Kickback
 p.m.terrell
 (Sr. Reviewer - Narayan Radhakrishnan)
 2002 Chicago Spectrum Press
  ISBN: 1879260417
p.m.terrell's price is: $8.95 US

A RebeccasReads author in Authors & Books

A computer programmer uncovers a corporate corruption scheme, & in doing so puts herself in jeopardy.

Sr. Reviewer - Narayan Radhakrishnan writes:

I am not a huuuuuuuge fan of techno-thrillers -- the jargon is sometimes too much for me. Save for an occasional Tom Clancy -- I generally tend to avoid the genre. So it was with an "uh-uho" feeling that I began reading this novel. But by the time I finished Kickback, I felt that someone had given a kick in my back -- for my prejudicial attitude towards the genre. This debut novel has everything, all the "masalas" in a fine blend to enthrall & engross the Reader until the very last page.

Sheila Carpenter, a computer-whiz kid is hired as a programmer for a big consulting firm in Washington D.C. For the young country girl, she is living the Big American Dream -- a corporate executive with big bucks & everything one could wish for.

Sheila's expertise is required to create a computer program for a trucking company with branches in many parts of the country. Supposedly the program will make it possible for the company to shift from the existing mainframe system to a more advance once. Sheila gears into action, but soon finds that her real job is to create a program that will help the company tamper with its audits. What a timely subject, & they say it couldn't be done!

Though she informs the law enforcement officials, they turn a deaf ear. Soon Sheila realizes that someone wants to keep the conspiracy a secret & they will stop at nothing, including killing her. What follows is a David/Goliath-type battle, sort of what that we saw in Grisham's The Firm, that keeps the Readers glued to the book.

Sheila Carpenter is a character that's all human -- she reminded me somewhat of Sandra Bullock in the movie, The Net, but of course, a lot spunkier.

p.m.terrell keeps the techno-jargon to a minimum, & that enhances the suspense of the work. A great book & an exciting read -- although I didn't like the paper size, too narrow compared to the conventional paperback -- that somewhat affected the fun in reading this potboiler.

The first chapter of the author's next work The China Conspiracy is given, & I hope the author can remedy this malady in her next work. Save for this factor, a fun & superb read.

p.m.terrell delivers a top-notch techno-thriller & is an author to watch out for in the future.
More from p.m.terrell:
Kickback

The author can be reached at: author@pmterrell.com, or visit her web site at www.pmterrell.com
(09/01/02)

Narayan
2002©Narayan Radhakrishnan
A RebeccasReads.Com Sr. Associate Reviewer

Reviewer's Bio:
I am a 26 years old lawyer practicing in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Along with my legal practice, I have finished post-graduate studies for both Business Law & Human Rights. I am a self proclaimed numero-uno legal thriller lover & am the proud owner of all of Grisham's & Turow's novels. I enjoy John Mortimer's Rumpole & relish an occasional Martini & a rare Scot(ch)t-oline with a Patterson on the side.

My work A FICTION OF LAW is now about 500 pages in length & features 500 lawyer authors & 2000 legal thrillers covering a 300 year period - inclusive of entries from the USA, UK, Asia, Europe, China, Middle East etc. Still in search of a publisher.
www.keralatourism.org