seems like a random medical emergency—until the CEO of a cardiac pacemaker company receives a call from a masked, distorted voice. The caller demands the company shut down within a week… or more patients will die. This isn’t a bluff. The hacker has discovered a way to remotely control and disable AI-driven pacemakers, turning a life-saving device into a weapon. Arnold Gold and his team of cyber investigators—once retired and sworn off new cases—are forced back into action. With victims piling up, no clear suspect, and the media on fire, they must race to uncover the hacker’s identity before the entire healthcare system is thrown into chaos.
Allen Wyler brings decades of medical expertise to the page, and it shows. A retired neurosurgeon with two Thriller Award nominations under his belt, he crafts fiction that feels both terrifying and plausible. You can learn more about him and his other books at allenwyler.com.
My Review
Deadly Odds 8.0 by Allen Wyler
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
3.5 stars
This book started very engaging, and the concept had me hooked from the start. The concept of a hacker being able to control our medical devices is a very interesting premise. Ultimately, though, the initial story line wasn’t a major part of the story. This ended up being about the firm hired to solve it and the people who worked there. Though I found the character development interesting I did wish there was more tension that was not interpersonal.
This is the 8th book in a series. I have not read any of the earlier books and that didn’t impact my ability to read this. However, I do think it might impact your enjoyment some since it is clear that the issues with the characters continue from novel to novel. For example, I am interested in finding out about the Patels’ marriage which I assume will be discussed further in the next installment.
Overall, this was a quick read. There is some computer jargon but not in an amount that is distracting. Though this has a thriller element in the background I didn’t find it to be as dramatic and was more interested in the relationships discussed. However, if you like novels with cyber crime themes you should definitely give this one a try.
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