From critically acclaimed bestselling crime writer, Edwin Dasso, comes a gripping techno-thriller, part of a multi-author series tied together by an interlocking cast of characters, all centered around the fantastic new promise of high technology and the endless possibilities for crime that technology offers, in a world where getting away with murder can be not only plausible, but easy…if you … just know how.
A young rising-star ad executive, Michael Saleen, in Vancouver dies unexpectedly. The police think it’s just another “routine” auto accident, in spite of some odd findings. The executive’s wife feels otherwise. A friend of hers knows Wes Watley, an ex-Army CID officer and FBI SAC who has now started a private security company, if he’d be willing to investigate the death. Though Wes’ company normally focuses on national security and antiterrorism cases, his friend compels him to take on the case of Saleen’s death. Wes thinks it will be a quick, open-and-close case. Wes is joined by his tech-whiz partner, Cameron, and they soon discover more and more oddities about the case. As they dig further, they uncover something far more extensive and dire than just the unexpected death of Michael Saleen. Uncovering the whole truth is going to stretch their crime-solving abilities and force them to use technology in new ways.
★★★★★ “I can’t wait to read more books by this author = unbelievable imagination and talent!”
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When private security expert Wes Watley is asked to investigate a case for a friend, he doesn’t expect to be thrown into the confusing world of virtual gaming technology and murder.
An ad executive takes a sudden plunge off a cliff and the only clue is strange goggle-like markings on his face. Wes and his techy partner, Cameron, delve into the possibilities with little results until investigative reporter Julie Crenshaw gets involved and the stakes are raised.
This book delves into the latest in high-tech crime and the process used to track down a cold, ruthless killer.
FAVORITE LINE
He soon spotted the yellow crime scene tape, a cold breeze making it flitter like a bird trying to escape to a better place.
DASSO, EDWIN. VIRTUALLY DEAD (HIGH-TECH CRIME SOLVERS BOOK 4)
I was fascinated by the research that went into writing this technical suspense filled with enough twists and turns to keep any mystery lover happy.
This is part of an eight book series written by different authors of high-tech crime thrillers with interconnecting characters and I look forward to reading more!
I became a fan of Ed Dasso’s Jack Bass mysteries when we worked together on a set of medical crime thrillers. But I worried that a new hero, Wes Watley, and a novel that is part of a collection of hi-tech crime thrillers might have a contrived plot with implausible characters. Not the case with “Virtually Dead!” I loved this plot from the beginning and found Dasso’s characters fun, engaging, and hard to put down, even for a few hours. When an ad exec who markets virtual reality games dies in a suspicious accident, Watley has to turn to the gaming and hi-tech expertise of his partner, Cameron, to figure out the “who and how” of a series of murders with puzzling connections to the gaming world. Though Bass appears briefly as a medical expert, it is Cameron and Watley who lead us through this captivating “who done it” with a panache that left me wanting more of the former FBI agent and his tech-savvy sidekick. “Virtually Dead” is clever, suspenseful, and a five-star read.
Virtually Dead is a fast-pace thriller. Wes Watley, an ex-Army CID officer and FBI SAC who started a private security company investigates the death of Michael Saleen, a young ad executive, even though it has been ruled by police as a routine auto accident rather than a murder. His tech-whiz partner, Cameron, assists him in unravelling the case, and characters from other books in the multi-author series–for example Julie Crenshaw. an investigative reporter with Vancouver Island Broadcast System news station—are drawn into the case as well.
The relationships developing between these characters are beautifully rich and they change from tense to friendly over the investigation. What started with “Wes stepped closer to her, attempting to squeeze past her. She jumped back and held her hands in front of her, as if fending him off. Wes stopped and stared at her. Why is she so jumpy?” develops later to “I’m just feeling guilty about Julie Crenshaw being kidnapped” and to “Screw waiting for help! Time to find Julie!”
The writing is dynamic. I finished reading it in a single sitting. Five stars.
I couldn’t decide what star rating to give this book but eventually settled on a 3. The plot was interesting enough but I never felt any urgency or tension. The characters weren’t fully developed so I never really connected with them. It was aggravating to me that Wes always griped at Cameron and then immediately apologized. Cameron was basically the one who figured everything out and determined how to proceed but Wes was the one who got all the glory. Everything Cameron was capable of doing seemed a bit far-fetched to me. Like using the data from the sensing city apparatus. The police were more or less incompetent(which always aggravates me) and simply did what Wes said. Another thing that got old was how the men were always blushing–for no real reason. Not really realistic to me. Julie wasn’t very smart and took ridiculous risks that got her in trouble. It was obvious from the beginning she would put herself in danger’s way so it was no surprise when she was imperiled. I went into this book with high expectations of a thriller but was disappointed. Glad it was only 139 pages or I might not have finished it.
Virtually captivating…
Feeling restless, I started this book late in the evening planning to read a few chapters before retiring. Nope. This is one of those riveting books that does not allow you to put it down for mundane tasks such as sleeping. I was instantly captivated and read through the night to see how this story would unfold. It does not disappoint. It offers a fascinating well-written original plot, plenty of mystery, nearly unbearable tension, great characters, authentic medical detail, and enough techno-wizardry to cross your eyes. I also love the character crossover aspect of this series as it helps provide some connection between the stories. I highly recommend this gripping read to anyone looking for an absorbing and entertaining diversion.