One of modern society’s nightmares is the loss of electricity for days. Andrew Diamond writes about such a scenario in Grid Zero. Two hurricanes devastate large areas, affecting homes and businesses, plus making transport difficult with blocked roads and destroyed infrastructure. The internet is down, the phones don’t work, petrol pumps are useless, and food goes to waste as people swelter in extremely high temperatures. The death toll mounts. The power company employees work feverishly to make repairs, but their efforts may be in vain. They are unaware that a hacker has embedded a bug that will destroy the grid altogether and cause major fires across huge areas of the country. Only one man recognizes the danger, but despite his warnings, no one will believe him, and then he is fired. While most power is restored, the countdown has begun, led by a radical group who believe they are working to save the world.

What a roller coaster ride is the best description I can give to Andrew Diamond’s Grid Zero. It reminds us of what could happen if we lost the power we rely on. It’s uncomfortable to think about how helpless most of us are. This tale screams along at breathtaking speed, leaping from one scenario to the next. I particularly liked the characterization of Sean, Danielle, Del, and Anya, but the best of all was Ray Cooper as he falls further and further into madness. His misogynistic views, his fanaticism, and his unbalanced view of life are so well drawn and so brilliantly described. I applaud this author as he explains in layman's terms how the bug in the computer programming works and how a power grid operates in such easy terms that even I understood it. In the end note, Diamond shares that the book is based on actual events, which should be a warning to us all. I am so glad I have discovered this author. Now to find more books written by him...

It had been nine days since the mid-Atlantic region began grappling with the aftermath of two devastating hurricanes. People were barely holding up through the massive blackout, severe food shortages, sweltering heat, civil unrest, and destruction. Empire Energy, the primary electricity provider in the region, was working around the clock to restore power. Despite the ensuing chaos, software engineer Sean Riggs, a former Empire Energy worker, cannot stop thinking about a code he had seen in the company software before being fired. Suspicious and curious about the code, Sean had planted malware in the company’s software before leaving to help him learn more about it. However, Empire Energy has discovered sophisticated malware in their software and has brought in the FBI and Homeland Security to help them investigate it. As the power grid comes back to life, Sean tries to retrieve company data through the malware, but makes one big mistake that will lead the FBI to his doorstep. But Sean might be the least of the FBI’s worries. What exactly is the code in the Empire Energy software meant to do? Could there be another disaster looming over the region? Find out in Andrew Diamond’s Grid Zero.

This white-knuckle page-turner will grab you by the scruff of your neck and won’t let go until the final word. Running the storyline on a multi-perspective timeline, Diamond weaves an ingenious plot featuring an exciting, dynamic cast. The subtle tone harnessed to the storyline and the jaw-dropping plot twists had me on the edge of my seat. The colorful, cinematic depictions brought the scenes to life on the pages. It felt like I was on the East Coast in Virginia in the middle of all the action, closely following the cast as the scenes unfolded. I got swept up in a whirlwind of drama, an explosive and time-bound investigation, conspiracies, cyber sabotage, survival, betrayal, a cult, deception, brainwashing, and more. Diamond makes the scenes tremendously dramatic, giving the cast an appealing quality that makes them compelling and unforgettable. Andrew Diamond’s Grid Zero is a must-read for lovers of techno thrillers blended with high-stakes drama, intrigue, and crime.